Brain-derived cells contain a specific binding site for Gp120 which is not the CD4 antigen.
Infection with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV-1) often produces a set of neuropsychiatric dysfunctions which have been termed the AIDS dementia complex. This complex appears due to the infection of brain cells by HIV-1. If so, brain cells might be expected to contain a binding site for the same viral envelope glycoprotein that enables HIV-1 to bind to other cells (e.g. CD4+ T-cells), gp120. The present study shows that the cells of the brain-derived U-138MG, U-373MG, SK-N-MC and SK-N-SH cell lines bind gp120 in an inhibitable fashion. Binding of gp120 to these cells is inhibited by the dyes Aurintricarboxylic acid (ATA) and Evans blue (EB), which are known to inhibit specific gp120 and HIV-1 binding, and block HIV-1 infection, in CD4-expressing cells. Binding is not inhibited by Aurin, a dye related to ATA but lacking its anti-HIV effects. As expected, anti-CD4 antibodies are ineffective in blocking gp120 binding to brain-derived cells. These results suggest that human brain-derived cells possess a specific binding site for gp120 that is not the CD4 antigen.
Department of Screening and Biochemical Research, Bristol-Myers Squibb Research Institute, Wallingford, CT 06492-7660.
M R
MR
Kozlowski
P
P
Sandler
P F
PF
Lin
A
A
Watson
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D001665:Binding Sites; D001667:Binding, Competitive; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism*; D015704:CD4 Antigens / Q000276:immunology*; D002460:Cell Line; D005910:Glioma; D015699:HIV Envelope Protein gp120 / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007700:Kinetics; D009447:Neuroblastoma; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D015704:CD4 Antigens; D015699:HIV Envelope Protein gp120; D011994:Recombinant Proteins