Human colon epithelial cells productively infected with human immunodeficiency virus show impaired differentiation and altered secretion.
Selected strains of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) types 1 and 2 are able to infect human colon epithelial cells in vitro, suggesting a mechanism for the anal route of HIV transmission. In some cases, HIV is not produced by infected colon cells but can be rescued after coculture with T-lymphoid cells. One of the HIV strains (HIV1-NDK) replicated well in colonic cells. A transmission electron microscope study demonstrated two major structural perturbations in producer colon cells: an unusual number of secretion bodies and the appearance of intracellular lumina with disorganized microvilli, indicating a defect in brush border assembly and differentiation. Either abnormality could account for HIV-induced enteropathy consisting of chronic diarrhea and malabsorption in the absence of enteric pathogens. Moreover, HT29 cells infected with HIV provide a unique model for selection of enterotropic HIV strains.
Fantini
J
J
Université d'Aix-Marseille I, France.
Yahi
N
N
Baghdiguian
S
S
Chermann
J C
JC
D002454:Cell Differentiation; D002460:Cell Line; D003106:Colon / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000502:physiology*; D015498:HIV-2 / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D014779:Virus Replication