Journal
AIDS
Volume 32, Issue 3, Pages 299-307Publisher
LIPPINCOTT WILLIAMS & WILKINS
DOI: 10.1097/QAD.0000000000001693
Keywords
apoptosis-associated speck-like protein containing a caspase-recruitment domain (ASC); cytoskeletal proteins; HIV-1; human; inflammasomes; inflammation; protein multimerization; PYCARD protein
Categories
Funding
- German Research Foundation [DFG BO 4325/1-1]
- HiLF of the MHH
- ERC InflammAct
- DZIF TTU HIV [04.810, 04.811]
- [1923]
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Objective: The formation of large intracellular protein aggregates of the inflammasome adaptor protein ASC (apoptosis-associated speck-like protein containing a caspase-recruitment domain; also know as PYCARD) is a hallmark of inflammasome activation. ASC speck-forming cells release the highly proinflammatory cytokine IL-1 beta in addition to ASC specks into the extracellular space during pyroptotic cell death. There ASC specks can propagate inflammation to other nonactivated cells or tissues. HIV-1 retroviral infection triggers inflammasome activation of abortively infected CD4(+) T cells in secondary lymphatic tissues. However, if pyroptosis occurs in other peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of HIV-1-infected patients is currently unknown. We investigated if ASC speck positive cells are present in the circulation of HIV-1-infected patients. Design and methods: PBMCs or plasma of HIV-1 infected, antiretroviral therapy-naive patients were analyzed for the presence of ASC speck(+) cells or extracellular ASC and compared with healthy controls. Intracellular staining for ASC was employed to detect ASC speck(+) cells within PBMCs by flow cytometry, and ELISA to detect free ASC in the plasma. ASC multimerization was confirmed by immunoblot. Results: Peripheral blood CD14(++)CD16(-) monocytes were ASC speck(+) in HIV patients, but not in healthy controls. In the subgroup analysis, HIV patients with lower CD4(+) T-cell counts and higher viral load had significantly more ASC speck(+) monocytes. ASC speck formation did not correlate with Gag expression, coinfection, lactate dehydrogenase or C-reactive protein. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that pyroptotic CD14(++)CD16(-) classical monocytes of HIV-1-infected patients release ASC specks into the blood stream, a phenomenon that may contribute to HIV-1 induced inflammation and immune activation. Copyright (C) 2018 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.
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