Reciprocal activation of human T-lymphotropic viruses in HTLV-I-transformed cells superinfected with HIV-1.
The finding of dual HTLV-I and HIV-1 infection in populations at risk for AIDS raises the possibility that interaction between the two viruses might have clinical significance. It was shown that HTLV-I enhances HIV-1 expression, but whether HIV-1 activates HTLV-I remains to be demonstrated. To study HTLV-I behaviour following HIV-1 infection, we superinfected cells from two HTLV-I transformed cell lines with HIV-1 (strain IIIB). Viral RNA analysis indicated that HTLV-I expression in the doubly infected cells was moderately enhanced. Moreover, CAT assays in HTLV-I transformed cells transiently transfected with HTLV-I LTR-CAT disclosed higher activity in the HIV-1 superinfected cultures. This enhancement was observed only after infection with active HIV-1 virus, but not following exposure to inactivated viral particles or transfection with HIV-1 tat gene.
De Rossi
A
A
Institute of Oncology, University of Padua, Italy.
Saggioro
D
D
Calabró
M L
ML
Cenzato
R
R
Chieco-Bianchi
L
L
D002461:Cell Line, Transformed; D015696:Gene Products, tat / Q000502:physiology; D016356:Gene Products, tax / Q000502:physiology; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D015368:Human T-lymphotropic virus 1 / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D009693:Nucleic Acid Hybridization; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D015163:Superinfection; D014162:Transfection; D014775:Virus Activation; D054322:tat Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus
D015696:Gene Products, tat; D016356:Gene Products, tax; D012367:RNA, Viral; D054322:tat Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus