HIV Reprograms Human Airway Basal Stem/Progenitor Cells to Acquire a Tissue-Destructive Phenotype.

Publication Type Academic Article
Authors Chung N, Ou X, Khan K, Salit J, Kaner R, Crystal R
Journal Cell Rep
Volume 19
Issue 6
Pagination 1091-1100
Date Published 05/09/2017
ISSN 2211-1247
Keywords Adult Stem Cells, Cellular Reprogramming, Emphysema, HIV-1, Phenotype, Respiratory Mucosa
Abstract While highly active anti-retroviral therapy has dramatically improved the survival of HIV-infected individuals, there is an increased risk for other co-morbidities, such as COPD, manifesting as emphysema. Given that emphysema originates around the airways and that human airway basal cells (BCs) are adult airway stem/progenitor cells, we hypothesized that HIV reprograms BCs to a distinct phenotype that contributes to the development of emphysema. Our data indicate that HIV binds to but does not replicate in BCs. HIV binding to BCs induces them to acquire an invasive phenotype, mediated by upregulation of MMP-9 expression through activation of MAPK signaling pathways. This HIV-induced "destructive" phenotype may contribute to degradation of extracellular matrix and tissue damage relevant to the development of emphysema commonly seen in HIV+ individuals.
DOI 10.1016/j.celrep.2017.04.026
PubMed ID 28494859
PubMed Central ID PMC5521803
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