Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 infection of human uterine epithelial cells: viral shedding and cell contact-mediated infectivity.
We examined the mechanism of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) type 1 infection of human uterine epithelial cells to gain a clearer understanding of the events by which HIV-1 infects cells within the female reproductive tract. We demonstrated that these cells can be productively infected by HIV-1 and that infection is associated with viral RNA reverse transcription, DNA transcription, and secretion of infectious virus. Levels of viral DNA and secreted virus decreased gradually after infection. Moreover, virus released by the uterine epithelial cells shortly after infection was able to infect human T cell lines, but virus released later did not. In contrast, human CD4(+) T cell lines were infected after cocultivation with epithelial cells at both early and late stages of infection. These data demonstrated that HIV-1 infects human epithelial cells of upper reproductive tract origin and that productive viral infection of epithelial cells may be an important mechanism of transmission of HIV-1 infection in women.
Department of Microbiology, Dartmouth Medical School, Lebanon, New Hampshire, USA. Susana.Asin@dartmouth.edu
Susana N
SN
Asin
Dunja
D
Wildt-Perinic
Sarah I
SI
Mason
Alexandra L
AL
Howell
Charles R
CR
Wira
Michael W
MW
Fanger
D000906:Antibodies / Q000276:immunology; D015704:CD4 Antigens / Q000276:immunology; D002460:Cell Line; D018920:Coculture Techniques; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000821:virology*; D005260:Female; D016655:HIV Core Protein p24 / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000821:virology*; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000235:genetics / Q000472:pathogenicity / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D011991:Receptors, Virus / Q000378:metabolism*; D014158:Transcription, Genetic; D014599:Uterus / Q000166:cytology* / Q000821:virology*; D014779:Virus Replication; D017201:Virus Shedding
D000906:Antibodies; D015704:CD4 Antigens; D016655:HIV Core Protein p24; D012367:RNA, Viral; D011991:Receptors, Virus