OBJECTIVE The transactivating factor (Tat) of HIV-1 binds to alphavbeta3 integrin present on endothelial cells contributing to neovascularization. Here, we investigated the biological consequences of Tat/alphavbeta3 interaction and the antagonist effect of an Arg-Gly-Asp (RGD)-based peptidomimetic. METHODS AND RESULTS Binding of Tat to endothelial alphavbeta3 triggers focal adhesion kinase an...

Efficient replication of human immunodeficiency virus types 1 and 2 (HIV-1 and HIV-2) requires the virus transactivator proteins known as Tat. In order to understand the molecular mechanisms involved in Tat transactivation, it is essential to identify the cellular target(s) of the Tat activation domain. Using an in vitro kinase assay, we previously identified a cellular protein kinase activity,...

Superoxide dismutase (SOD) fusion of TAT was proved to be radioprotective in our previous work. On that basis, a bifunctional recombinant protein which was the fusion of glutathione S-transferase (GST), SOD, and TAT was constructed and named GST-TAT-SOD. Herein we report the investigation of the cytotoxicity, cell-penetrating activity, and in vitro radioprotective effect of GST-TAT-SOD compared...

HIV-1 transcriptional activator (Tat) enables viral transcription and is also actively released by infected cells. Extracellular Tat can enter uninfected cells and affect some cellular functions. Here, we examine the effects of Tat protein on the secretory activity of neuroendocrine cells. When added to the culture medium of chromaffin and PC12 cells, Tat was actively internalized and strongly ...

Tat stimulates human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) transcription elongation through recognition of the transactivation response (TAR) RNA stem-loop structure at the 5' end of nascent viral transcripts. Recently, a human transcription elongation factor P-TEFb, consisting of CDK9 kinase, cyclin T and other associated factors, has been shown to interact with Tat to restore Tat activation i...

Chronic immune activation is a major complication of antiretroviral therapy (ART) for HIV infection and can cause a devastating immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome (IRIS) in the brain. The mechanism of T-cell activation in this population is not well understood. We found HIV-Tat protein and IL-17-expressing mononuclear cells in the brain of an individual with IRIS. Tat was also present ...

The twin arginine translocation (Tat) pathway transports fully-folded and assembled proteins in bacteria, archaea and plant thylakoids. The Tat pathway contributes to the virulence of numerous bacterial pathogens that cause disease in humans, cattle and poultry. Thus, the Tat pathway has the potential to be a novel therapeutic target. Deciphering the Tat protein transport mechanism has been cha...

T cells are functionally compromised during HIV infection despite their increased activation and proliferation. Although T cell hyperactivation is one of the best predictive markers for disease progression, its causes are poorly understood. Anti-tat natural immunity as well as anti-tat antibodies induced by Tat immunization protect from progression to AIDS and reverse signs of immune activation...

Several systems have been tested for introduction of Ags into human dendritic cells (DC). Most of them to date, however, are complex and possess limited efficiency. Recent advances in HIV trans-activating (TAT) fusion protein technology permit extremely high transduction efficiencies for a majority of mammalian cell types. Here we report our attempts to develop a simple, but highly efficient, p...

BACKGROUND HIV-1 Tat protein has been shown to play multiple roles in the pathogenesis of AIDS; however, there is no information currently available on its effects on adipose tissue alterations. We have studied the effects of Tat on SGBS adipocytes to gain insight on its role on the development of lipodystrophy. METHODS SGBS preadipocytes were exposed to Tat during and after differentiation. ...