Inhibition of hematopoietic progenitor cell proliferation by ethanol in human immunodeficiency virus type 1 tat-expressing transgenic mice

Alcohol Clin Exp Res. 2001 Mar;25(3):450-6.

Abstract

Background: A number of hematological abnormalities are associated with both human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) infection and alcohol abuse. There is little information on how alcohol abuse might further influence the survival and growth of hematopoietic progenitors in HIV-infected individuals in the presence of immune system abnormalities and anti-HIV drugs. Because there is evidence that viral transactivator Tat itself can induce hematopoietic suppression, in this study we examined the role of ethanol as a cofactor in transgenic mice that expressed HIV-1 Tat protein.

Methods: Tat transgenic mice and nontransgenic littermates were given ethanol (20% v/v) and the anti-HIV drug 3'-azido-3'-deoxythymidine (AZT; 1 mg/ml) in drinking water. Immunosuppression in mice was induced by weekly intraperitoneal injections of anti-CD4 antibody. Hematopoiesis was examined by erythroid colony forming unit (CFU-E) and granulocyte/macrophage colony-forming unit (CFU-GM) assays of the bone marrow progenitor cells.

Results: Administration of ethanol for 7 weeks resulted in a 50% decrease in the proliferative capacity of CFU-E- and CFU-GM-derived progenitors from transgenic mice compared with that of ethanol-treated nontransgenic controls. Similar decreases also were observed in transgenic mice treated with AZT or a combination of AZT and ethanol. Furthermore, ethanol and AZT were significantly more toxic to the granulopoietic progenitors (40-50% inhibition) than to the erythropoietic progenitors (10-20% inhibition) in Tat transgenic mice. Although a 10 day exposure of Tat transgenic and nontransgenic mice to a combination of ethanol and AZT had no suppressive effect on the erythropoietic and granulopoietic progenitor cells, there was a marked decrease (40-60%) in CFU-GM in mice made immunodeficient by CD4+ T-lymphocyte depletion. The ethanol-treated Tat transgenic mice but not the nontransgenic litter-mates also showed a significant decrease (25%) in CFU-GM.

Conclusion: Our in vivo study strongly suggests that ethanol ingestion in HIV-1-infected individuals, particularly those on antiretroviral drugs, might increase bone marrow toxicity and contribute to HIV-1-associated hematopoietic impairment.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Anti-HIV Agents / pharmacology*
  • CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / drug effects*
  • CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / metabolism
  • Cell Division / drug effects
  • Central Nervous System Depressants / pharmacology*
  • Erythroid Precursor Cells / drug effects
  • Erythroid Precursor Cells / metabolism
  • Ethanol / pharmacology*
  • Gene Products, tat / drug effects*
  • Gene Products, tat / metabolism
  • Hematopoiesis / drug effects*
  • Hematopoietic Stem Cells / drug effects*
  • Hematopoietic Stem Cells / metabolism
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Transgenic
  • Peptide Fragments / drug effects*
  • Peptide Fragments / metabolism
  • Zidovudine / pharmacology*
  • tat Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus

Substances

  • Anti-HIV Agents
  • Central Nervous System Depressants
  • Gene Products, tat
  • Peptide Fragments
  • tat Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus
  • tat peptide (48-60), Human immunodeficiency virus 1
  • Ethanol
  • Zidovudine