CD30 induction of human immunodeficiency virus gene transcription is mediated by TRAF2

CD30 is a member of the tumor necrosis factor receptor (TNFR) superfamily expressed on activated T and B lymphocytes and natural killer cells. Ligation of CD30 was previously shown to induce NF-κB activation and HIV expression in chronically infected T lymphocytes. In this study, we report that two members of the TNFR-associated factor (TRAF) family of proteins, TRAF1 and TRAF2, independently bind to the intracellular domain of CD30 (CD30IC). Transient overexpression of TRAF2, but not TRAF1, induced NF-κB activation and HIV-1-long terminal repeat-driven transcription in the T cell line, KT3. Moreover, dominant negative mutants consisting of the TRAF domain of TRAF1 and TRAF2 inhibited CD30 induction of NF-κB activation and HIV-1 transcription. These results suggest that CD30 ligation may enhance the expression of HIV via TRAF-2-mediated activation of NF-κB.