Flow cytometric method to monitor the destruction of CD4+ cells following their fusion with HIV-infected cells.
Syncytium formation between HUT-78 cells persistently infected with human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) and uninfected CD4-bearing MOLT-4 or CEM cells results in a rapid destruction of the MOLT-4 or CEM cells. This syncytium formation is due to the interaction between the gp120 glycoprotein expressed by the persistently HIV-1-infected HUT-78 cells and the CD4 receptor present on MOLT-4 or CEM cells. A flow cytometric method has been applied to separate the infected (HUT-78) from the uninfected (MOLT-4, CEM) cell populations. This method is based on a modified DNA staining protocol which clearly shows the differences in DNA content between HUT-78 cells, on the one hand, and MOLT-4 or CEM cells, on the other hand. Using this flow cytometric method we have demonstrated that those compounds (i.e., sulfated polysaccharides, aurintricarboxylic acid) that interact with gp120 (of the HIV-infected cells) or CD4 (of the uninfected cells) suppress syncytium formation and concomitant destruction of the CD4+ cells.
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Rega Institute for Medical Research, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Belgium.
Pauwels
R
R
Desmyter
J
J
De Clercq
E
E
D000180:Acrylic Resins / Q000494:pharmacology; D001312:Aurintricarboxylic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology; D015704:CD4 Antigens / Q000276:immunology; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000502:physiology; D002459:Cell Fusion / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D002460:Cell Line; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D004247:DNA / Q000032:analysis; D016264:Dextran Sulfate; D003911:Dextrans / Q000494:pharmacology; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D015726:Giant Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D006678:HIV / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D006493:Heparin / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D011419:Propidium
D000180:Acrylic Resins; D015704:CD4 Antigens; D003911:Dextrans; C063252:sulfated acrylic acid-vinyl alcohol copolymer; D011419:Propidium; D001312:Aurintricarboxylic Acid; D006493:Heparin; D004247:DNA; D016264:Dextran Sulfate