HIV-1 infection of cultured human adult oligodendrocytes.
The mechanism through which HIV-1 causes HIV dementia (HIVD) is not well understood. Myelin pallor is a common pathological finding in HIVD and could be explained by a direct infection of oligodendrocytes or interaction with HIV-1 gp 120. To determine if oligodendrocytes could be infected by HIV-1, we purified oligodendrocytes from adult human brain tissues obtained from temporal lobe resections. These cells were exposed to HIV-1 and infectivity was assayed by detection of p24gag antigen, PCR amplification, and cocultivation with CD4+ cells. These results indicate that HIV-1(IIIB and BaL) and one of four primary isolates tested can infect oligodendrocytes, resulting in the production of infectious virus. Furthermore, in an experiment that mimics a potential in vivo scenario, infected microglia were able to transmit virus to oligodendrocytes in a trans-well culture system. These experiments indicate that oligodendrocyte infection should be considered in studying the pathophysiology of HIVD.
Albright
A V
AV
Graduate Group in Molecular Biology, Department of Neurology, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia 19104-6146, USA.
Strizki
J
J
Harouse
J M
JM
Lavi
E
E
O'Connor
M
M
González-Scarano
F
F
D000328:Adult; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D018920:Coculture Techniques; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D017628:Microglia / Q000821:virology; D009836:Oligodendroglia / Q000821:virology*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013702:Temporal Lobe / Q000166:cytology; D014779:Virus Replication