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Down‐modulation of CD4 antigen during programmed cell death in U937 cells
Author(s) -
Malorni Walter,
Rivabene Roberto,
Teresa Santini Maria,
Paradisi Silvia,
Iosi Francesca,
Donelli Gianfranco
Publication year - 1993
Publication title -
febs letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.593
H-Index - 257
eISSN - 1873-3468
pISSN - 0014-5793
DOI - 10.1016/0014-5793(93)80832-f
Subject(s) - programmed cell death , cycloheximide , tumor necrosis factor alpha , microbiology and biotechnology , apoptosis , u937 cell , necrosis , biology , internalization , cytokine , cell , lymphocyte , cell culture , immunology , biochemistry , genetics
It has been hypothesized that programmed cell death (PCD), an active cell suicide process occurring in place of necrosis, can be associated with the pathogenesis of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). The entry of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) into competent cells is mediated by the CD4 molecule present on the surface of certain lymphocyte subpopulations as well as on some cultured cell lines, e.g. U937 myelomonocytic cells. The present paper focuses on some specific aspects of PCD induced by the cytokine tumor necrosis factor (TNF). The results obtained indicate that the exposure of U937 cells to cycloheximide facilitates TNF‐mediated PCD via a short term cell death program and modifies the expression of CD4 surface molecules. This change in surface antigen expression, manifested by internalization of the CD4 molecule, occurs in cells in which apoptosis has been triggered, but not in cells undergoing necrosis. These results indicate that the progression of cell death could be associated with specific alterations of certain surface molecules and could have a role in the entry of HIV into cells.