The HIV-1 Vpr R77Q mutant alters host apoptotic gene regulation in CD4+ T cells

Functional enrichment analysis revealed enriched pathways associated with apoptosis. Gene ontology (GO) terms and GO connections also revealed an apoptotic signature. Although both viral strains upregulated pro-apoptotic genes, the R77Q mutant failed to upregulate some key anti-apoptotic genes such as bcl-2, while WT-infected cells displayed upregulation of those anti-apoptotic genes.

Predicted protein-protein interaction within the Bcl-2 family local network also suggests that interactions within this network were significantly different. Taken together, these findings provide a transcriptomic basis for our previous observations of enhanced apoptosis in R77Q-infected cells and highlight distinct host cell responses that may underlie delayed HIV-1 progression. These results may be useful in identifying new targets to delay AIDS progression.