HIV-1 Env induces pexophagy and an oxidative stress leading to uninfected CD4+ T cell death

The immunodeficiency observed in HIV-1-infected patients is mainly due to uninfected bystander CD4+ T lymphocytes death. The viral envelope glycoproteins (Env), expressed at the surface of infected cells, play a key role in this process. Env triggers autophagy, process necessary to subsequent apoptosis, and to production of Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) in bystander CD4+ T cells. Here, we demonstrate that Env-induced oxidative stress is responsible for their death by apoptosis. Moreover, we report that peroxisomes, organelles involved in the control of oxidative stress, are targeted by Env-mediated autophagy. Indeed, we observe a selective autophagy-dependent decrease in the expression of peroxisomal proteins, catalase and PEX14, upon Env exposure, since the down-regulation of either BECLIN 1 or p62/SQSTM1 restores their expression levels. Fluorescence studies allowed us to conclude that Env-mediated autophagy degrades these entire organelles and specifically the mature ones. Together, our results on Env-induced pexophagy provide new clues on HIV-1-induced immunodeficiency.