Glucocorticoids Synergize with Tumor Necrosis Factor α in the Induction of HIV Expression from a Chronically Infected Promonocytic Cell Line

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Abstract
In this study we have investigated the effects of glucocorticoids (GCs) on the expression of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in a chronically infected promonocytic cell line, U1. Although no increase in virus production was observed in U1 cells stimulated with physiological concentrations of GC alone, costimulation with dexamethasone plus tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) synergistically enhanced TNF-α-dependent HIV expression. Molecular analysis demonstrated that GCs plus TNF-α resulted in an accumulation of steady state HIV RNA secondary to either an increase in transcription or an increase in message stability. These findings may be of physiological relevance because GCs are used in the treatment of certain disorders associated with HIV infection and TNF-α levels have been reported to be elevated in the plasma and cerebrospinal fluid of certain HIV-infected individuals.