A cofactor for HIV-1 (human immunodeficiency virus-type 1) fusion and entry was identified with the use of a novel functional complementary DNA (cDNA) cloning strategy. This protein, designated “fusin,” is a putative G protein-coupled receptor with seven transmembrane segments. Recombinant fusin enabled CD4-expressing nonhuman cell types to support HIV-1 Env-mediated cell fusion and HIV-1 infection. Antibodies to fusin blocked cell fusion and infection with normal CD4-positive human target cells. Fusin messenger RNA levels correlated with HIV-1 permissiveness in diverse human cell types. Fusin acted preferentially for T cell line-tropic isolates, in comparison to its activity with macrophage-tropic HIV-1 isolates.

https://science.sciencemag.org/content/sci/272/5263/872.full.pdf

HIV-1 Entry Cofactor: Functional cDNA Cloning of a Seven-Transmembrane, G Protein-Coupled Receptor

A cofactor for HIV-1 (human immunodeficiency virus-type 1) fusion and entry was identified with the use of a novel functional complementary DNA (cDNA) cloning strategy. This protein, designated "fusin," is a putative G protein-coupled receptor with seven transmembrane segments. Recombinant fusin enabled CD4-expressing nonhuman cell types to support HIV-1 Env-mediated cell fusion and HIV-1 infection. Antibodies to fusin blocked cell fusion and infection with normal CD4-positive human target cells. Fusin messenger RNA levels correlated with HIV-1 permissiveness in diverse human cell types. Fusin acted preferentially for T cell line-tropic isolates, in comparison to its activity with macrophage-tropic HIV-1 isolates.

HIV-1 Entry Cofactor: Functional cDNA Cloning of a Seven-Transmembrane, G Protein–Coupled Receptor

Transgenic rabbits as therapeutic protein bioreactors and human disease models.

Both Th1 and Th17 cells have been implicated in the pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel disease and experimental colitis. However, the complex relationship between Th1 and Th17 cells and their relative contributions to the pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel disease have not been completely analyzed. Although it has been recently shown that Th17 cells can convert into Th1 cells, the underlying in vivo mechanisms and the role of Th1 cells converted from Th17 cells in the pathogenesis of colitis are still largely unknown. In this study, we report that Th17 cells from CBir1 TCR transgenic mice, which are specific for an immunodominant microbiota Ag, are more potent than Th1 cells in the induction of colitis, as Th17 cells induced severe colitis, whereas Th1 cells induced mild colitis when transferred into TCRβxδ(-/-) mice. High levels of IL-12 and IL-23 and substantial numbers of IFN-γ(+) Th1 cells emerged in the colons of Th17 cell recipients. Administration of anti-IL-17 mAb abrogated Th17 cell-induced colitis development, blocked colonic IL-12 and IL-23 production, and inhibited IFN-γ(+) Th1 cell induction. IL-17 promoted dendritic cell production of IL-12 and IL-23. Furthermore, conditioned media from colonic tissues of colitic Th17 cell recipients induced IFN-γ production by Th17 cells, which was inhibited by blockade of IL-12 and IL-23. Collectively, these data indicate that Th17 cells convert to Th1 cells through IL-17 induction of mucosal innate IL-12 and IL-23 production.

Th17 Cells Induce Colitis and Promote Th1 Cell Responses through IL-17 Induction of Innate IL-12 and IL-23 Production

The discovery that chemokine receptors are the human cofactors required along with CD4 for fusion and infection by HIV has opened new directions in AIDS research on mechanisms of viral entry, tropism, and pathogenesis. A possible mechanism of co-receptor function has been demonstrated that involves the formation of a complex on the cell surface between the HIV-1 envelope, CD4, and the coreceptor. Functional studies indicate that this interaction is structurally complex, that it probably involves multiple domains of the coreceptor, and that different virus isolates interact with coreceptors in distinct ways. Other immunodeficiency viruses including simian immunodeficiency virus and feline immunodeficiency virus also utilize chemokine receptors for entry. The identification of genetic polymorphisms helps explain why some people, with alterations in the CCR5 gene that prevent expression, are protected from HIV-1 infection. The discovery of specific HIV-1 fusion coreceptor molecules has not only provided new insights into the mechanisms of viral entry and tropism, but also led to new avenues of investigation on strategies to block HIV infection.

Chemokine receptors and HIV.

A major obstacle to understanding AIDS is the lack of a suitable small animal model for studying HIV-1 infection and the subsequent development of AIDS, and for testing diagnostic, therapeutic, and preventive modalities. Our goal is to produce a rabbit model for the study of AIDS. Here we report on the generation of transgenic rabbits that express the human CD4 (hCD4) gene. The transgene, which contains the coding region for hCD4 and approximately 23 kb of sequence upstream of the translation start site, was used previously to direct hcD4 expression on the surface of CD4+ T cells of transgenic mice (Gillespie et al., 1993: Mol Cell Biol 13:2952-2958). The hCD4 transgene was detected in five males and two females derived from the microinjection in five males and two females derived from the microinjection of 271 rabbit embryos. Both hCD4 RNA and protein were expressed in peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBLs) from all five males but neither of the females. Human CD4 was expressed on PBLs from F1 offspring of all founder males. T-cell subset analysis revealed that hCD4 expression was restricted to rabbit CD4 (rCD4) expressing lymphocytes; mature rCD4- rCD8+ lymphocytes did not express hCD4. In preliminary studies, PBLs from hCD4 transgenic rabbits produced greater amounts of HIV-1 p24 core protein following HIV-1 infection in vitro than HIV-1 p24 antigen in nontransgenic rabbit infected cultures. These results extend to rabbits our previous observation that this transgene contains the sequence elements required for high-level expression in the appropriate cells of transgenic mice. Furthermore, these and previous studies demonstrating that expression of hCD4 protein enhances HIV-1 infection of rabbit T cells in vitro, coupled with reports that normal, nontransgenic rabbits are susceptible to HIV-1 infection, suggests that the hCD4 transgenic rabbits described herein will have an increased susceptibility to HIV-1 infection. In vivo HIV-1 infection studies with these rabbits are under way.

Developmental and tissue-specific expression of human CD4 in transgenic rabbits.

The present invention provides a method for introducing into a cell a heterologous region of DNA, such that the heterologous region becomes integrated at a preselected target site outside of a known chromosomal gene in the cell. Such integration is accomplished by including on the DNA molecule containing the heterologous region, a region of DNA that is homologous to the target sequence, such that homologous recombination can occur between the homologous regions. As a result of this homologous recombination, the heterologous region is inserted into the target site outside of the chromosomal gene. Transgenic organisms and cells also are provided.

Insertion of heterologous dna outside of known chromosomal genes

A method for introducing into a cell an operably unlinked regulatory region and coding region that have been constructed such that they are able to join in vivo to form an operably linked unit is described. Prior to introduction into the cell, the ends of the regulatory region and the coding region are constructed to contain, for example, blunt ends such that blunt end ligation can occur, single stranded cohesive ends that are complementary to each other such that annealing between the strands can occur, or homologous sequence regions such that homologous recombination is able to occur. Transgenic organisms, cells and cell lines are also provided.

Patrice Milos

Papers

Developmental and tissue-specific expression of human CD4 in transgenic rabbits.

Insertion of heterologous dna outside of known chromosomal genes

Production of transgenics by joining regulatory and coding regions in vivo