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Trappin-2/Elafin: a novel innate anti-human immunodeficiency virus-1 molecule of the human female reproductive tract.

Abstract
Trappin-2/Elafin is a serine protease inhibitor that plays a major role as an anti-inflammatory mediator at mucosal surfaces. In addition, Trappin-2/Elafin has antibacterial activity against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacterial and fungal pathogens. In this study we examined the production of Trappin-2/Elafin by epithelial cells from the human upper and lower female reproductive tract as well as its activity as an anti-human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-1 molecule. We found that primary uterine, Fallopian tube, cervical and ectocervical epithelial cells produce Trappin-2/Elafin constitutively and that production of Trappin-2/Elafin is enhanced following stimulation with Poly(I:C), especially by the uterine cells. Given the presence of Trappin-2/Elafin in the reproductive tract, we tested the ability of recombinant Trappin-2/Elafin to inhibit HIV-1, an important sexually transmitted pathogen. We found that recombinant Trappin-2/Elafin was able to inhibit both T-cell-tropic X4/IIIB and macrophage-tropic R5/BaL HIV-1 in a dose-dependent manner. The inhibitory activity was observed when virus was incubated with Trappin-2/Elafin but not when Trappin-2/Elafin was added to cells either before infection or after infection. This suggests that the mechanism of inhibition is likely to be a direct interaction between HIV-1 and Trappin-2/Elafin. Additionally, we measured the levels of secreted Trappin-2/Elafin in cervico-vaginal lavages (CVL) from both HIV-positive and HIV-negative women and found that average levels of secreted Trappin-2/Elafin were higher in the CVL from HIV-negative women, although the values did not reach statistical significance. We also found that women at the secretory phase of the menstrual cycle produced more Trappin-2/Elafin in CVL relative to women at the proliferative phase of the menstrual cycle. Our data suggest that Trappin-2/Elafin might be an important endogenous microbicide of the female reproductive tract that is protective against HIV-1.
AuthorsMimi Ghosh, Zheng Shen, John V Fahey, Susan Cu-Uvin, Kenneth Mayer, Charles R Wira
JournalImmunology (Immunology) Vol. 129 Issue 2 Pg. 207-19 (Feb 2010) ISSN: 1365-2567 [Electronic] England
PMID19824918 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural, Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.)
Chemical References
  • Elafin
  • Poly I-C
Topics
  • Cervix Uteri (immunology, pathology)
  • Elafin (biosynthesis, genetics, immunology)
  • Epithelial Cells (immunology, metabolism, pathology)
  • Fallopian Tubes (pathology)
  • Female
  • Follicular Phase (immunology, metabolism)
  • HIV Infections (genetics, immunology, pathology, physiopathology)
  • HIV-1 (immunology, pathogenicity)
  • HeLa Cells
  • Humans
  • Luteal Phase (immunology, metabolism)
  • Poly I-C (immunology)
  • Reproduction
  • Uterus (immunology, pathology)
  • Virulence

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