IL-10 regulation by HIV-Tat in primary human monocytic cells: involvement of calmodulin/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase-activated p38 MAPK and Sp-1 and CREB-1 transcription factors

J Immunol. 2007 Jan 15;178(2):798-807. doi: 10.4049/jimmunol.178.2.798.

Abstract

The anti-inflammatory cytokine, IL-10 plays an important role in HIV immunopathogenesis. The HIV accessory protein, Tat is not only critical for viral replication, but affects the host immune system by influencing cytokine production including IL-10. During HIV infection, IL-10 production by monocytic cells is up-regulated, representing a critical pathway by which HIV may induce immunodeficiency. Herein, we show that extracellular Tat-induced IL-10 expression in normal human monocytes. To understand the signaling pathways underlying HIV-Tat induced IL-10 transcription, we investigated the involvement of MAPK as well as calcium signaling and the downstream transcription factor(s). Our results suggest that Tat-induced calcium influx regulated IL-10 transcription in monocytic cells. The experiments designed to further understand the molecules involved in the calcium signaling suggested that calmodulin and calmodulin-dependent protein kinase-II (CaMK-II)-activated p38 MAPK played a role in extracellular Tat-induced IL-10 expression in primary human monocytes. Furthermore, Tat-induced IL-10 expression was regulated by p38 MAPK- and CaMK II-activated CREB-1 as well as Sp-1 transcription factors. Taken together, our results suggest that extracellular HIV-Tat induced IL-10 transcription in primary human monocytes is regulated by CREB-1 and Sp-1 transcription factors through the activation of calmodulin/CaMK-II-dependent p38 MAPK.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Calcium / metabolism
  • Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinase Type 2
  • Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinases / metabolism*
  • Calmodulin / metabolism
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Cyclic AMP Response Element-Binding Protein / metabolism*
  • Enzyme Activation / drug effects
  • Gene Expression Regulation
  • Gene Products, tat / genetics
  • Gene Products, tat / metabolism
  • Gene Products, tat / pharmacology*
  • HIV / genetics
  • HIV / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Interleukin-10 / biosynthesis*
  • Interleukin-10 / genetics
  • Monocytes / drug effects*
  • Monocytes / metabolism
  • Signal Transduction
  • Sp1 Transcription Factor / metabolism*
  • p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / metabolism*
  • tat Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus

Substances

  • CREB1 protein, human
  • Calmodulin
  • Cyclic AMP Response Element-Binding Protein
  • Gene Products, tat
  • Sp1 Transcription Factor
  • tat Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus
  • Interleukin-10
  • Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinase Type 2
  • Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinases
  • p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases
  • Calcium