Salmonella typhimurium induces expression of P glycoprotein (multidrug resistance 1 gene product) in a promonocytic cell line chronically infected with human immunodeficiency virus type 1.

This investigation showed that phagocytosis of virulent Salmonella typhimurium by promonocytic leukemia cell line U1, which contains human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) provirus but produces minimal or no virus, and not by uninfected U937 cell line resulted in expression of a functional P glycoprotein. Anti-tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF alpha) monoclonal antibody failed to inhibit S. typhimurium-induced P glycoprotein expression. Furthermore, recombinant TNF alpha had no effect on the induction of P glycoprotein expression in U1 cells. These data demonstrate that phagocytosis of virulent S. typhimurium results in an induction of P glycoprotein in association with HIV-1 infection; however, TNF alpha does not appear to play a significant role. Thus, secondary microbial infection in HIV-1-positive persons may play a role in multidrug resistance against antiviral and other antimicrobial agents by an induction of P glycoprotein.