Related Experiment Videos
Endocytic entry of HIV-1
1Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Department of Medicine, University of California at San Francisco, 94143-0703, USA.
Current Biology : CB
|September 14, 2000
Summary
Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) can infect cells via endocytosis, a pH-dependent route. This pathway, observed with HIV-1SF2, differs from the typical pH-independent entry and has implications for antiviral strategies.
Area of Science:
- Virology
- Cell Biology
- Immunology
Background:
- Enveloped viruses utilize membrane fusion or endocytosis for cell entry.
- Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) typically enters cells via pH-independent fusion.
- Expression of CD4 on producer cells can affect HIV infectivity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the entry mechanism of different HIV isolates.
- To determine the role of CD4 expression on producer cells in HIV infectivity.
- To explore the potential of endocytic pathways for HIV entry.
Main Methods:
- Comparative analysis of HIV-1(NL4-3) and HIV-1SF2 infectivity.
- Assessment of viral protein localization in target cells.
- Use of endocytic inhibitors to study viral entry routes.
- Induction of syncytia formation under acidic conditions.
Main Results:
- HIV-1SF2 infectivity was enhanced by CD4 expression on producer cells, unlike HIV-1(NL4-3).
- HIV-1SF2 showed increased viral proteins in the vesicular fraction of target cells.
- Endocytic inhibitors differentially affected the infectivity of the two HIV isolates.
- HIV-1SF2 demonstrated pH-dependent syncytia formation, suggesting endocytic entry.
Conclusions:
- HIV-1SF2 can enter cells via an endocytic route, activated by acidic pH.
- This pH-dependent entry mechanism expands the potential host cell range for HIV.
- Understanding endocytic entry is crucial for developing effective antiviral strategies against AIDS.