Infection of cultured human thymic epithelial cells by human immunodeficiency virus.
We have succeeded in growing the HTLV-IIIB strain of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) in cultured human thymic epithelial (TE) cells. Expression of the HIV-1 proteins p17 and p24 was detected by immunofluorescence and reached a peak at 3 days after infection. Antigen capture and reverse transcriptase assays were used to detect HIV-1 in culture fluids, with positive results also being realized. The infection was cytolytic; cellular disarrangement, increased numbers of Hassall's corpuscles, and giant cells first appeared in monolayers of TE cells at 2 days after inoculation. By 4 days these changes were increased, and by 7 days, retraction and involution of TE cells were evident. The infection of TE cells by HIV-1 was blocked by preincubation with monoclonal OKT4A antibodies directed against CD4 target molecules.
Numazaki
K
K
Lady Davis Institute for Medical Research, Sir Mortimer B. Davis-Jewish General Hospital, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
Bai
X Q
XQ
Goldman
H
H
Wong
I
I
Spira
B
B
Wainberg
M A
MA
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000276:immunology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004848:Epithelium / Q000382:microbiology; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D006678:HIV / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000472:pathogenicity; D015488:HIV Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D012194:RNA-Directed DNA Polymerase / Q000032:analysis; D013950:Thymus Gland / Q000382:microbiology*
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D015488:HIV Antigens; D012194:RNA-Directed DNA Polymerase