title: Inhibition of envelope-mediated CD4+-T-cell depletion by human immunodeficiency virus attachment inhibitors.
abstract: Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) envelope (Env) binding induces proapoptotic signals in CD4(+) T cells without a requirement of infection. Defective virus particles, which represent the majority of HIV-1, usually contain a functional Env and therefore represent a potentially significant cause of such CD4(+)-T-cell loss. We reasoned that an HIV-1 inhibitor that prohibits Env-host cell interactions could block the destructive effects of defective particles. HIV-1 attachment inhibitors (AIs), which potently inhibit Env-CD4 binding and subsequent downstream effects of Env, display low-nanomolar antiapoptotic potency and prevent CD4(+)-T-cell depletion from mixed lymphocyte cultures, also with low-nanomolar potency. Specific Env amino acid changes that confer resistance to AI antientry activity eliminate AI antiapoptotic effects. We observed that CD4(+)-T-cell destruction is specific for CXCR4-utilizing HIV-1 strains and that the fusion blocker enfuvirtide inhibits Env-mediated CD4(+)-T-cell killing but is substantially less potent than AIs. These observations, in conjunction with observed antiapoptotic activities of soluble CD4 and the CXCR4 blocker AMD3100, suggest that this AI activity functions through a mechanism common to AI antientry activity, e.g., prevention of Env conformation changes necessary for specific interactions with cellular factors that facilitate viral entry. Our study suggests that AIs, in addition to having potent antientry activity, could contribute to immune system homeostasis in individuals infected with HIV-1 that can engage CXCR4, thereby mitigating the increased risk of adverse clinical events observed in such individuals on current antiretroviral regimens.
authors.affiliation: Department of Virology, Bristol Myers Squibb, 5 Research Parkway, Wallingford, CT 06492, USA. louis.alexander@bms.com
authors.forename: Louis
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Alexander
authors.forename: Sharon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Brian
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: McAuliffe
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Connors
authors.forename: Nannon
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Tao
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Michele
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Agler
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kadow
authors.forename: Pin-Fang
authors.initials: PF
authors.lastname: Lin
mesh_terms: D019380:Anti-HIV Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects*; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D019718:Receptors, CXCR4 / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000502:physiology; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins / Q000502:physiology*; D014771:Virion / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D053585:Virus Attachment / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D019380:Anti-HIV Agents; D019718:Receptors, CXCR4; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins