gp120-Independent infection of CD4(-) epithelial cells and CD4(+) T-cells by HIV-1.
Infection of CD4- cells by HIV-1 is well documented, but the mechanism responsible remains a matter of discussion. Previously we modified an HIV-1 virus strain, NL4-3, by deleting the Env proteins (gp41 and gp120) and inserting the enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP), and found that the Env(-) virus infects several types of CD4- cells. Here, we have prepared Env(-) virus from both the CD4- cell line, 293T, and the CD4+ cell lines, CEM and SUPT1, and found that HIV-1 Env(-) virus from either cell type is infectious for both CD4+ and several CD4- cell lines. Replication of HIV-1 Env(-) virus-infected cells was demonstrated by p24 gag protein assays and real-time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) of the culture medium from infected cells. Virus collected from the HIV-1-Env(-) infected cultures proved infectious to several CD4- cell lines. Our results suggest that HIV-1 infects both CD4- and CD4+ cells using a gp120-independent mechanism. This infection mechanism may provide new explanations for HIV-1 latency and persistent infection in patients.
Chow
Yen-Hung
YH
Division of Oral Biology and Medicine and University of California Los Angeles Dental Institute, UCLA School of Dentistry, Los Angeles, 90095-1668, USA.
Yu
Duan
D
Zhang
Jun-Ying
JY
Xie
Yiming
Y
Wei
O Lu-Chen
OL
Chiu
Christopher
C
Foroohar
Mani
M
Yang
Otto O
OO
Park
No-Hee
NH
Chen
Irvin S Y
IS
Pang
Shen
S
D015704:CD4 Antigens / Q000032:analysis*; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology*; D002460:Cell Line; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins; D015699:HIV Envelope Protein gp120; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000737:chemistry / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008164:Luminescent Proteins; D014779:Virus Replication
D015704:CD4 Antigens; D015699:HIV Envelope Protein gp120; D008164:Luminescent Proteins; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins