CpG protects human monocytic cells against HIV-Vpr-induced apoptosis by cellular inhibitor of apoptosis-2 through the calcium-activated JNK pathway in a TLR9-independent manner.

Monocytic cells survive HIV replication and consequent cytopathic effects because of their decreased sensitivity to HIV-induced apoptosis. However, the mechanism underlying this resistance to apoptosis remains poorly understood. Lymphocytic cells are exposed to microbial products because of their translocation from the gut in persons with chronic HIV infections or following coinfections. We hypothesized that activation of monocytic cells by such microbial products through interaction with corresponding TLRs may confer antiapoptotic signals. Using HIV-viral protein R (Vpr)(52-96) peptide as a model apoptosis-inducing agent, we demonstrated that unlike monocyte-derived macrophages, undifferentiated primary human monocytes and promonocytic THP-1 cells are highly susceptible to Vpr(52-96)-induced apoptosis. Interestingly, monocytes and THP-1 cells stimulated with TLR9 agonist CpG induced almost complete resistance to Vpr(52-96)-induced apoptosis, albeit through a TLR9-independent signaling pathway. Moreover, CpG selectively induced the antiapoptotic cellular inhibitor of apoptosis (c-IAP)-2 protein and inhibition of the c-IAP-2 gene by either specific small interfering RNA or synthetic second mitochondrial activator of caspases mimetic reversed CpG-induced resistance against Vpr(52-96)-mediated apoptosis. We demonstrated that c-IAP-2 is regulated by the JNK and calcium signaling pathway, in particular calmodulin-dependent protein kinase-II. Furthermore, inhibition of JNK and the calcium signaling including the calmodulin-dependent protein kinase-II by either pharmacological inhibitors or their specific small interfering RNAs reversed CpG-induced protection against Vpr(52-96)-mediated apoptosis. We also show that CpG induced JNK phosphorylation through activation of the calcium signaling pathway. Taken together, our results suggest that CpG-induced protection may be mediated by c-IAP-2 through the calcium-activated JNK pathway via what appeared to be TLR9-independent signaling pathways.