Extracellular vesicles from T cells stimulated by HIV envelope protein gp120 promote macrophage M2 polarization

WEI Wu-jun, HUANG Jing-jing, QIN Lin-xiu, CHAI Fu, LI Jia-xing, LIN Cheng,ZHONG Li-mei, LI Zuo-cha, HU Ren-tong, PANG Xiao-xia, WEI Jia-zhu, CHEN Xiaohao, WANG Chun-fang✉

1. Department of Clinical Laboratory, Affiliated Hospital of Youjiang Medical University for Nationalities, Baise 533000, China

2. Department of Health Care, Baise Maternal and Child Health Hospital, Baise 533000, China

3. Department of Pharmacy, Affiliated Hospital of Youjiang Medical University for Nationalities, Baise 533000, China

4 . Department of Oncology, Affiliated Hospital of Youjiang Medical University for Nationalities, Baise 533000, China

5. Department of Emergency Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Youjiang Medical University for Nationalities, Baise 533000, China

ARTICLE INFO

Article history:

Received 30 June 2023

Received in revised form 17 Sep 2023

Accepted 17 Nov 2023

Available online 28 Dec 2023

Keywords:

HIV

gp120

Exosomes

Macrophages

Polarization

ABSTRACTObjective:To investigate the effects of exosomes from human T lymphocyte line (H9) treated with HIV envelope protein gp120 on macrophage polarization.Methods:The viability of gp120-treated H9 T lymphocytes was as- sessed using the CCK8 assay.Inflammatory cytokine levels in the supernatant of H9 cells were determined by ELISA.Exosome characteristics were identified through electron microscopy and Western blot experiments.PHK67 staining was employed to observe the uptake of exosomes by macrophages.Finally, macrophage polarization markers were detected using ELISA and immuno-fluorescence to analyze the impact of gp120-treated T cell exosomes on macrophage polarization.Results:HIV gp120 protein inhibited the proliferation of human T lymphocytes H9 and promoted the release of inflammatory cytokines.Exosomes from H9 T lymphocytes were successfully isolated,displaying a cup-shaped membranous structure under electron microscopy and overexpressing marker proteins CD9, CD63, and CD81.PHK67 staining results indicated that exosomes from H9 cells could be internalized by macrophages.Exosomes from gp120-treated H9 cells promoted the polarization of macrophages towards the M2 pheno- type.Conclusion:Exosomes secreted by human T lymphocytes H9 treated with HIV envelope protein gp120 can promote M2 polarization of macrophages, suggesting a potential novel mechanism of gp120 in immune modulation.