Efficient Inhibition of HIV Replication in the Gastrointestinal and Female Reproductive Tracts of Humanized BLT Mice by EFdA.

The nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NRTI) 4'-ethynyl-2-fluoro-2'-deoxyadenosine (EFdA) in preclinical development exhibits improved safety and antiviral activity profiles with minimal drug resistance compared to approved NRTIs. However, the systemic antiviral efficacy of EFdA h...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Uma Shanmugasundaram, Martina Kovarova, Phong T Ho, Nathaniel Schramm, Angela Wahl, Michael A Parniak, J Victor Garcia
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Public Library of Science (PLoS) 2016-01-01
Series:PLoS ONE
Online Access:http://europepmc.org/articles/PMC4954669?pdf=render
_version_ 1818174596158849024
author Uma Shanmugasundaram
Martina Kovarova
Phong T Ho
Nathaniel Schramm
Angela Wahl
Michael A Parniak
J Victor Garcia
author_facet Uma Shanmugasundaram
Martina Kovarova
Phong T Ho
Nathaniel Schramm
Angela Wahl
Michael A Parniak
J Victor Garcia
author_sort Uma Shanmugasundaram
collection DOAJ
description The nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NRTI) 4'-ethynyl-2-fluoro-2'-deoxyadenosine (EFdA) in preclinical development exhibits improved safety and antiviral activity profiles with minimal drug resistance compared to approved NRTIs. However, the systemic antiviral efficacy of EFdA has not been fully evaluated. In this study, we utilized bone marrow/liver/thymus (BLT) humanized mice to investigate the systemic effect of EFdA treatment on HIV replication and CD4+ T cell depletion in the peripheral blood (PB) and tissues. In particular, we performed a comprehensive analysis of the female reproductive tract (FRT) and gastrointestinal (GI) tract, major sites of transmission, viral replication, and CD4+ T cell depletion and where some current antiretroviral drugs have a sub-optimal effect.EFdA treatment resulted in reduction of HIV-RNA in PB to undetectable levels in the majority of treated mice by 3 weeks post-treatment. HIV-RNA levels in cervicovaginal lavage of EFdA-treated BLT mice also declined to undetectable levels demonstrating strong penetration of EFdA into the FRT. Our results also demonstrate a strong systemic suppression of HIV replication in all tissues analyzed. In particular, we observed more than a 2-log difference in HIV-RNA levels in the GI tract and FRT of EFdA-treated BLT mice compared to untreated HIV-infected control mice. In addition, HIV-RNA was also significantly lower in the lymph nodes, liver, lung, spleen of EFdA-treated BLT mice compared to untreated HIV-infected control mice. Furthermore, EFdA treatment prevented the depletion of CD4+ T cells in the PB, mucosal tissues and lymphoid tissues.Our findings indicate that EFdA is highly effective in controlling viral replication and preserving CD4+ T cells in particular with high efficiency in the GI and FRT tract. Thus, EFdA represents a strong potential candidate for further development as a part of antiretroviral therapy regimens.
first_indexed 2024-12-11T19:46:55Z
format Article
id doaj.art-0ca2a009bc544ee2903bcad5b97978cd
institution Directory Open Access Journal
issn 1932-6203
language English
last_indexed 2024-12-11T19:46:55Z
publishDate 2016-01-01
publisher Public Library of Science (PLoS)
record_format Article
series PLoS ONE
spelling doaj.art-0ca2a009bc544ee2903bcad5b97978cd2022-12-22T00:52:52ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS ONE1932-62032016-01-01117e015951710.1371/journal.pone.0159517Efficient Inhibition of HIV Replication in the Gastrointestinal and Female Reproductive Tracts of Humanized BLT Mice by EFdA.Uma ShanmugasundaramMartina KovarovaPhong T HoNathaniel SchrammAngela WahlMichael A ParniakJ Victor GarciaThe nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NRTI) 4'-ethynyl-2-fluoro-2'-deoxyadenosine (EFdA) in preclinical development exhibits improved safety and antiviral activity profiles with minimal drug resistance compared to approved NRTIs. However, the systemic antiviral efficacy of EFdA has not been fully evaluated. In this study, we utilized bone marrow/liver/thymus (BLT) humanized mice to investigate the systemic effect of EFdA treatment on HIV replication and CD4+ T cell depletion in the peripheral blood (PB) and tissues. In particular, we performed a comprehensive analysis of the female reproductive tract (FRT) and gastrointestinal (GI) tract, major sites of transmission, viral replication, and CD4+ T cell depletion and where some current antiretroviral drugs have a sub-optimal effect.EFdA treatment resulted in reduction of HIV-RNA in PB to undetectable levels in the majority of treated mice by 3 weeks post-treatment. HIV-RNA levels in cervicovaginal lavage of EFdA-treated BLT mice also declined to undetectable levels demonstrating strong penetration of EFdA into the FRT. Our results also demonstrate a strong systemic suppression of HIV replication in all tissues analyzed. In particular, we observed more than a 2-log difference in HIV-RNA levels in the GI tract and FRT of EFdA-treated BLT mice compared to untreated HIV-infected control mice. In addition, HIV-RNA was also significantly lower in the lymph nodes, liver, lung, spleen of EFdA-treated BLT mice compared to untreated HIV-infected control mice. Furthermore, EFdA treatment prevented the depletion of CD4+ T cells in the PB, mucosal tissues and lymphoid tissues.Our findings indicate that EFdA is highly effective in controlling viral replication and preserving CD4+ T cells in particular with high efficiency in the GI and FRT tract. Thus, EFdA represents a strong potential candidate for further development as a part of antiretroviral therapy regimens.http://europepmc.org/articles/PMC4954669?pdf=render
spellingShingle Uma Shanmugasundaram
Martina Kovarova
Phong T Ho
Nathaniel Schramm
Angela Wahl
Michael A Parniak
J Victor Garcia
Efficient Inhibition of HIV Replication in the Gastrointestinal and Female Reproductive Tracts of Humanized BLT Mice by EFdA.
PLoS ONE
title Efficient Inhibition of HIV Replication in the Gastrointestinal and Female Reproductive Tracts of Humanized BLT Mice by EFdA.
title_full Efficient Inhibition of HIV Replication in the Gastrointestinal and Female Reproductive Tracts of Humanized BLT Mice by EFdA.
title_fullStr Efficient Inhibition of HIV Replication in the Gastrointestinal and Female Reproductive Tracts of Humanized BLT Mice by EFdA.
title_full_unstemmed Efficient Inhibition of HIV Replication in the Gastrointestinal and Female Reproductive Tracts of Humanized BLT Mice by EFdA.
title_short Efficient Inhibition of HIV Replication in the Gastrointestinal and Female Reproductive Tracts of Humanized BLT Mice by EFdA.
title_sort efficient inhibition of hiv replication in the gastrointestinal and female reproductive tracts of humanized blt mice by efda
url http://europepmc.org/articles/PMC4954669?pdf=render
work_keys_str_mv AT umashanmugasundaram efficientinhibitionofhivreplicationinthegastrointestinalandfemalereproductivetractsofhumanizedbltmicebyefda
AT martinakovarova efficientinhibitionofhivreplicationinthegastrointestinalandfemalereproductivetractsofhumanizedbltmicebyefda
AT phongtho efficientinhibitionofhivreplicationinthegastrointestinalandfemalereproductivetractsofhumanizedbltmicebyefda
AT nathanielschramm efficientinhibitionofhivreplicationinthegastrointestinalandfemalereproductivetractsofhumanizedbltmicebyefda
AT angelawahl efficientinhibitionofhivreplicationinthegastrointestinalandfemalereproductivetractsofhumanizedbltmicebyefda
AT michaelaparniak efficientinhibitionofhivreplicationinthegastrointestinalandfemalereproductivetractsofhumanizedbltmicebyefda
AT jvictorgarcia efficientinhibitionofhivreplicationinthegastrointestinalandfemalereproductivetractsofhumanizedbltmicebyefda