Rapidly and slowly replicating human immunodeficiency virus type 1 isolates can be distinguished according to target-cell tropism in T-cell and monocyte cell lines.
Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) isolates from various patients were divided into two major groups, rapid/high and slow/low, according to their replication properties in vitro. Rapid/high isolates grow well in cell lines and induce the formation of syncytia in peripheral blood mononuclear cells. In contrast, slow/low isolates do not replicate in cell lines and rarely induce syncytia in peripheral blood mononuclear cells. To understand the differences in replicative capacity of these isolates, a panel of indicator cell lines was used. These cell lines were generated for sensitive detection of HIV-1 isolates and show characteristics of T-lymphoid or monocytoid cells. As a result of infection, chloramphenicol acetyltransferase expression is activated. Rapid/high viruses activate chloramphenicol acetyltransferase expression in T-cell and monocytoid indicator cell lines, whereas slow/low isolates activate chloramphenicol acetyltransferase expression only in monocytoid cell lines. The block in infection of T-lymphoid cells by the slow/low isolates appears to occur early in the infection cycle, prior to the production of the virally encoded tat protein. HIV-1 isolates can thus be distinguished according to target-cell tropism. Monocyte-derived cells seem to be a more general target for the various HIV-1 isolates.
Schwartz
S
S
Department of Virology, School of Medicine, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden.
Felber
B K
BK
Fenyö
E M
EM
Pavlakis
G N
GN
D002460:Cell Line; D002474:Cell-Free System; D015500:Chloramphenicol O-Acetyltransferase / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000145:classification / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D009000:Monocytes; D013601:T-Lymphocytes; D014779:Virus Replication
D015500:Chloramphenicol O-Acetyltransferase