The BET inhibitor OTX015 reactivates latent HIV-1 through P-TEFb

Sci Rep. 2016 Apr 12:6:24100. doi: 10.1038/srep24100.

Abstract

None of the currently used anti-HIV-1 agents can effectively eliminate latent HIV-1 reservoirs, which is a major hurdle to a complete cure for AIDS. We report here that a novel oral BET inhibitor OTX015, a thienotriazolodiazepine compound that has entered phase Ib clinical development for advanced hematologic malignancies, can effectively reactivate HIV-1 in different latency models with an EC50 value 1.95-4.34 times lower than JQ1, a known BET inhibitor that can reactivate HIV-1 latency. We also found that OTX015 was more potent when used in combination with prostratin. More importantly, OTX015 treatment induced HIV-1 full-length transcripts and viral outgrowth in resting CD4(+) T cells from infected individuals receiving suppressive antiretroviral therapy (ART), while exerting minimal toxicity and effects on T cell activation. Finally, biochemical analysis showed that OTX015-mediated activation of HIV-1 involved an increase in CDK9 occupancy and RNAP II C-terminal domain (CTD) phosphorylation. Our results suggest that the BET inhibitor OTX015 may be a candidate for anti-HIV-1-latency therapies.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Acetanilides / metabolism*
  • Acetanilides / toxicity
  • CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / drug effects
  • CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / immunology
  • CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / virology*
  • Cell Survival / drug effects
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Drug Interactions
  • HIV-1 / drug effects*
  • HIV-1 / physiology*
  • Heterocyclic Compounds, 3-Ring / metabolism*
  • Heterocyclic Compounds, 3-Ring / toxicity
  • Humans
  • Lymphocyte Activation / drug effects
  • Phorbol Esters / metabolism
  • Positive Transcriptional Elongation Factor B / metabolism*
  • Virus Activation / drug effects*
  • Virus Latency / drug effects*

Substances

  • Acetanilides
  • Heterocyclic Compounds, 3-Ring
  • OTX015
  • Phorbol Esters
  • prostratin
  • Positive Transcriptional Elongation Factor B