Mucosal surfaces of the vagina are the portals for heterosexual transmission of HIV-1 and therefore play a fundamental role in the pathogenesis of primary infection. In the search for direct biological evidence for the role of human vaginal fluid in innate host defense, we characterized the anti-HIV-1 function of cationic polypeptides within minimally manipulated vaginal fluid. In the current study we revealed that vaginal fluid confers intrinsic anti-HIV-1 properties against both X4 and R5 strains of HIV-1 and could protect against HIV-1 infection and reduce proviral genome integration in organotypic cultures of human cervicovaginal tissue. The majority of this activity was contained in the cationic polypeptide fraction, and the depletion of cationic polypeptides using a selective cation exchange resin ablated most of the intrinsic activity against HIV-1. By adding the cationic polypeptide fraction to depleted vaginal fluid, we were able to restore activity against HIV-1. Using a proteomic approach, we identified 18 cationic polypeptides within vaginal fluid, nearly all of which are either known antimicrobials or have other purported roles in host defense. Interestingly, physiologic concentrations of 13 of the cationic polypeptides were not active alone against HIV-1, yet in concert they partially restored the anti-HIV-1 activity of cation-depleted vaginal fluid. These results suggest that synergism between cationic polypeptides is complex, and full anti-HIV-1 activity probably involves the aggregate of the cationic peptides and proteins in vaginal fluid.

In contrast to experience with nonoxynol-9, PRO 2000 did not trigger an inflammatory response in cervicovaginal secretions. There was a modest reduction in mucosal immune mediators, but this loss was not associated with a reduction in intrinsic antimicrobial activity.

Objective-We have previously shown that phospholipid oxidation products of 1-palmitoyl-2-arachidonoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphorylcholine (ox-PAPC) inhibit lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced E-selectin expression and neutrophil binding in human aortic endothelial cells (HAECs). The current studies identify specific phospholipids that inhibit chemokine induction by Toll-like receptor-4 (TLR4) and -2 (TLR2) ligands in ECs and macrophages. Methods and Results-Measurements of interleukin (IL)-8 and monocyte chemotactic protein-1 levels secreted from ox-PAPC-and LPS-cotreated ECs indicate that ox-PAPC inhibits activation of TLR4 by LPS. The effects of IL-1␤ and tumor necrosis factor-␣, which utilize the same intracellular signaling molecules, were not inhibited. Cell fractionation and immunofluorescence analyses demonstrate that LPS induces membrane translocation of the LPS receptor complex to a lipid raft/caveolar fraction in ECs. Ox-PAPC inhibits this translocation and alters caveolin-1 distribution.Supporting an important role for caveolae in LPS action, overexpression of caveolin-1 enhanced LPS-induced IL-8 synthesis. Ox-PAPC also inhibits the effect of TLR2 and TLR4 ligands in human macrophages. Conclusions-These studies report a novel mechanism that involves alterations to lipid raft/caveolar processing, by which specific phospholipid oxidation products inhibit activation by TLR4 and TLR2 ligands.

Objective-Previous studies have demonstrated the importance of endothelial apical expression of connecting segment-1 (CS-1) fibronectin in mediating the entry of monocytes into atherosclerotic lesions and other sites of chronic inflammation. We previously demonstrated that oxidized PAPC (OxPAPC) increases monocyte-specific binding to arterial endothelium by causing deposition of CS-1 fibronectin on apical ␣ 5 ␤ 1 integrin. The present studies identify important signal transduction components regulating this pathway. Methods and Results-Using endothelial cells in culture, we demonstrate that activation of R-Ras is responsible for CS-1-mediated monocyte binding. Although few natural activators of R-Ras have been demonstrated, OxPAPC activated endothelial R-Ras by 2.5-fold but decreased levels of activated H-Ras. The importance of R-Ras/H-Ras balance in regulating monocyte binding was shown by overexpression studies. Constitutively active R-Ras enhanced monocyte adhesion, whereas coexpression with constitutively active H-Ras was inhibitory. Elevated cAMP, mediated by OxPAPC and specific components POVPC and PEIPC, was responsible for R-Ras activation, and dibutyryl cAMP and pertussis toxin were also effective activators of R-Ras. Using inhibitor and dominant-negative constructs, we demonstrated that phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) was a key downstream effector of R-Ras in this pathway. Conclusions-OxPAPC, POVPC, and PEIPC induce a cAMP/R-Ras/PI3K signaling pathway that contributes to monocyte/endothelial cell adhesion and potentially atherosclerosis.