B cell-mediated infection of stimulated and unstimulated autologous T lymphocytes with HIV-1: role of complement.
In vivo, human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) is opsonized with complement fragments and virus-specific antibodies (Ab). Thus, HIV is able to interact with complement receptor (CR) - and Fc receptor (FcR) - positive cells such as B cells, follicular dendritic cells or macrophages. In this study we demonstrate that the interaction between B cells and HIV has an impact on autologous primary T cell infection in vitro. We confirmed the presence of complement-fragments and virus-specific Ab on serum-treated HIV using a virus-capture assay. In experiments with CR2-specific Ab we showed that the virus/B cell interaction was mainly dependent on CR2. In infection experiments immobilisation of HIV on stimulated tonsil B cells greatly enhanced the infection of interleukin (IL)-2-activated autologous tonsil T cells. Surprisingly, enhancement of T cell infection by B cell-HIV complexes was observed even in the absence of mitogenic stimuli such as PMA and was independent of the addition of exogenous IL-2. Taken together, these results indicate that primary B cells are able to efficiently transmit opsonised HIV to autologous primary T cells and induce a massive enhancement of infection. These in vitro experiments mimic the in vivo situation in the lymphoid tissue and suggest an alternative mechanism for the infection of primary T cells.
Doepper
S
S
Institute of Hygiene, University Hospital, University of Innsbruck, Vienna, Austria.
Stoiber
H
H
Kacani
L
L
Sprinzl
G
G
Steindl
F
F
Prodinger
W M
WM
Dierich
M P
MP
D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D018920:Coculture Techniques; D015922:Complement C1q / Q000276:immunology; D003176:Complement C3 / Q000276:immunology*; D015483:HIV Antibodies / Q000276:immunology; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D014066:Palatine Tonsil / Q000166:cytology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology*; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
D003176:Complement C3; D015483:HIV Antibodies; D015922:Complement C1q