Human immunodeficiency virus Env-independent infection of human CD4(-) cells.
CD4(-) epithelial cells covering mucosal surfaces serve as the primary barrier to prevent human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) infection. We used HIV-1 vectors carrying the enhanced green fluorescent protein gene as a reporter gene to demonstrate that HIV-1 can infect some CD4(-) human epithelial cell lines with low but significant efficiencies. Importantly, HIV-1 infection of these cell lines is independent of HIV-1 envelope proteins. The Env-independent infection of CD4(-) cells by HIV-1 suggests an alternative pathway for HIV-1 transmission. Even on virions bearing Env, a neutralizing antibody directed against gp120 is incapable of neutralizing the infection of these cells, thus raising potential implications for HIV-1 vaccine development.
Pang
S
S
Division of Oral Biology and Medicine, UCLA School of Dentistry, Los Angeles, California 90095, USA.
Yu
D
D
An
D S
DS
Baldwin
G C
GC
Xie
Y
Y
Poon
B
B
Chow
Y H
YH
Park
N H
NH
Chen
I S
IS
D015704:CD4 Antigens / Q000032:analysis / Q000502:physiology*; D002460:Cell Line; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000821:virology; D015686:Gene Products, env / Q000502:physiology*; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans
D015704:CD4 Antigens; D015686:Gene Products, env