Soluble CD4 molecules neutralize human immunodeficiency virus type 1

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection can bring about total collapse of the immune system by infecting helper T lymphocytes which express CD4, the molecule which mediates interaction between the cell surface and viral envelope glycoprotein gp120 (refs 3-10). HIV apparently escapes the effects of neutralizing antibodies in vivo by generating new variants which must still interact with CD4 to maintain a cycle of infection. One route to block HIV infection, therefore, could use solubilized CD4 protein to inhibit attachment of the virus to its target cell. We have used recombinant DNA techniques to generate soluble forms of CD4, and show here that these are potent inhibitors of HIV infection in vitro.     

Mechanism of human immunodeficiency virus type I entry into the target cells

Based on the recent advances of the research on the mechanism of HIV-1 infection, a novel model to elucidate the mechanism of HIV entry into the target cells is proposed and the perspective about the putative receptor is discussed in this review. Understanding of the crystal structure of HIV-1 transmembrane protein gp41 and the functions of HIV-1 receptor, co-receptor and the putative receptor will lead to developing effective HIV vaccine and anti-HIV drugs.     

Extensive variation of human immunodeficiency virus type-1 in vivo

Genotypic variation among independent isolates of human immunodeficiency virus type-1 (HIV-1) is well known, but its molecular basis and biological consequences are poorly understood. We examined the genesis of molecular variation in HIV-1 by sequential virus isolations from two chronically infected individuals and analysis of recombinant HIV-1 genomic clones. In three different virus isolates full-length HIV-1 clones were identified and found to consist, respectively, of 17, 9 and 13 distinguishable, but highly-related, viral genotypes. Thirty-five viral clones derived from two HIV-1 isolates obtained from the same individual but 16 months apart showed progressive change, yet were clearly related. Similar changes in the HIV-1 genome did not occur in vitro during virus isolation and amplification. The results indicate that HIV-1 variation in vivo is rapid, that a remarkably large number of related but distinguishable genotypic variants evolve in parallel and coexist during chronic infection, and that 'isolates' of HIV-1, unless molecularly or biologically cloned, generally consist of complex mixtures of genotypically distinguishable viruses.     

Activation of the DNA damage checkpoint and genomic instability in human precancerous lesions

DNA damage checkpoint genes, such as p53, are frequently mutated in human cancer, but the selective pressure for their inactivation remains elusive. We analysed a panel of human lung hyperplasias, all of which retained wild-type p53 genes and had no signs of gross chromosomal instability, and found signs of a DNA damage response, including histone H2AX and Chk2 phosphorylation, p53 accumulation, focal staining of p53 binding protein 1 (53BP1) and apoptosis. Progression to carcinoma was associated with p53 or 53BP1 inactivation and decreased apoptosis. A DNA damage response was also observed in dysplastic nevi and in human skin xenografts, in which hyperplasia was induced by overexpression of growth factors. Both lung and experimentally-induced skin hyperplasias showed allelic imbalance at loci that are prone to DNA double-strand break formation when DNA replication is compromised (common fragile sites). We propose that, from its earliest stages, cancer development is associated with DNA replication stress, which leads to DNA double-strand breaks, genomic instability and selective pressure for p53 mutations.     

Genome organization and transactivation of the human immunodeficiency virus type 2

Analysis of the nucleotide sequence of the human retrovirus associated with AIDS in West Africa, HIV-2, shows that it is evolutionarily distant from the previously characterized HIV-1. We suggest that these viruses existed long before the current AIDS epidemics. Their biological properties are conserved in spite of limited sequence homology; this may help the determination of the structure-function relationships of the different viral elements.     

Glucocorticoid-dependent oncogenic transformation by type 16 but not type 11 human papilloma virus DNA

Squamous cell carcinoma of the uterine cervix is one of the most common cancers among women. Correlation between human papilloma virus (HPV) infection of the uterine cervix and the development of cervical neoplasia has been established. More recent studies have shown the presence and expression of integrated HPV types 16 and 18 DNA sequences in 70-80% of cervical tumours and tumour cell lines. It has been suggested that, in addition to HPVs, other agents such as hormones and tobacco products act as cofactors in cervical neoplasia (for review see ref. 15). The presence and expression of a glucocorticoid-responsive element in HPV-16 has been reported. Here we provide evidence for the oncogenic transformation of primary cells with a combination of HPV-16 DNA, but not HPV-11 DNA, and the activated form of the human Ha-ras oncogene only in the presence of the glucocorticoid hormone dexamethasone.     

Mechanism of hmnan immunodeficiency virus type I entry into the target cells

Based on the recent advances of the research on the mechanism of HIV-1 infection, a novel model to elucidate the mechanism of HIV entry into the target cells is proposed and the perspective about the putative receptor is discussed in this review. Understanding of the crystal structure of HIV-1 transmembrane protein gp41 and the functions of HIV-1 receptor, co-receptor and the putative receptor will lead to developing effective HIV vaccine and anti-HIVdrugs.     

天花粉蛋白抗人免疫缺陷病毒1型研究

目的检测用基因工程方法制备的天花粉蛋白抗人免疫缺陷病毒1型的活性。方法将人免疫缺陷病毒1型在细胞系中培养,加入天花粉蛋白后,观察细胞病变情况,检测P24抗原及逆转录酶的活性。结果加入天花粉蛋白的细胞始终未见细胞病变,P24抗原及逆转录酶检测均为阴性;阴性对照组细胞在第7 d以后均出现人免疫缺陷病毒1型感染典型细胞病变,P24抗原及逆转录酶检测均为阳性;阳性对照组始终未见HIV-1感染典型细胞病变,逆转录酶的活性检测和P24抗原检测结果均为阴性。结论天花粉蛋白在培养细胞系中可以有效地抑制人免疫缺陷病毒1型。     

Three-dimensional structure of aspartyl protease from human immunodeficiency virus HIV-1

The crystal structure of the protease of the human immunodeficiency virus type (HIV-1), which releases structural proteins and enzymes from viral polyprotein products, has been determined to 3 A resolution. Large regions of the protease dimer, including the active site, have structural homology to the family of microbial aspartyl proteases. The structure suggests a mechanism for the autoproteolytic release of protease and a role in the control of virus maturation.     

Activation in vitro of sequence-specific DNA binding by a human regulatory factor

The human heat-shock factor (HSF) regulates heat-shock genes in response to elevated temperature. When human cells are heated to 43 degrees C, HSF is modified post-translationally from a form that does not bind DNA to a form that binds to a specific sequence (the heat-shock element, HSE) found upstream of heat-shock genes. To investigate the transduction of the heat signal to HSF, and more generally, how mammalian cells respond at the molecular level to environmental stimuli, we have developed a cell-free system that exhibits heat-induced activation of human HSF in vitro. Comparison of HSF activation in vitro and in intact cells suggests that the response of human cells to heat shock involves at least two steps. First, an ATP-independent, heat-induced alteration of HSF allows it to bind the HSE; the temperature at which activation occurs in vitro implies that a human factor directly senses temperature. Second, HSF is phosphorylated. It is possible that similar multi-step activation mechanisms play a role in the response of eukaryotic cells to a variety of environmental stimuli, and that these mechanisms evolved to increase the range and flexibility of the response.     

Infection of rabbits with human immunodeficiency virus

An important requirement for the development of a vaccine against the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV-1), the causative agent of AIDS, is a readily available animal model that would allow possible immunogens to be evaluated. The only species to have been infected with HIV-1 so far is the chimpanzee. However, the scarcity of this animal and its designation as an endangered species place severe restrictions on its use as an animal model. Attempts to infect mice, rats, hamsters, guinea-pigs, musk shrews, and rabbits with HIV-1 or infected cells have all been unsuccessful. We now report that the intraperitoneal inoculation of rabbits with HIV-1 or chronically infected H9 cells consistently induces a persistent infection.     

Construction of human combinatorial antibody library and screening of monoclonal antibody Fabs to human immunodeficiency virus type I

The heavy chain Fd genes and K chain genes of immunoglobulin were amplified by RT-PCR from PBL of three volunteer donors with HIV-positive. Phage antibody library was constructed with the Fd genes and K chain genes using pComb3 as vector. Three-round selection against coated gp120 showed specific enrichment of phage antibodies. After the third round selection, 40 out of 50 clones exhibited gp120 binding capacity. The specificity of the clones was verified by ELISA and competition inhibition ELISA. The VH was derived from subgroups VH Ⅱ and VHⅢ, VL belonged to subgroups VKⅠ and VK Ⅲ with DNA sequencing. These results suggest that the antibodies obtained are specific to gp120.     

Intracellular forms of Epstein-Barr virus DNA in human tumour cells in vivo.

Tumour biopsies from Burkitt lymphoma patients, as well as human nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells growing in athymic mice, contain Epstein-Barr virus DNA as covalently closed circular DNA. In addition integrated viral DNA sequences seem to be present.     

微量热研究稀土离子对大肠杆菌的作用

用不同浓度的甲醛染毒人宫颈癌Hela细胞、离体小鼠睾丸细胞、昆虫小菜蛾细胞,应用单细胞凝胶电泳技术检测细胞DNA的损伤效应.结果表明:对于Hela细胞和小菜蛾细胞,甲醛在10 μmol/L时可以极显著地诱导DNA断裂(P<0.01);在30 μmol/L时既有断裂也有交联作用(P<0.01),而在50μmol/L时尾部DNA百分比和尾距与阴性对照组无显著差异(P>0.05).对于睾丸细胞,甲醛在10μmol/L、30 μmol/L和50μmol/L时均可导致DNA断裂(P<0.05,P<0.01).该结果提示:甲醛兼具有断裂和交联的作用,可引起多种细胞DNA的损伤.     

Chk1 prevents abnormal mitosis of S-phase HeLa cells containing DNA damage

To explore effects of DNA damage on cell-cycle progression in p53-deficient tumor cells, synchronized HeLa cells at G1, S and G2/M phases were treated with methyl methanesulfnate （MMS）. The results showed that the MMS treatment resulted in the cell-cycle arrest or delay in all 3 phases, while the S-phase cells were the most sensitive to MMS. Further studies demonstrated that ATM-Chk2 and p38 MAPK signaling pathways were activated in all 3 phases when the cells were treated with MMS; whereas Chk1 was activated only in S phase under the drug treatment, indicating that Chk1 specifically participated in S-phase checkpoints. To analyze the role of Chk1 in S-phase checkpoints, we administered a specific Chk1 inhibitor, UCN-01, to the S-phase cells. The results showed that the S-phase cells treated with MMS＋UCN-01 could enter aberrant mitosis without finishing DNA replication, indicating that Chk1 mainly functions in the DNA damage checkpoint rather than in the replication checkpoint. In addition, MMS treatment alone inhibited the accumulation of cyclin B1, a key component of M-phase CDK-cyclin complex, in the S-phase cells, whereas the inhibition of Chk1 activation resulted in the accumulation of cyclin B1 in the MMS-treated S-phase cells. This observation further supports the view that DNA-damaged S-phase cells enter abnormal mitosis when Chk1 activation is inhibited. Our results demonstrate that Chk1 is a specific kinase that plays an important role in the MMS-induced S-phase DNA damage checkpoint. As p53 is not involved in this process, Chk1 may be a potential target for p53-deficient tumor therapy.