HIV destroys the nucleolus; future prospect of molecular and cellular biology.
Int Conf AIDS 1994 Aug 7-12; 10:51 (abstract no. PS15) Hatanaka M; Institute for Virus Research, Kyoto University, Japan.
AIDS develops following HIV infection which causes the depletion of CD4 positive T cells, the key cells in the immune system of our body. After the HIV infection, CD4 positive T cells, derived from either peripheral blood or cell lines, show dysfunction and deformation of the nucleolus, which is known as the ribosome-producing machine, vital for protein synthesis in cells. We have determined that the Rev protein, one of the HIV gene products causes this nucleolar destruction. The sole expression of Rev results in cell death by nucleolar dysfunction. However, when a certain portion of the rev gene is deleted, the shortened protein termed dRev, remains in cytoplasm and fails to cause nucleolar destruction. Fortunately, we have found that cells expressing dRev stay healthy and resist infection by HIV. Therefore the exploitation of the dRev mutant gene may be a promising means to delay the onset of AIDS in people exposed to HIV.
Keywords: AEGIS, HIV, Cell Nucleolus, Gene Products, rev, Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, Genes, rev, HIV Infections, Cell Line, Antigens, CD4, T-Lymphocytes, Biology, genetics, ICA10 940807
PS15
