title: HIV and human complement: inefficient virolysis and effective adherence.
abstract: Both, HIV envelope proteins gp120 and gp41 can directly activate complement system, even in the absence of HIV-specific antibodies. During the budding process HIV acquires host membrane-associated molecules among these complement regulatory proteins (CRPs). The presence of CRPs on the viral surface rescues HIV from complement-mediated virolysis. The inefficient virolysis results in the deposition of complement-fragments on the viral surface allowing interactions of HIV with complement receptor expressing cells. In this review, the interaction of HIV with the complement system and the consequences of complement opsonisation on virus infection will be discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Hygiene, Microbiology and Social Medicine, Division of Hygiene and Medical Microbiology, Innsbruck Medical University, Innsbruck, Austria and Ludwig-Boltzmann-Institute for AIDS research, Fritz-Pregl-Str. 3., 6020 Innsbruck, Austria.
authors.forename: Zoltán
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Bánki
authors.forename: Heribert
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Stoiber
authors.forename: Manfred P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Dierich
mesh_terms: D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology*; D000706:Anaphylatoxins / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D003165:Complement System Proteins / Q000276:immunology*; D006678:HIV / Q000276:immunology* / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D000267:Tissue Adhesions
chemical_list: D000706:Anaphylatoxins; D003165:Complement System Proteins