HIV-1 Nef assembles a Src family kinase-ZAP-70/Syk-PI3K cascade to downregulate cell-surface MHC-I

Cell Host Microbe. 2007 Apr 19;1(2):121-33. doi: 10.1016/j.chom.2007.03.004.

Abstract

HIV-1 Nef, which is required for the efficient onset of AIDS, enhances viral replication and infectivity by exerting multiple effects on infected cells. Nef downregulates cell-surface MHC-I molecules by an uncharacterized PI3K pathway requiring the actions of two Nef motifs-EEEE(65) and PXXP(75). We report that the Nef EEEE(65) targeting motif enables Nef PXXP(75) to bind and activate a trans-Golgi network-localized Src family tyrosine kinase (SFK). The Nef/SFK complex then recruits and phosphorylates the tyrosine kinase ZAP-70, which binds class I PI3K to trigger MHC-I downregulation in primary CD4+ T cells. In promonocytic cells, Nef/SFK recruits the ZAP-70 homolog Syk to downregulate MHC-I, implicating this PI3K pathway in multiple HIV-1 reservoirs. Isoform-specific PI3K inhibitors repress MHC-I downregulation, identifying them as potential therapeutic agents to combat HIV-1. The discovery of this Nef-SFK-ZAP-70/Syk-PI3K signaling pathway explains the hierarchal role of the Nef motifs in effecting immunoevasion.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

  • CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / immunology*
  • CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / virology
  • Cell Line
  • Cell Membrane / immunology*
  • Gene Expression Regulation / immunology
  • HIV-1 / physiology*
  • Histocompatibility Antigens Class I / immunology*
  • Humans
  • Major Histocompatibility Complex*
  • Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases / metabolism*
  • Phosphoinositide-3 Kinase Inhibitors
  • RNA, Small Interfering / genetics
  • ZAP-70 Protein-Tyrosine Kinase / metabolism*
  • nef Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus / physiology*

Substances

  • Histocompatibility Antigens Class I
  • Phosphoinositide-3 Kinase Inhibitors
  • RNA, Small Interfering
  • nef Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus
  • nef protein, Human immunodeficiency virus 1
  • ZAP-70 Protein-Tyrosine Kinase