Involvement of claudin-7 in HIV infection of CD4(-) cells.
BACKGROUND
Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection of CD4(-) cells has been demonstrated, and this may be an important mechanism for HIV transmission.


RESULTS
We demonstrated that a membrane protein, claudin-7 (CLDN-7), is involved in HIV infection of CD4(-) cells. A significant increase in HIV susceptibility (2- to 100-fold) was demonstrated when CLDN-7 was transfected into a CD4(-) cell line, 293T. In addition, antibodies against CLDN-7 significantly decreased HIV infection of CD4(-) cells. Furthermore, HIV virions expressing CLDN-7 on their envelopes had a much higher infectivity for 293T CD4(-) cells than the parental HIV with no CLDN-7. RT-PCR results demonstrated that CLDN-7 is expressed in both macrophages and stimulated peripheral blood leukocytes, suggesting that most HIV virions generated in infected individuals have CLDN-7 on their envelopes. We also found that CLDN-7 is highly expressed in urogenital and gastrointestinal tissues.


CONCLUSIONS
Together these results suggest that CLDN-7 may play an important role in HIV infection of CD4(-) cells.
Zheng
Junying
J
Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, UCLA School of Dentistry, Dental Institute, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA. zyzheng29@hotmail.com
Xie
Yiming
Y
Campbell
Richard
R
Song
Jun
J
Massachi
Samira
S
Razi
Miriam
M
Chiu
Robert
R
Berenson
James
J
Yang
Otto O
OO
Chen
Irvin S Y
IS
Pang
Shen
S
D002460:Cell Line; D057167:Claudins; D006678:HIV / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D015699:HIV Envelope Protein gp120 / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D008264:Macrophages / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D011467:Prostate / Q000821:virology; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis
C473255:CLDN7 protein, human; D057167:Claudins; D015699:HIV Envelope Protein gp120; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger