title: Lectin-mediated effects on HIV type 1 infection in vitro.
abstract: Lectins with specificity for terminal mannose residues and anti-mannan antibodies neutralize HIV-1 infection in vitro. This is assumed to be caused by binding of the agents to the viral glycoproteins. In this study we show that one such agent, the Galanthus nivalis lectin (GNA), also blocks infection at the target cell level. To explore the effect of GNA on HIV infection we used the two HIV-1 isolates LAV and NDK, representing in the first case a prototype virus and in the latter case a highly cytopathic virus, which spreads preferentially via cell-to-cell contact. MT-4 cells were used as target cells and infection was determined from the occurrence of syncytia. Cell-to-cell infection was studied with CEM cells persistently infected with the two virus isolates. GNA, at concentrations in the nanogram per milliliter range, neutralized the HIV-1 isolates LAV, NDK, and MN as well as HIV-2ROD. Pretreatment of cells with the lectin, before addition of virus, or of infected cells, also blocked infection. This effect was more pronounced with HIV-1NDK than with HIV-1LAV. Mannosidase treatment of the target cells abolished the GNA effect on HIV-1NDK infection. It is concluded that GNA inhibits infection of several HIV isolates. It neutralizes infection by binding to the virion but also blocks infection at the target cell level. The latter effect may be different for different virus isolates. Mannosyl residuals at the cell surface are targets for GNA modulation of infection with the cytopathic HIV-1NDK. These do not represent essential virus receptors.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Hammar
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Hirsch
authors.forename: A A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Machado
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: De Mareuil
authors.forename: J G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Baillon
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bolmont
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Chermann
mesh_terms: D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002460:Cell Line; D027801:Galanthus; D006678:HIV / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000472:pathogenicity; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D037102:Lectins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D037241:Mannose-Binding Lectins; D037121:Plant Lectins; D014774:Virulence / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D037102:Lectins; D037241:Mannose-Binding Lectins; D037121:Plant Lectins; C063117:snowdrop lectin