Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®

Virology Commons

Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®

1991

Transgenic mice

Articles 1 - 1 of 1

Full-Text Articles in Virology

In Vivo Activation Of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 Long Terminal Repeat By Uv Type A (Uv-A) Light Plus Psoralen And Uv-B Light In The Skin Of Transgenic Mice, John D. Morrey, S M. Bourn, T D. Bunch, M K. Jackson, R W. Sidwell, L R. Barrows, R A. Daynes, C A. Rosen Jan 1991

In Vivo Activation Of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 Long Terminal Repeat By Uv Type A (Uv-A) Light Plus Psoralen And Uv-B Light In The Skin Of Transgenic Mice, John D. Morrey, S M. Bourn, T D. Bunch, M K. Jackson, R W. Sidwell, L R. Barrows, R A. Daynes, C A. Rosen

John D. Morrey

UV irradiation has been shown to activate the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) long terminal repeat (LTR) in cell culture; however, only limited studies have been described in vivo. UV light has been categorized as UV-A (400 to 315 nm), -B (315 to 280 nm), or -C (<280 nm); the longer wavelengths are less harmful but more penetrative. Highly penetrative UV-A radiation constitutes the vast majority of UV sunlight reaching the earth's surface but is normally harmless. UV-B irradiation is more harmful but less prevalent than UV-A. In this report, the HIV-1 LTR-luciferase gene in the skin of transgenic mice was markedly activated when exposed to UV-B irradiation. The LTR in the skin of transgenic mice pretreated topically with a photosensitizing agent (psoralen) was also activated to similar levels when exposed to UV-A light. A 2-h exposure to sunlight activated the LTR in skin treated with psoralen, whereas the LTR in skin not treated with psoralen was activated after 7 h of sunlight exposure. The HIV-1 LTR-β-galactosidase reporter genes have been used to demonstrate the in vivo UV-induced activation of the LTR and might be used to evaluate other environmental factors or pharmacologic substances that might potential activate the HIV-1 LTR in vivo