title: Pannexin1 hemichannels are critical for HIV infection of human primary CD4+ T lymphocytes.
abstract: HIV is a major public health issue, and infection of CD4(+) T lymphocytes is one of its key features. Whereas several cellular proteins have been identified that facilitate viral infection and replication, the role of hemichannels in these processes has not been fully characterized. We now show that the HIV isolates, R5 and X4, induced a transient-early (5-30 min) and a later, persistent (48-120 h) opening of Panx1 hemichannels, which was dependent on the binding of HIV to CD4 and CCR5/CXCR4 receptors. Blocking Panx1 hemichannels by reducing their opening or protein expression inhibited HIV replication in CD4(+) T lymphocytes. Thus, our findings demonstrate that Panx1 hemichannels play an essential role in HIV infection.
authors: Departamento de Neurología, Escuela de Medicina, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile.
authors: J A
authors: JA
authors: Orellana
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Velasquez
authors: D W
authors: DW
authors: Williams
authors: J C
authors: JC
authors: Sáez
authors: J W
authors: JW
authors: Berman
authors: E A
authors: EA
authors: Eugenin
mesh_terms: D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000821:virology*; D018031:Connexin 43 / Q000502:physiology; D017630:Connexins / Q000502:physiology*; D006678:HIV / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000502:physiology*; D019713:Receptors, CCR5 / Q000502:physiology; D019718:Receptors, CXCR4 / Q000502:physiology; D014779:Virus Replication
chemical_list: D018031:Connexin 43; D017630:Connexins; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; C492764:PANX1 protein, human; D019713:Receptors, CCR5; D019718:Receptors, CXCR4
keywords: AIDS; channels; disease