Role of the HIV-1 Vpr protein in the cellular response to viral infection:Possible implications for the pathogenesis of AIDS

To gain insight into the interplay between vpr accessory protein and HIV ta rget cells, we established stable transfectants of Jurkat cells constitutiv ely expressing low levels of vpr. This cellular model allowed us to unravel multiple effects of vpr on cellular functions involved in the control of i nfection: i) vpr-expressing clones were found to be highly resistant to apo ptosis induced by different stimuli ii) phenotypic analysis revealed a vpr- mediated up-modulation of cadherin and integrins a5 and a6 as well as an im proved cytoskeletal organization iii) finally, a marked and specific protec tion from HIV-1 infection, due to a block on viral entry, was observed in v pr-expressing clones. The capacity of vpr to modulate physiological process es involved in the cellular response to viral infection suggests that this protein can play an important role in the pathogenesis of AIDS.