Biology subjects

Mlcochova, P.

Publications and source records attributed to Mlcochova, P..

8 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2024

CD4 T cell contact drives macrophage cell cycle progression and susceptibility to lentiviral transduction

Macrophages are typically quiescent cells residing in G0, though tissue macrophages have been shown to proliferate locally in tissues; we previously demonstrated that differentiated monocyte derived macrophages (MDM) can be stimulated to re-enter G1 phase of the cell cycle from G0, without cell division. Entry into G1 correlates with an increase in CDK1 expression which phosphorylates the deoxynucleotide-triphosphate hydrolase SAMHD1 at position 592. SAMHD1 not only regulates cellular dNTP levels, but is also a restriction factor for virus replication of HIV-1 and DNA viruses. Here we show that contact with autologous CD4 T cells leads to antigen-independent macrophage cell cycle progression from G0-G1, accompanied by expression of cell cycle associated proteins, including CDK1, and the activation of the canonical MEK-ERK pathway. Further, macrophage cell cycle progression can be blocked not only by anti-cancer drugs targeting the MEK-ERK axis such as Palcociclib, but also by pre-treatment with EGFR antibody, providing additional evidence for cell surface interactions driving proliferative responses. Cell contact with uninfected CD4 T cells renders macrophages ten-fold more susceptible to transduction with VSV-G pseudotyped HIV-1 particles.

cell biology↗

bioRxiv2023

Hypoxia drives HIF2-dependent macrophage cell cycle entry and susceptibility to lentivira transduction

Macrophages play critical roles across health and disease. Low oxygen conditions (hypoxia) have been associated primarily with cell cycle arrest in cultured dividing cells. Macrophages are typically quiescent in G0, though yolk sac and bone marrow derived macrophages frequently proliferate and monocyte-derived tissue macrophages are able to proliferate in response to tissue signals. Here we show that hypoxia (1% oxygen tension) results in reversible entry into the cell cycle in monocyte derived macrophages (MDM) and mouse peritoneal macrophages. Cell cycle progression is largely limited to G1/S phase with very little progression to G2/M. Mechanistically, this cell cycle transitioning is triggered by a HIF2-directed transcriptional program. The response is accompanied by increased expression of cell cycle-associated proteins, including CDK1, and reversible activation of the canonical mitogen-activated MEK-ERK proliferation pathway. CDK1 associated SAMHD1 phosphorylation at T592 in hypoxic macrophages renders them hyper-susceptible to lentiviral transduction. Furthermore, PHD inhibitors, which activate HIFs, are able to recapitulate HIF2-dependent cell cycle entry in macrophages, as well as susceptibility to lentiviral transduction. Finally, we demonstrate that tumour associated macrophages (TAM) in lung cancers exhibit transcriptomic profiles representing responses to low oxygen and cell cycle progression at single cell level. This work uncovers HIF2 driven macrophage cell cycle progression in low oxygen conditions that culminates in SAMHD1 phosphorylation and high susceptibility to lentiviral transduction. These findings have implications for inflammation, neoplasia and pathogen defence.

cell biology↗

bioRxiv2022

Cell cycle independent role of cyclin D3 in host restriction of SARS-CoV-2 infection

The COVID-19 pandemic caused by Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) presents a great threat to human health. The interplay between the virus and host plays a crucial role in successful virus replication and transmission. Understanding host-virus interactions is essential for development of new COVID-19 treatment strategies. Here we show that SARS-CoV-2 infection triggers redistribution of cyclin D1 and cyclin D3 from the nucleus to the cytoplasm, followed by its proteasomal degradation. No changes to other cyclins or cyclin dependent kinases were observed. Further, cyclin D depletion was independent from SARS-CoV-2 mediated cell cycle arrest in early S phase or S/G2/M phase. Cyclin D3 knockdown by small interfering RNA specifically enhanced progeny virus titres in supernatants. Finally, cyclin D3 co-immunoprecipitated with SARS-CoV-2 Envelope and Membrane proteins. We propose that cyclin D3 inhibits virion assembly and is depleted during SARS-CoV-2 infection to restore efficient assembly and release of newly produced virions.

microbiology↗

bioRxiv2021

SARS-CoV-2 Omicron spike mediated immune escape, infectivity and cell-cell fusion

The SARS-CoV-2 Omicron BA.1 variant emerged in late 2021 and is characterised by multiple spike mutations across all spike domains. Here we show that Omicron BA.1 has higher affinity for ACE2 compared to Delta, and confers very significant evasion of therapeutic monoclonal and vaccine-elicited polyclonal neutralising antibodies after two doses. mRNA vaccination as a third vaccine dose rescues and broadens neutralisation. Importantly, antiviral drugs remdesevir and molnupiravir retain efficacy against Omicron BA.1. We found that in human nasal epithelial 3D cultures replication was similar for both Omicron and Delta. However, in lower airway organoids, Calu-3 lung cells and gut adenocarcinoma cell lines live Omicron virus demonstrated significantly lower replication in comparison to Delta. We noted that despite presence of mutations predicted to favour spike S1/S2 cleavage, the spike protein is less efficiently cleaved in live Omicron virions compared to Delta virions. We mapped the replication differences between the variants to entry efficiency using spike pseudotyped virus (PV) entry assays. The defect for Omicron PV in specific cell types correlated with higher cellular RNA expression of TMPRSS2, and accordingly knock down of TMPRSS2 impacted Delta entry to a greater extent as compared to Omicron. Furthermore, drug inhibitors targeting specific entry pathways demonstrated that the Omicron spike inefficiently utilises the cellular protease TMPRSS2 that mediates cell entry via plasma membrane fusion. Instead, we demonstrate that Omicron spike has greater dependency on cell entry via the endocytic pathway requiring the activity of endosomal cathepsins to cleave spike. Consistent with suboptimal S1/S2 cleavage and inability to utilise TMPRSS2, syncytium formation by the Omicron spike was dramatically impaired compared to the Delta spike. Overall, Omicron appears to have gained significant evasion from neutralising antibodies whilst maintaining sensitivity to antiviral drugs targeting the polymerase. Omicron has shifted cellular tropism away from TMPRSS2 expressing cells that are enriched in cells found in the lower respiratory and GI tracts, with implications for altered pathogenesis.

microbiology↗

bioRxiv2021

FXR inhibition reduces ACE2 expression, SARS-CoV-2 infection and may improve COVID-19 outcome

Prevention of SARS-CoV-2 entry in cells through the modulation of viral host receptors, such as ACE2, could represent a new therapeutic approach complementing vaccination. However, the mechanisms controlling ACE2 expression remain elusive. Here, we identify the farnesoid X receptor (FXR) as a direct regulator of ACE2 transcription in multiple COVID19-affected tissues, including the gastrointestinal and respiratory systems. We demonstrate that FXR antagonists, including the over-the-counter compound z-guggulsterone (ZGG) and the off-patent drug ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA), downregulate ACE2 levels, and reduce susceptibility to SARS-CoV-2 infection in lung, cholangiocyte and gut organoids. We then show that therapeutic levels of UDCA downregulate ACE2 in human organs perfused ex situ and reduce SARS-CoV-2 infection ex vivo. Finally, we perform a retrospective study using registry data and identify a correlation between UDCA treatment and positive clinical outcomes following SARS-CoV-2 infection, including hospitalisation, ICU admission and death. In conclusion, we identify a novel function of FXR in controlling ACE2 expression and provide evidence that this approach could be beneficial for reducing SARS-CoV-2 infection, thereby paving the road for future clinical trials.

microbiology↗

bioRxiv2020

Extended in vitro inactivation of SARS-CoV-2 by titanium dioxide surface coating

SARS-CoV-2 transmission occurs via airborne droplets and surface contamination. We show tiles coated with TiO2 120 days previously can inactivate SARS-CoV-2 under ambient indoor lighting with 87% reduction in titres at 1h and complete loss by 5h exposure. TiO2 coatings could be an important tool in containing SARS-CoV-2.

microbiology↗

bioRxiv2019

In Vivo Emergence of a Novel Protease Inhibitor Resistance Signature in HIV-1 Matrix

BackgroundProtease Inhibitors (PIs) are the second- and last-line therapy for the majority of HIV-infected patients worldwide. Only around 20% of individuals who fail PI regimens develop major resistance mutations in protease. We sought to explore the role of mutations in gag-protease genotypic and phenotypic changes within six Nigerian patients who failed PI-based regimens without known drug resistance associated protease mutations in order to identify novel determinants of PI resistance. MethodsTarget enrichment and NGS by Illumina Miseq were followed by haplotype reconstruction. Full length gag-protease regions were amplified from baseline (pre-PI) and virologic failure (VF) samples, sequenced and used to construct gag/protease pseudotyped viruses. Phylogenetic analysis was performed using maximum likelihood methods. Susceptibility to lopinavir (LPV) and darunavir (DRV) were measured using a single-cycle replication assay. Western blotting was used to analyse Gag cleavage. ResultsIn one of six participants (subtype CRF02_AG) we found 4-fold lower LPV susceptibility in viral clones during failure of second line treatment. A combination of four mutations (S126del, H127del, T122A and G123E) in p17 matrix of baseline virus generated a similar 4x decrease in susceptibility to LPV but not darunavir. These four amino acid changes were also able to confer LPV resistance to a subtype B gag-protease backbone. Western blotting did not demonstrate significant Gag cleavage differences between sensitive and resistant isolates. Resistant viruses had around 2-fold lower infectivity compared to sensitive clones in the absence of drug. NGS combined with haplotype reconstruction revealed resistant, less fit clones emerged from a minority population at baseline and thereafter persisted alongside sensitive fitter viruses. ConclusionsWe have used a multi-pronged genotypic and phenotypic approach to document emergence and temporal dynamics of a novel protease inhibitor resistance signature in p17 matrix, revealing the interplay between Gag associated resistance and fitness.

microbiology↗

bioRxiv2019

IFN-independent cell cycle arrest and SAMHD1 activation following TLR4 activation in macrophages

Monocyte-derived macrophages mostly reside in a resting, G0 state, expressing high levels of dephosphorylated, active SAMHD1. We have previously shown that macrophages can re-enter the cell cycle without division, into a G1-like state. This cell cycle re-entry is accompanied by phosphorylation of the dNTP hydrolase/ antiviral restriction factor SAMHD1 at T592 by the cyclin-dependent kinase CDK1. HIV-1 successfully infects macrophages in G1 through exploiting this naturally occurring window of opportunity where SAMHD1 antiviral activity is de-activated.\n\nHere we demonstrate for the first time that LPS activation of the pathogen associated molecular pattern (PAMP) receptor TLR4 induces G0 arrest in human macrophages. We show this G0 arrest is MyD88-independent and therefore NFkB independent. Furthermore, the effect of TLR4 activation on cell cycle is regulated by (a) the canonical IFN-dependent pathway following TBK1 activation and IRF3 translocation and (b) an IFN-independent pathway that occurs prior to TBK1 activation, and that is accompanied by CDK1 downregulation, p21 upregulation and SAMHD1 dephosphorylation at T592. Furthermore, we show by siRNA knockdown of SAMHD1 that the interferon independent pathway activated by TLR4 is able to potently block HIV-1 infection in macrophages specifically via SAMHD1. Finally, ingestion of whole E. Coli and TLR4 activation by macrophages also activates SAMHD1 via the interferon independent pathway.\n\nTogether, these data demonstrate that macrophages can rapidly activate an intrinsic cell arrest and anti-viral state by activation of TLR4 prior to IFN secretion, thereby highlighting the importance of cell cycle regulation as a response to danger signals in human macrophages. Interferon independent activation of SAMHD1 by TLR4 represents a novel mechanism for limiting the HIV-1 reservoir size and should be considered for host-directed therapeutic approaches that may contribute to curative interventions.

microbiology↗