Identification and characterization of differentially expressed mRNAs in HIV type 1-infected human T cells

We used a novel differential display (DD) technique to identify host factors involved in virus replication, pathogenesis, and host response in HIV-1-infected T cells. Thirteen cDNA fragments differentially expressed in HIV-1(NL4-3)-infected MT-4 cells prior to the occurrence of specific apoptotic cell death were sequenced and identified. Two of seven elevated genes were identical to HIV-1 sequences and the other five were MIP-1 alpha, ACTE-III, CD11c, arginase I, and CCR5. The six downregulated genes included prothymosin-alpha, Jaw-1, proteasome subunit XAPC7, splicing factor 9G8, GA17 protein, and an unknown mRNA. Northern blot and RT-PCR analyses confirmed the altered gene expressions in MT-4 cells as well as in another T cell line, MOLT-4. We also revealed that the amount of MIP-1 alpha in culture supernatant of HIV-1-infected cells was increased by more than 15-fold relative to control cells, and the expression of its receptor CCR5 was cooperatively upregulated on the surface of these cells. Furthermore, the upregulation of CD11c after HIV-1 infection was slightly inhibited by blocking the MIP-1 alpha-mediated signal transduction. These results indicate that genes altered on HIV-1 infection may be mutually organized and play an important role in HIV-1-induced pathogenesis.