Variable processing and cross-presentation of HIV by dendritic cells and macrophages shapes CTL immunodominance and immune escape.

Dendritic cells (DCs) and macrophages (Møs) internalize and process exogenous HIV-derived antigens for cross-presentation by MHC-I to cytotoxic CD8⁺ T cells (CTL). However, how degradation patterns of HIV antigens in the cross-presentation pathways affect immunodominance and immune escape is poorly defined. Here, we studied the processing and cross-presentation of dominant and subdominant HIV-1 Gag-derived epitopes and HLA-restricted mutants by monocyte-derived DCs and Møs.

Aminopeptidase substrate preference affects HIV epitope presentation and predicts immune escape patterns in HIV-infected individuals.

Viruses evade immune detection partly through immune-associated mutations. Analyses of HIV sequences derived from infected individuals have identified numerous examples of HLA-associated mutations within or adjacent to T cell epitopes, but the potential impact of most mutations on epitope production and presentation remains unclear. The multistep breakdown of proteins into epitopes includes trimming of N-extended peptides into epitopes by aminopeptidases before loading onto MHC class I molecules.

Variable HIV peptide stability in human cytosol is critical to epitope presentation and immune escape.

Induction of virus-specific CD8⁺ T cell responses is critical for the success of vaccines against chronic viral infections. Despite the large number of potential MHC-I-restricted epitopes located in viral proteins, MHC-I-restricted epitope generation is inefficient, and factors defining the production and presentation of MHC-I-restricted viral epitopes are poorly understood. Here, we have demonstrated that the half-lives of HIV-derived peptides in cytosol from primary human cells were highly variable and sequence dependent, and significantly affected the efficiency of cell recognition by CD8⁺ T cells.

Variable fitness impact of HIV-1 escape mutations to cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) response.

Human lymphocyte antigen (HLA)-restricted CD8(+) cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) target and kill HIV-infected cells expressing cognate viral epitopes. This response selects for escape mutations within CTL epitopes that can diminish viral replication fitness. Here, we assess the fitness impact of escape mutations emerging in seven CTL epitopes in the gp120 Env and p24 Gag coding regions of an individual followed longitudinally from the time of acute HIV-1 infection, as well as some of these same epitopes recognized in other HIV-1-infected individuals.

Coordination of lipid metabolism in membrane biogenesis.

Bilayer synthesis during membrane biogenesis involves the concerted assembly of multiple lipid species, requiring coordination of the level of lipid synthesis, uptake, turnover, and subcellular distribution. In this review, we discuss some of the salient conclusions regarding the coordination of lipid synthesis that have emerged from work in mammalian and yeast cells. The principal instruments of global control are a small number of transcription factors that target a wide range of genes encoding enzymes that operate in a given metabolic pathway.

A cell-free scintillation proximity assay for studies on lysosome-to-phagosome targeting.

Phagocytes, such as macrophages, neutrophils, and dendritic cells, play important roles in the innate immune system through their ability to engulf, kill, and digest invading microbes. In cooperation with the humoral adaptive immune system, coating of substrates with immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies enhances several aspects of phagocytosis, including the recognition of substrates by cell surface IgG (Fcgamma) receptors, particle internalization, generation of microbicidal oxygen species, and targeting of lysosomes to phagosomes. We describe a cell-free scintillation proximity assay developed to study the mechanisms of lysosome targeting to phagosomes and the regulation of this process by IgG.

Immunoglobulin G signaling activates lysosome/phagosome docking.

An important role of IgG antibodies in the defense against microbial infections is to promote the ingestion and killing of microbes by phagocytes. Here, we developed in vivo and in vitro approaches to ask whether opsonization of particles with IgG enhances intracellular targeting of lysosomes to phagosomes. To eliminate the effect of IgG on the ingestion process, cells were exposed to latex beads at 15-20 degrees C, which allows engulfment of both IgG-coated and uncoated beads but prevents the fusion of lysosomes with phagosomes.

Differential requirements for actin polymerization, calmodulin, and Ca2+ define distinct stages of lysosome/phagosome targeting.

Fusion of phagosomes with late endocytic organelles is essential for cellular digestion of microbial pathogens, senescent cells, apoptotic bodies, and retinal outer segment fragments. To further elucidate the biochemistry of the targeting process, we developed a scintillation proximity assay to study the stepwise association of lysosomes and phagosomes in vitro. Incubation of tritium-labeled lysosomes with phagosomes containing scintillant latex beads led to light emission in a reaction requiring cytosol, ATP, and low Ca(2+) concentrations.