Involvement of Protein Kinase C in HIV-1 gp120-Induced Apoptosis in Primary Endothelium

Abstract

We previously showed that HIV-1 gpl20-induced apoptosis in primary human umbilical vein endothelial cell cultures (HUVEC), through CCR5 and CXCR4. Here, we have found that agonists of protein kinase C (PKC), basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), and short exposure to low concentrations of phorbol esters were found to block gp120-induced apoptosis in HUVEC cultures. PKC antagonists, sphingosine, H7, and extended exposure of cultures to high concentrations of phorbolesters were also found to block gpl20-induced apoptosis in HUVEC cultures. A significant increase in the total amount of cellular PKC enzymatic activity was observed on exposure of HUVEC to gpl20. No increase in total PKC activity was observed on exposure of HUVECs to the natural ligands SDF-lα, or regulated-on-activation normal T-expressed and secreted (RANTES) cells, and gpl20-induced PKC induction was found to be totally blocked by CXCR4 antibodies and partially blocked by the caspase 3 inhibitor, DEVD-CHO. Alternatively, CXCR4 antibodies and DEVD-CHO totally blocked apoptosis. Finally, gpl20-induced effects were found to be insensitive to pertussis toxin. Accumulated evidence suggests PKC involvement at multiple points in the gpl20-induced apoptotic pathway; also suggests involvement of the CXCR4 receptor internalization pathway, and potentially suggests different downstream effects of gpl20-receptor interactions and natural ligand-receptor interactions.