Differentiation of Monocytes to Macrophages Switches the Mycobacterium tuberculosis Effect on HIV-1 Replication from Stimulation to Inhibition: Modulation of Interferon Response and CCAAT/Enhancer Binding Protein β Expression

Abstract

HIV-1 replication is inhibited in uninflamed lung macrophages and is stimulated during tuberculosis. Attempts to recapitulate activation of HIV-1 replication in primary monocytes and macrophages ex vivo and in the untreated and PMA-treated THP-1 cell line model in vitro have produced opposite results depending on the state of differentiation of the cells. After infection with Mycobacterium tuberculosis, monocytes enhanced HIV-1 replication and produced a stimulatory 37-kDa CCAAT/enhancer binding protein β (C/EBPβ) transcription factor, whereas macrophages suppressed HIV-1 replication and produced an inhibitory 16-kDa C/EBPβ transcription factor. IFN-β induced inhibitory 16-kDa C/EBPβ in macrophages, but had no effect on C/EBPβ expression in monocytes. Macrophages, but not monocytes, were able to activate IFN-stimulated gene factor-3 (ISGF-3), a transcription factor composed of STAT-1, STAT-2, and IFN regulatory factor (IRF)-9, after infection with M. tuberculosis or stimulation with type I IFN. Macrophages expressed IRF-9 DNA-binding activity, but monocytes did not, and addition of the IRF-9 component reconstituted ISGF-3 in extracts of IFN-treated monocytes. Modulation of IFN responsiveness upon differentiation occurred at least in part through a post-transcriptionally regulated increase in IRF-9 expression. Both monocytes and macrophages maintained IFN responsiveness, activating STAT-1 homodimer formation and transcription of the STAT-1 gene after IFN stimulation. In addition, both monocytes and macrophages were able to activate NF-κB upon infection with M. tuberculosis. These results show that induction of ISGF-3, expression of the inhibitory 16-kDa C/EBPβ, and suppression of HIV-1 replication via a transcriptional mechanism are macrophage-specific responses to infection with M. tuberculosis.