Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTb) drives enhanced human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) replication and disease progression, while HIV-induced CD4+ T cell depletion dramatically increases MTb reactivation from latency and the risk of de novo MTb infection. Improved understanding of the immunological and cellular mechanisms involved in host control of latent and active TB in the context of HIV infection is critical for the design of novel treatments for TB/HIV co-infection. Here, we present preliminary data demonstrating that transcription of the antiviral interferon-induced transmembrane (IFITM) family of proteins (IFITM1, 2, and 3) is strongly induced by MTb infection of human monocytes and monocyte-derived-macrophages (MDM). Further, using shRNA, we show that IFITM1-3 restrict both MTb and HIV-1 infection in human monocytic cells. In addition, IFITM3 co-localizes with MTb in early and late endosomal compartments post-infection, and overexpression of IFITM3 results in enhanced acidification of endosomal compartments in MTb-infected monocytes. We also show that dead(d)Cas9-KRAB-mediated knock-down of the innate immune viral RNA sensors, interferon-induced, double-stranded RNA-activated protein kinase (PKR), and retinoic acid-inducible gene 1 (RIG-I), leads to greater MTb growth in human monocytic cells. Our studies of the FDA-approved small molecule drug, nitazoxanide (NTZ) widely used in parasitic diarrhea, which has previously been shown to activate PKR, induces the formation of stress granules and activates transcription of the stress response and antiviral phosphatase GADD34 in human alveolar epithelial cells, which is also induced by MTb. Furthermore, NTZ inhibits MTb and HIV infection in MDM, and suppresses TLR-mediated activation of a quiescent proviral HIV minigenome in monocytic cells. Based on these preliminary data, in this proposal we will test the following major hypotheses: (i) IFITM3 is the primary IFITM family member involved in MTb restriction in myeloid cells, and limits MTb survival and growth by promoting recruitment of v-ATPase to the mycobacterial phagosome resulting in subsequent phagosome acidification; ii) PKR and RIG-I expression and activation augment the host cell response to virulent MTb that is initiated by signals triggered by MTb DNA early after infection; iii) PKR is required for NTZ-induced stress granule formation and activation of both GADD34 transcription itself and GADD34-mediated RIG-I activation, which leads to enhanced detection and control of both MTb and HIV; and, iv) NTZ inhibits the growth of both pathogens by disrupting basal STAT3-PKR interactions and promoting PKR-dependent autophagy. We expect to identify novel host cell mechanisms that restrict TB/HIV, including factors that are critical for MTb survival after infection of macrophages, which we anticipate will be attractive therapeutic targets for simultaneous modulation of active/latent TB and HIV in the context of co-infection. We also anticipate that we will identify molecular and immunological correlates of NTZ-mediated anti-TB/HIV activity providing a scientific foundation for rapid repurposing of NTZ for TB/HIV.
Tuberculosis (TB) is the leading cause of mortality in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients, and TB replication in the lung drives local and systemic HIV replication and disease progression. HIV in turn greatly enhances active TB disease from latent TB infection. Based on preliminary data obtained by our laboratory, we have identified several mechanisms and key molecules employed by host cells that result in inhibition of both TB infection and HIV infection. Our goal in this application is to dissect these mechanisms in order to identify novel immunological and molecular therapeutic targets and the repurposing of a well-tolerated immunomodulatory drug, NTZ, for improved treatment of TB and TB/HIV co-infection.
| Haridas, Viraga; Ranjbar, Shahin; Vorobjev, Ivan A et al. (2017) Imaging flow cytometry analysis of intracellular pathogens. Methods 112:91-104 |
