TREM-1 Protects HIV-1-Infected Macrophages from Apoptosis through Maintenance of Mitochondrial Function

ABSTRACT Macrophages are a reservoir for latent human immunodeficiency type 1 (HIV) infection and a barrier to HIV eradication. In contrast to CD4+ T cells, macrophages are resistant to the cytopathic effects of acute HIV infection. Emerging data suggest a role for TREM1 (triggering receptor express...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Grant R. Campbell, Rachel K. To, Stephen A. Spector
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: American Society for Microbiology 2019-12-01
Series:mBio
Subjects:
Online Access:https://journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/mBio.02638-19
_version_ 1818826061231685632
author Grant R. Campbell
Rachel K. To
Stephen A. Spector
author_facet Grant R. Campbell
Rachel K. To
Stephen A. Spector
author_sort Grant R. Campbell
collection DOAJ
description ABSTRACT Macrophages are a reservoir for latent human immunodeficiency type 1 (HIV) infection and a barrier to HIV eradication. In contrast to CD4+ T cells, macrophages are resistant to the cytopathic effects of acute HIV infection. Emerging data suggest a role for TREM1 (triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells 1) in this resistance to HIV-mediated cytopathogenesis. Here, we show that upon HIV infection, macrophages increase the expression of BCL2, BCLXL, TREM1, mitofusin 1 (MFN1), and MFN2 and the translocation of BCL2L11 (BIM) to the mitochondria and decrease the expression of BCL2-associated agonist of cell death (BAD) and BAX while maintaining a 95% survival rate over 28 days. The HIV proteins Tat and gp120 and the GU-rich single-stranded RNA (ssRNA) (RNA40) from the HIV long terminal repeat region (and a natural Toll-like receptor 8 [TLR8] agonist) induced similar effects. TREM1 silencing in HIV-infected macrophages led to decreased expression of BCL2, BCLXL, MFN1, and MFN2 and increased expression of BAD and BAX. This correlated with a significant increase in apoptosis mediated by a disruption of the mitochondrial membrane potential (Δψm), leading to the release of cytochrome c and caspase 9 cleavage. Exposure of TREM1-silenced macrophages to Tat, gp120, or RNA40 similarly resulted in the disruption of Δψm, cytochrome c release, caspase 9 cleavage, and apoptosis. Thus, our findings identify a mechanism whereby HIV promotes macrophage survival through TREM1-dependent upregulation of BCL2 family proteins and mitofusins that inhibits BCL2L11-mediated disruption of Δψm and subsequent apoptosis. These findings indicate that TREM1 can be a useful target for elimination of the HIV reservoir in macrophages. IMPORTANCE The major challenge to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) treatment is the development of strategies that lead to viral eradication. A roadblock to accomplishing this goal is the lack of an approach that would safely eliminate HIV from all resting/latent reservoirs, including macrophages. Macrophages are a key part of the innate immune system and are responsible for recognizing invading microbes and sending appropriate signals to other immune cells. Here, we found that HIV induces the upregulation of the protein TREM1 (triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells 1), which signals an increase in the expression of antiapoptotic proteins, thus promoting survival of HIV-infected macrophages.
first_indexed 2024-12-19T00:21:40Z
format Article
id doaj.art-6743162d19fe45efa3f2f25ce3e8c974
institution Directory Open Access Journal
issn 2150-7511
language English
last_indexed 2024-12-19T00:21:40Z
publishDate 2019-12-01
publisher American Society for Microbiology
record_format Article
series mBio
spelling doaj.art-6743162d19fe45efa3f2f25ce3e8c9742022-12-21T20:45:32ZengAmerican Society for MicrobiologymBio2150-75112019-12-0110610.1128/mBio.02638-19TREM-1 Protects HIV-1-Infected Macrophages from Apoptosis through Maintenance of Mitochondrial FunctionGrant R. Campbell0Rachel K. To1Stephen A. Spector2Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Pediatrics, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, USADivision of Infectious Diseases, Department of Pediatrics, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, USADivision of Infectious Diseases, Department of Pediatrics, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, USAABSTRACT Macrophages are a reservoir for latent human immunodeficiency type 1 (HIV) infection and a barrier to HIV eradication. In contrast to CD4+ T cells, macrophages are resistant to the cytopathic effects of acute HIV infection. Emerging data suggest a role for TREM1 (triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells 1) in this resistance to HIV-mediated cytopathogenesis. Here, we show that upon HIV infection, macrophages increase the expression of BCL2, BCLXL, TREM1, mitofusin 1 (MFN1), and MFN2 and the translocation of BCL2L11 (BIM) to the mitochondria and decrease the expression of BCL2-associated agonist of cell death (BAD) and BAX while maintaining a 95% survival rate over 28 days. The HIV proteins Tat and gp120 and the GU-rich single-stranded RNA (ssRNA) (RNA40) from the HIV long terminal repeat region (and a natural Toll-like receptor 8 [TLR8] agonist) induced similar effects. TREM1 silencing in HIV-infected macrophages led to decreased expression of BCL2, BCLXL, MFN1, and MFN2 and increased expression of BAD and BAX. This correlated with a significant increase in apoptosis mediated by a disruption of the mitochondrial membrane potential (Δψm), leading to the release of cytochrome c and caspase 9 cleavage. Exposure of TREM1-silenced macrophages to Tat, gp120, or RNA40 similarly resulted in the disruption of Δψm, cytochrome c release, caspase 9 cleavage, and apoptosis. Thus, our findings identify a mechanism whereby HIV promotes macrophage survival through TREM1-dependent upregulation of BCL2 family proteins and mitofusins that inhibits BCL2L11-mediated disruption of Δψm and subsequent apoptosis. These findings indicate that TREM1 can be a useful target for elimination of the HIV reservoir in macrophages. IMPORTANCE The major challenge to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) treatment is the development of strategies that lead to viral eradication. A roadblock to accomplishing this goal is the lack of an approach that would safely eliminate HIV from all resting/latent reservoirs, including macrophages. Macrophages are a key part of the innate immune system and are responsible for recognizing invading microbes and sending appropriate signals to other immune cells. Here, we found that HIV induces the upregulation of the protein TREM1 (triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells 1), which signals an increase in the expression of antiapoptotic proteins, thus promoting survival of HIV-infected macrophages.https://journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/mBio.02638-19BCL2 familyTREM-1apoptosishuman immunodeficiency virusmacrophagesmitochondria
spellingShingle Grant R. Campbell
Rachel K. To
Stephen A. Spector
TREM-1 Protects HIV-1-Infected Macrophages from Apoptosis through Maintenance of Mitochondrial Function
mBio
BCL2 family
TREM-1
apoptosis
human immunodeficiency virus
macrophages
mitochondria
title TREM-1 Protects HIV-1-Infected Macrophages from Apoptosis through Maintenance of Mitochondrial Function
title_full TREM-1 Protects HIV-1-Infected Macrophages from Apoptosis through Maintenance of Mitochondrial Function
title_fullStr TREM-1 Protects HIV-1-Infected Macrophages from Apoptosis through Maintenance of Mitochondrial Function
title_full_unstemmed TREM-1 Protects HIV-1-Infected Macrophages from Apoptosis through Maintenance of Mitochondrial Function
title_short TREM-1 Protects HIV-1-Infected Macrophages from Apoptosis through Maintenance of Mitochondrial Function
title_sort trem 1 protects hiv 1 infected macrophages from apoptosis through maintenance of mitochondrial function
topic BCL2 family
TREM-1
apoptosis
human immunodeficiency virus
macrophages
mitochondria
url https://journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/mBio.02638-19
work_keys_str_mv AT grantrcampbell trem1protectshiv1infectedmacrophagesfromapoptosisthroughmaintenanceofmitochondrialfunction
AT rachelkto trem1protectshiv1infectedmacrophagesfromapoptosisthroughmaintenanceofmitochondrialfunction
AT stephenaspector trem1protectshiv1infectedmacrophagesfromapoptosisthroughmaintenanceofmitochondrialfunction