HIV Type 1 Protease Activation of NF-κB within T Lymphoid Cells

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Abstract
NF-κB is a nuclear protein of the rel oncogene family capable of enhancing transcription of several cellular genes, including IL-2 and the IL-2 receptor, and viral genes transcribed from the HIV-1 LTR. It has been reported that HIV-1 protease may cleave the NF-κB precursor to its active form in vitro. In this study the effects of HIV protease on NF-κB precursor activation were examined in Jurkat T cells by introducing a protease expression vector into the cells. Increased NF-κB activity was observed and this increased activity was blocked by a specific inhibitor of the viral protease. Viral transcription, as measured using LTR-CAT assays, was only slightly enhanced in the HIV-protease expressing cells, while secretion of IL-2 and expression of the IL-2 receptor were not affected. The limited activation of NF-κB by HIV protease appears unlikely to have a significant effect on virus expression or T cell function.