Effect of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 on intracellular activation and superoxide production by neutrophils

The immunopathogenesis of AIDS is associated with the development of opportunistic infections by intracellular pathogens that can invade and reproduce freely because of impaired cellular functions. Neutrophils from asymptomatic human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) type 1-infected persons and from symptomatic patients with AIDS were found to retain normal phagocytosis activity while producing significantly less superoxide than neutrophils from HIV-1-negative subjects, when stimulated through Fc receptors or protein kinase C. After priming with a synthetic HIV-1 envelope peptide and stimulation via the Fc receptor, the neutrophils from HIV-1-negative controls had suppressed superoxide production, reduced phosphorylation of two unidentified cellular proteins, and increased expression of a third phosphoprotein. These results suggest that HIV-1 can produce direct functional damage of neutrophils through binding of envelope components to the cell membrane.