AZT blocks down-regulation of IL-2 and IFN-γ gene expression in HIV acutely infected cells
Date
1997
Authors
Fan, J.
Li, P.
Kok, T.
Burrell, C.
Editors
Advisors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Type:
Journal article
Citation
Archives of Virology, 1997; 142(5):1035-1043
Statement of Responsibility
J. Fan, P. Li, T.-W. Kok, C. J. Burrell
Conference Name
Abstract
HIV infection causes dysregulation of cytokine gene expression in CD4⁺ T cells of the infected host. Azidothymidine (AZT) inhibits HIV repli-cation by blocking reverse transcription. Using a one-stop cell-to-cell HIV infection model, we have investigated the expression of several key cytokines in HIV infected T cells in the absence or presence of AZT treatment. Acute HIV infection of T cells resulted in dramatic down regulation of the expression of IL-2 and INFg mRNA. While β-actin mRNA levels remained constant in both AZT-free and AZT treated cultures after HIV infection, it was found that AZT blocked the down regulation of IL-2 mRNA and INFg mRNA in CD4⁺ T cells acutely infected with HIV.