Heart, lung, and/or blood (HBL) complications of HIV infection are the emerging problem in HIV-related pathology. In the current proposal, we will study the mechanisms of HIV replication in cerebrovascular pericytes, addressing fundamental mechanistic questions focused on the impact of HIV infection on vascular tissue dysfunction contributing to the development of ischemic stroke. The integrity and functionality of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) are maintained by tight junctions (TJs) and the close interface between the cells of the neurovascular units, including pericytes interacting with microvascular endothelial cells. While cerebrovascular pericytes are arguably the most understudied cells of vascular tissue, recent literature reports provide compelling evidence on their involvement in the pathogenesis of stroke. In addition, we reported that they are susceptible to HIV infection, negatively affecting the integrity of the vascular endothelium. Our recently obtained critical preliminary data indicate that HIV replication in cerebrovascular pericytes is inversely correlated with the levels TJ protein occludin. The present application is built on these novel findings and we propose that cellular levels of occludin regulate HIV replication in cerebrovascular pericytes and thus influence the development of ischemic stroke in HIV-infected brain. Mechanistically, we identified that occludin has an NADH oxidase activity, resulting in increased cellular pool of NAD+.
In Aim 1, we hypothesize that this activity leads to activation of sirtuin 1 (SIRT1), an NAD(+)-dependent deacetylase, which then suppresses activation of NF-?B and inhibits HIV replication in cerebrovascular pericytes.
In Aim 2, we will focus on the role of occludin as a factor that limits a late stage of HIV replication by interfering with the ESCRT (endosomal complex required for transport) machinery, which is responsible for HIV budding and release. These studies are supported by another set of our exciting preliminary findings, indicating that occludin can interfere with ALIX, an early-acting ESCRT factor. While increased cellular occludin protects against HIV replication, an opposite effect is observed by decreased occludin levels. This is important because occludin upregulation in HIV infection is highly unique to cerebrovascular pericytes, with other cell types responding to infection by decreasing levels of this protein. Therefore, Aim 3 of our proposal is focused on an animal model of ischemic stroke in which we will utilize novel pericyte and occludin deficient mice infected with recently developed mouse-tropic EcoHIV strain. The proposed research is highly innovative by its focus on novel mechanisms to understand and control the mechanisms and pathogenesis underlying the development of HBL conditions. The completion of this proposal has the potential to change our understanding of the role of occludin and vascular pericytes in HIV infection and its HBL complications, including stroke.

Public Health Relevance

This application will evaluate the mechanisms of HIV replication in cerebrovascular pericytes, addressing the impact of HIV on vascular dysfunction contributing to the development of ischemic stroke. The main hypothesis is that cellular levels of tight junction protein occludin regulate HIV replication in cerebrovascular pericytes and thus influence the development of ischemic stroke. The obtained results will have a potential to be a major breakthrough, providing new therapeutic approaches to protect against the development of heart, lung, and/or blood (HBL) conditions in HIV infection.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01HL126559-03
Application #
9120403
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZHL1)
Program Officer
Warren, Ronald Q
Project Start
2014-09-15
Project End
2018-08-31
Budget Start
2016-09-01
Budget End
2017-08-31
Support Year
3
Fiscal Year
2016
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Miami School of Medicine
Department
Biochemistry
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
052780918
City
Coral Gables
State
FL
Country
United States
Zip Code
33146
Skowronska, Marta; McDonald, Marisa; Velichkovska, Martina et al. (2018) Methamphetamine increases HIV infectivity in neural progenitor cells. J Biol Chem 293:296-311
Bertrand, Luc; Dygert, Levi; Toborek, Michal (2017) Induction of Ischemic Stroke and Ischemia-reperfusion in Mice Using the Middle Artery Occlusion Technique and Visualization of Infarct Area. J Vis Exp :
Cho, Hyung Joon; Kuo, Alyce Mei-Shiuan; Bertrand, Luc et al. (2017) HIV Alters Gap Junction-Mediated Intercellular Communication in Human Brain Pericytes. Front Mol Neurosci 10:410
András, Ibolya E; Leda, Ana; Contreras, Marta Garcia et al. (2017) Extracellular vesicles of the blood-brain barrier: Role in the HIV-1 associated amyloid beta pathology. Mol Cell Neurosci 79:12-22
Leda, Ana R; Dygert, Levy; Bertrand, Luc et al. (2017) Mouse Microsurgery Infusion Technique for Targeted Substance Delivery into the CNS via the Internal Carotid Artery. J Vis Exp :
Bertrand, Luc; Dygert, Levi; Toborek, Michal (2016) Antiretroviral Treatment with Efavirenz Disrupts the Blood-Brain Barrier Integrity and Increases Stroke Severity. Sci Rep 6:39738
Park, Minseon; Levine, Harry; Toborek, Michal (2016) Exercise protects against methamphetamine-induced aberrant neurogenesis. Sci Rep 6:34111
Castro, Victor; Bertrand, Luc; Luethen, Mareen et al. (2016) Occludin controls HIV transcription in brain pericytes via regulation of SIRT-1 activation. FASEB J 30:1234-46
András, Ibolya E; Toborek, Michal (2016) Extracellular vesicles of the blood-brain barrier. Tissue Barriers 4:e1131804
Bertrand, Luc; Nair, Madhavan; Toborek, Michal (2016) Solving the Blood-Brain Barrier Challenge for the Effective Treatment of HIV Replication in the Central Nervous System. Curr Pharm Des 22:5477-5486

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