INDUCTION OF HUMAN-IMMUNODEFICIENCY-VIRUS TYPE-1 EXPRESSION IN MONOCYTIC CELLS BY CRYPTOCOCCUS-NEOFORMANS AND CANDIDA-ALBICANS

Because candidiasis and cryptococcosis are common in human immunodefic iency virus (HIV)-infected persons, the effect of Cryptococcus neoform ans and Candida albicans on HIV expression in monocytic cells was exam ined. Stimulation of the latently HIV-infected myelomonocytic cell lin e OM-10.1 with C. neoformans and C. albicans in the presence of pooled human serum caused a ratio-dependent increase in HIV production. Indu ction of HIV by C. neoformans was enhanced by anti-capsular antibody, while induction by both organisms was inhibited by anti-TNF-alpha anti body. In THP-1 cells transfected with HIV plasmid constructs, both org anisms induced transcription from the HIV long terminal repeat that wa s dependent on intact NF-kappa B binding sequences. Thus, C. neoforman s and C. albicans enhance HIV expression in monocytic cells through a TNF-alpha- and NF-kappa B-dependent mechanism. In HIV-infected patient s, such enhancement may further impair host immunity and could acceler ate the course of HIV disease.