In this project we have several aims:
Aim 1 : To integrate information obtained by functional biochemical studies on ectopically expressed non-structural HTLV-1 proteins to infectivity and persistence of HTLV-1 in relevant cellular models in vitro (dendritic cells and T-cells).
Aim 2 : To integrate information obtained by functional biochemical studies on ectopically expressed non-structural HTLV-1 proteins to infectivity and persistence of HTLV-1 in relevant animal models of HTLV-1 infection. The viral genome encodes mRNAs for several non-structural proteins that affect cellular pathways and modulate viral replication. One such protein, p12, encoded by orf I, localizes to the ER and Golgi and cellular membranes. The proteolytic cleavage of p12 dictates its cellular localization and functions. The removal of a non-canonical endoplasmic reticulum (ER) retention/retrieval signal within the amino terminus of p12 is necessary for trafficking to the Golgi apparatus and the generation of a completely cleaved 8 kDa protein. The 8 kDa protein traffics to the cell surface, is recruited to the immunological synapse following T-cell receptor (TCR) ligation and down-regulates TCR proximal signaling. The full length form of p12 resides in the ER and interacts with the beta and gamma-c chains of the interleukin-2 receptor (IL-2R), the heavy chain of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I, as well as calreticulin and calnexin. Genetic analysis of ORF-I from ex vivo samples of HTLV-1-infected patients reveals frequent amino acid substitutions within orf-I that inhibit proteolytic cleavage, suggesting that ER associated functions of p12I may be selected in vivo. We plan to use reverse genetic methods and animal models to understand the contribution of orf-I variants to the maintenance of viral load in the host. The HTLV-1 orf II encodes p30II, a nuclear/nucleolar protein that not only regulates viral expression by a post-transcriptional mechanism, but also affects the expression of genes involved in host responses such as TLR-4. In addition orf II encodes p13, a small protein that we have recently demonstrate to decrease viral replication by targeting and degrading Tax, the viral transcriptional activator. We have recently demonstrated that p13 is a negative regulator of virus expression. Expressed separately, p13 localizes to the mitochondria, but in the presence of Tax, part of it is ubiquitinated, stabilized, and re-routed to the nuclear speckles. The p13 protein directly binds Tax, decreases Tax binding to the CBP/p300 transcriptional co-activator and, by reducing Tax transcriptional activity, suppresses viral expression. We have generated infectious HTLV-1 molecular clones that do not express p30 and/or p13. We are testing these viruses both in vitro and in vivo. We have found that p30 affects dramatically the ability of HTLV-1 to replicate in monocytoid-derived dendritic cells and is necessary for persistence of infection in macaques. Further studies are ongoing to determine the effect of p30 and p13 on in vivo infectivity is being tested in animal models.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Cancer Institute (NCI)
Type
Investigator-Initiated Intramural Research Projects (ZIA)
Project #
1ZIABC005645-22
Application #
8348887
Study Section
Project Start
Project End
Budget Start
Budget End
Support Year
22
Fiscal Year
2011
Total Cost
$1,786,670
Indirect Cost
Name
National Cancer Institute Division of Basic Sciences
Department
Type
DUNS #
City
State
Country
Zip Code
Rende, Francesca; Cavallari, Ilaria; Andresen, Vibeke et al. (2015) Identification of novel monocistronic HTLV-1 mRNAs encoding functional Rex isoforms. Retrovirology 12:58
Cavallari, Ilaria; Rende, Francesca; Bona, Marion K et al. (2015) Expression of Alternatively Spliced Human T-Cell Leukemia Virus Type 1 mRNAs Is Influenced by Mitosis and by a Novel cis-Acting Regulatory Sequence. J Virol 90:1486-98
Edwards, Dustin; Fukumoto, Risaku; de Castro-Amarante, Maria Fernanda et al. (2014) Palmitoylation and p8-mediated human T-cell leukemia virus type 1 transmission. J Virol 88:2319-22
Fenizia, Claudio; Fiocchi, Martina; Jones, Kathryn et al. (2014) Human T-cell leukemia/lymphoma virus type 1 p30, but not p12/p8, counteracts toll-like receptor 3 (TLR3) and TLR4 signaling in human monocytes and dendritic cells. J Virol 88:393-402
Mendoza, Daniel; Migueles, Stephen A; Rood, Julia E et al. (2013) Cytotoxic capacity of SIV-specific CD8(+) T cells against primary autologous targets correlates with immune control in SIV-infected rhesus macaques. PLoS Pathog 9:e1003195
Tosi, Giovanna; Forlani, Greta; Andresen, Vibeke et al. (2011) Major histocompatibility complex class II transactivator CIITA is a viral restriction factor that targets human T-cell lymphotropic virus type 1 Tax-1 function and inhibits viral replication. J Virol 85:10719-29
Andresen, Vibeke; Pise-Masison, Cynthia A; Sinha-Datta, Uma et al. (2011) Suppression of HTLV-1 replication by Tax-mediated rerouting of the p13 viral protein to nuclear speckles. Blood 118:1549-59
Edwards, Dustin; Fenizia, Claudio; Gold, Heather et al. (2011) Orf-I and orf-II-encoded proteins in HTLV-1 infection and persistence. Viruses 3:861-85
Valeri, Valerio W; Hryniewicz, Anna; Andresen, Vibeke et al. (2010) Requirement of the human T-cell leukemia virus p12 and p30 products for infectivity of human dendritic cells and macaques but not rabbits. Blood 116:3809-17
Silic-Benussi, Micol; Biasiotto, Roberta; Andresen, Vibeke et al. (2010) HTLV-1 p13, a small protein with a busy agenda. Mol Aspects Med 31:350-8

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