Antiretroviral Drugs Alter the Content of Extracellular Vesicles from HIV-1-Infected Cells

Sci Rep. 2018 May 16;8(1):7653. doi: 10.1038/s41598-018-25943-2.

Abstract

To date, the most effective treatment of HIV-1 is a combination antiretroviral therapy (cART), which reduces viral replication and reverses pathology. We investigated the effect of cART (RT and protease inhibitors) on the content of extracellular vesicles (EVs) released from HIV-1-infected cells. We have previously shown that EVs contain non-coding HIV-1 RNA, which can elicit responses in recipient cells. In this manuscript, we show that TAR RNA levels demonstrate little change with the addition of cART treatment in cell lines, primary macrophages, and patient biofluids. We determined possible mechanisms involved in the selective packaging of HIV-1 RNA into EVs, specifically an increase in EV-associated hnRNP A2/B1. More recent experiments have shown that several other FDA-approved drugs have the ability to alter the content of exosomes released from HIV-1-infected cells. These findings on cART-altered EV content can also be applied to general viral inhibitors (interferons) which are used to treat other chronic infections. Additionally, we describe unique mechanisms of ESCRT pathway manipulation by antivirals, specifically the targeting of VPS4. Collectively, these data imply that, despite antiretroviral therapy, EVs containing viral products are continually released and may cause neurocognitive and immunological dysfunction.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Intramural

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Anti-Retroviral Agents / pharmacology*
  • Cohort Studies
  • Extracellular Vesicles / drug effects
  • Extracellular Vesicles / metabolism*
  • Female
  • HIV Infections / drug therapy
  • HIV Infections / metabolism*
  • HIV Infections / virology
  • HIV-1 / metabolism*
  • HIV-1 / pathogenicity
  • Humans
  • Male
  • RNA, Viral / genetics
  • Virus Replication
  • Young Adult
  • tat Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus / genetics
  • tat Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus / metabolism*

Substances

  • Anti-Retroviral Agents
  • RNA, Viral
  • tat Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus