Jurkat-tat but not other tat-expressing cell lines support replication of slow/low type HIV.
The Jurkat-tat cell line, carrying the transactivator (tat) gene of HIV-1 IIIB and thus constitutively expressing the tat protein, has the capacity to support replication of HIV isolates obtained from asymptomatic individuals, so called slow/low (s/l) type virus. A major characteristic of the s/l isolates in vitro is their inability to continuously replicate in cells of CD4+ established lines. In contrast, virus isolates designated rapid/high (r/h) obtained from patients in advanced stages of the HIV-infection do not show this restriction in replicative capacity. To analyze whether introduction of the tat protein into certain cell types or an over-expression of the tat protein would render cells permissive for s/l virus replication, the tat gene was transfected into cells of monocytoid and T cell origin. The resulting cell lines were then tested for their susceptibility to infection with s/l and r/h type HIV-1 isolates. The results conclusively show that mere constitutive expression of the tat protein in established CD4+ cell lines will not provide conditions allowing for continuous replication of s/l type virus. Thus, the Jurkat-tat cell line is a unique cell system for long-term propagation of this type of virus. In addition, it is a suitable system to study virus-host cell interactions and control of virus replication.
Korneyeva
M
M
Department of Virology, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden.
Stålhandske
P
P
Asjö
B
B
D015500:Chloramphenicol O-Acetyltransferase / Q000378:metabolism; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D015696:Gene Products, tat / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D015458:Leukemia, T-Cell / Q000235:genetics / Q000382:microbiology*; D014162:Transfection; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured; D014779:Virus Replication / Q000235:genetics*; D054322:tat Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus
D004279:DNA, Viral; D015696:Gene Products, tat; D054322:tat Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus; D015500:Chloramphenicol O-Acetyltransferase