Could CD4 capture by CD8+ T cells play a role in HIV spreading?
CD8(+) T cells have been shown to capture plasma membrane fragments from target cells expressing their cognate antigen, a process termed "trogocytosis". Here, we report that human CD4, the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) receptor, can be found among the proteins transferred by trogocytosis. CD4 is expressed in a correct orientation after its capture by CD8(+) T cells as shown by its detection using conformational antibodies and its ability to allow HIV binding on recipient CD8(+) T cells. Although we could not find direct evidence for infection of CD8(+) T cells having captured CD4 by HIV, CD4 was virologically functional on these cells as it conferred on them the ability to undergo syncytia formation induced by HIV-infected MOLT-4 cells. Our results show that acquisition of CD4 by CD8(+) T cells via trogocytosis could play a previously unappreciated role for CD8(+) T cells in HIV spreading possibly without leading to their infection.
Aucher
Anne
A
Institut de Pharmacologie et de Biologie Structurale (CNRS, IPBS), 205 route de Narbonne, 31077 Toulouse, France.
Puigdomènech
Isabel
I
Joly
Etienne
E
Clotet
Bonaventura
B
Hudrisier
Denis
D
Blanco
Julià
J
D000818:Animals; D015704:CD4 Antigens / Q000276:immunology*; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology* / Q000821:virology; D002460:Cell Line; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D015726:Giant Cells / Q000821:virology; D006678:HIV / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology*; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000276:immunology* / Q000821:virology*; D015789:HLA-A2 Antigen / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D054992:Immunological Synapses; D051379:Mice; D014771:Virion / Q000378:metabolism; D053585:Virus Attachment
D015704:CD4 Antigens; D015789:HLA-A2 Antigen