HIV Type 1 Glycoprotein 120 Amplifies Tumor Necrosis Factor-Induced NF-kB Activation in Jurkat Cells

ABSTRACT This article demonstrates that human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) gp120 amplifies the activity of tumor necrosis factor α(TNF-α), a cytokine that stimulates HIV-1 replication through activation of NF-kB. In CD4-positive Jurkat cells, gp120 potentiates TNF-induced NF-kB activation. TNF-mediated activation of NF-kB is known to involve the intracellular formation of reactive oxygen intermediates (ROIs). Accordingly, we examined the influence of gp 120 on the cellular redox state. We found that gp 120-modulated TNF-induced NK-kB activation was inhibited by the antioxidant butylated hydroxyanisole, indicating the involvement of redox-dependent mechanisms. In addition, we showed that gp120 induces intracellular formation of hydrogen peroxide, which is accompanied by a decrease in the ratio of glutathione to glutathione disulfide. In contrast, in the p56lck-deficient J.CaMl.6 T cell line, a derivative of the Jurkat cell line, gp120 was unable to stimulate hydrogen peroxide, to decrease the rati...