Changes in bioactive lipids, alkylacylglycerol and ceramide, occur in HIV-infected cells.

The mass levels of bioactive lipids known to modulate signal transduction or to possess other biological activities were measured in HIV-infected CEM cells. The levels of diacylglycerol, an activator of protein kinase C, as well as of alkylacylglycerol were elevated. A more drastic increase was observed in the ceramide levels after HIV-infection, whereas sphingosine levels were hardly influenced. Interestingly, the magnitude of the changes was related to the infection time, being higher at 8 days after infection then at 4 days. The possible role of these lipids in the cytopathic effects of HIV-infection is discussed. In addition, an improved methodology to quantitate simultaneously diacylglycerol and alkylacylglycerol in crude lipid extracts, based upon their phosphorylation by E. coli diacylglycerol kinase, is presented.

Duke Scholars

Author Dani Paul Bolognesi Surgery, Surgical Sciences