Isolation of normal human follicular dendritic cells and CD4-independent in vitro infection by human immunodeficiency virus (HIV-1).
Immunohistological and electron microscopy studies of lymph nodes from patients infected with the human immunodeficiency virus 1 (HIV-1) demonstrated that follicular dendritic cells (FDC), the antigen-presenting cells of the B cell system, contain and may produce the virus. To elucidate the mode of infection of FDC with HIV-1 in vitro we developed an improved method for the preparation of single-cell suspensions of viable FDC with high purity (greater than 90% FDC). These isolated FDC were subjected to human T cell leukemia virus IIIB infection, which was monitored after 4 days in culture using the polymerase chain reaction. We were able to demonstrate that normal human FDC are highly susceptible to infection by HIV-1. Inhibition experiments with the monoclonal antibody OKT4a demonstrate that this infection is independent of the CD4 molecule.
Stahmer
I
I
Forschungsinstitut Borstel, Department of Immunology and Cell Biology, FRG.
Zimmer
J P
JP
Ernst
M
M
Fenner
T
T
Finnern
R
R
Schmitz
H
H
Flad
H D
HD
Gerdes
J
J
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D015704:CD4 Antigens / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology*; D002469:Cell Separation / Q000379:methods*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D003713:Dendritic Cells / Q000382:microbiology*; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000209:etiology*; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development*; D006801:Humans; D011533:Proviruses / Q000235:genetics
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D015704:CD4 Antigens; D004279:DNA, Viral