title: Human immunodeficiency virus type-1 (HIV-1) infection of endothelial cells in vitro: a virological, ultrastructural and immuno-cytochemical approach.
abstract: In an attempt to better understand the role of endothelial cells during HIV-1 infection, we report a virological and ultrastructural study on isolated endothelial cells from human adipose tissue, infected by HIV-1 in vitro. Supernatants from cultures showed the presence of p24 antigen and reverse transcriptase activity starting two days after HIV inoculation. A significant decrease of viral rescue was observed in cycloheximide treated cells confirming a de novo synthesis of viral products. SEM analysis individualized several surface slender projections and interdispersed virus-like particles in the infected cells. Furthermore, transmission electron microscopy (TEM) results showed cellular aspects of HIV phagocytosis and virus budding, suggesting that endothelial cells may represent a CD4 negative cell target of HIV-1 infection.
authors.affiliation: Istituto di Microscopia Elettronica Clinica, Università di Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Cenacchi
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Re
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Preda
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pasquinelli
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Furlini
authors.forename: R P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Apkarian
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: La Placa
authors.forename: G N
authors.initials: GN
authors.lastname: Martinelli
mesh_terms: D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D000954:Antigens, Surface; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003513:Cycloheximide / Q000494:pharmacology; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology; D016655:HIV Core Protein p24 / Q000032:analysis; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D054303:HIV Reverse Transcriptase; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D006801:Humans; D010641:Phenotype; D012194:RNA-Directed DNA Polymerase / Q000032:analysis; D012867:Skin / Q000166:cytology
chemical_list: D000954:Antigens, Surface; D016655:HIV Core Protein p24; D003513:Cycloheximide; D054303:HIV Reverse Transcriptase; D012194:RNA-Directed DNA Polymerase