Large Isoform of Mammalian Relative of DnaJ is a Major Determinant of Human Susceptibility to HIV-1 Infection

• Main Authors: Yu-Ping Chiang, Wang-Huei Sheng, Pei-Lan Shao, Ya-Hui Chi, Yi-Ming Arthur Chen, Szu-Wei Huang, Hsiu-Ming Shih, Luan-Yin Chang, Chun-Yi Lu, Shan-Chwen Chang, Chien-Ching Hung, Li-Min Huang
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier 2014-12-01
• Series: EBioMedicine
• Subjects: Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1); Macrophages; Mammalian relative of DnaJ (MRJ); Susceptibility to infection
• Online Access: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352396414000048

Individual differences in susceptibility to human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) infection have been of interest for decades. We aimed to determine the contribution of large isoform of Mammalian DnaJ (MRJ-L), a HIV-1 Vpr-interacting cellular protein, to this natural variation. Expression of MRJ-L in monocyte-derived macrophages was significantly higher in HIV-infected individuals (n = 31) than their uninfected counterparts (n = 27) (p = 0.009). Fifty male homosexual subjects (20 of them are HIV-1 positive) were further recruited to examine the association between MRJ-L levels and occurrence of HIV infection. Bayesian multiple logistic regression revealed that playing a receptive role and increased levels of MRJ-L in macrophages were two risk factors for HIV-1 infection. A 1% rise in MRJ-L expression was associated with a 1.13 fold (95% CrI 1.06–1.29) increase in odds of contracting HIV-1 infection. Ex vivo experiments revealed that MRJ-L facilitated Vpr-dependent nuclear localization of virus. Infection of macrophage-tropic strain is a critical step in HIV-1 transmission. MRJ-L is a critical factor in this process; hence, subjects with higher macrophage MRJ-L levels are more vulnerable to HIV-1 infection.