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Influenza virus upregulates CXCR4 expression in CD4+ cells
1Laboratory of Experimental and Computational Biology, NCI-FCRDC, Frederick, Maryland 21702, USA. apuri@helix.nih.gov
AIDS Research and Human Retroviruses
|January 11, 2000
Summary
Prior influenza virus infection increases CD4+ cell susceptibility to HIV-1. This occurs because influenza boosts the expression of CXCR4, a key receptor for HIV-1 entry, potentially impacting HIV disease progression.
Area of Science:
- Virology
- Immunology
- Cell Biology
Background:
- CD4+ cells are crucial targets for HIV-1 infection.
- HIV-1 entry into CD4+ cells depends on coreceptors like CXCR4 and CCR5.
- The impact of prior viral infections on HIV-1 susceptibility is not fully understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate how influenza virus infection affects the susceptibility of CD4+ cells to HIV-1.
- To determine the role of viral coreceptors in this interaction.
Main Methods:
- HeLa-CD4 cells were infected with influenza virus.
- Susceptibility to different HIV-1 isolates (CXCR4-dependent and CCR5-dependent) was assessed.
- Levels of CXCR4 transcripts and cell surface CXCR4 expression were measured.
Main Results:
- Influenza virus infection significantly increased CD4+ cell susceptibility to CXCR4-dependent HIV-1.
- No significant change in susceptibility to CCR5-dependent HIV-1 was observed.
- Influenza infection led to higher steady-state levels of CXCR4 transcripts and increased cell surface CXCR4 expression.
Conclusions:
- Prior influenza infection enhances CD4+ cell susceptibility to specific HIV-1 strains.
- Influenza virus modulates the availability of the CXCR4 coreceptor.
- These findings suggest that co-infections with agents like influenza may influence HIV disease progression by altering coreceptor expression.