title: Syncytia formation in HIV-1 infected cells is associated with an increase in cellular oleic acid.
abstract: Infection of cells with the human immunodeficiency virus type-1 (HIV-1) usually results in the formation of giant multinuclear cells (syncytia) [(1986) Nature 322, 470-474; (1986) Nature 322, 725-728; (1985) Hum. Pathol. 18, 760-765; (1987) Ann. Neurol. 21, 490-496]. The appearance of syncytia is associated with an increase in the monounsaturated oleic acid content. This report describes experiments which compare the activity of known antiviral agents with that of saturated fatty acid derivatives in inhibiting oleic acid and syncytia formation. A concept is introduced which proposes that infection of cells with the human immunodeficiency virus causes a rise in cellular oleic acid which leads to increased membrane fluidity.
authors.affiliation: Deltanine Research Ltd, Brunel University, Middlesex, England.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Apostolov
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Barker
authors.forename: S A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Galpin
authors.forename: N A
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Habib
authors.forename: C B
authors.initials: CB
authors.lastname: Wood
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kinchington
mesh_terms: D002460:Cell Line; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000378:metabolism; D003588:Cytopathogenic Effect, Viral; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000032:analysis; D015488:HIV Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology*; D007370:Interferon Type I / Q000494:pharmacology; D019301:Oleic Acid; D009829:Oleic Acids / Q000378:metabolism*; D013229:Stearic Acids / Q000494:pharmacology; D015215:Zidovudine / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D005227:Fatty Acids; D015488:HIV Antigens; D007370:Interferon Type I; D009829:Oleic Acids; D013229:Stearic Acids; D019301:Oleic Acid; D015215:Zidovudine