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Updated: Jun 14, 2026

Imaging of HIV-1 Envelope-induced Virological Synapse and Signaling on Synthetic Lipid Bilayers
Published on: March 8, 2012
Protection against HIV-envelope-induced neuronal cell destruction by HIV attachment inhibitors
Sharon Zhang1, Louis Alexander, Tao Wang
1Department of Virology, Bristol Myers Squibb, 5 Research Parkway, Wallingford, CT 06492, USA.
Abstract:
We demonstrate that HIV attachment inhibitors (AIs) prevent HIV envelope-induced destruction of two neuronal cell lines (SH-SY5Y and BE(2)-M17) at low nanomolar concentrations. The fusion inhibitor enfuvirtide and the CCR5 inhibitors UK427,857 and TAK779 do not display protection activity, suggesting the involvement of Env/cell interaction site(s) distinct from the sites involved in the viral entry process. We surmise that by inducing conformation changes in the envelope, AIs likely obstruct novel interactions with a neuronal cell factor(s) required for induction of apoptosis. This antiretroviral class may therefore have the potential to inhibit HIV-induced neuron damage, thereby curtailing the increasing incidence of HIV-associated cognitive impairment.
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