TitleNF-kappa B-independent suppression of HIV expression by ascorbic acid.
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication1997
AuthorsHarakeh S, Jariwalla RJ
JournalAIDS Res Hum Retroviruses
Volume13
Issue3
Pagination235-9
Date Published1997 Feb 10
ISSN0889-2229
KeywordsAcetylcysteine, Ascorbic Acid, Cell Line, HIV, Humans, Hydrogen Peroxide, NF-kappa B, T-Lymphocytes, Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate, Transcription, Genetic, Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha, Virus Latency, Virus Replication
Abstract

Ascorbic acid (ascorbate or vitamin C) has been shown to suppress the induction of HIV in latently infected T lymphocytic cells following stimulation with a tumor promoter (PMA) and inflammatory cytokine (TNF-alpha). To assess whether this inhibition was mediated via modulation of the cellular transcription factor, NF-kappa B, we carried out gel shift analysis on nuclear extracts prepared under different conditions of cell stimulation in the presence or absence of ascorbate, N-acetylcysteine (NAC), or zidovudine (AZT). Pretreatment of ACH-2 T cells by NAC followed by stimulation with PMA, TNF-alpha, or hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) resulted in strong suppression of NF-kappa B activation. In contrast, neither ascorbate nor AZT affected NF-kappa B activity under all three induction conditions in the ACH-2 cell line. Ascorbate and AZT also had no effect on NF-kappa B activation following TNF-alpha- or PMA-induced stimulation of U1 promonocytic cells. These results suggest that the molecular mechanism of HIV inhibition by ascorbate is not mediated via NF-kappa B inhibition, unlike that seen with other antioxidants.

DOI10.1089/aid.1997.13.235
Alternate JournalAIDS Res. Hum. Retroviruses
PubMed ID9115810