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Phagosome Migration and Velocity Measured in Live Primary Human Macrophages Infected with HIV-1
07:32

Phagosome Migration and Velocity Measured in Live Primary Human Macrophages Infected with HIV-1

Published on: September 5, 2016

HIV-1 infects macrophages by exploiting an endocytic route dependent on dynamin, Rac1 and Pak1

Gemma C Carter1, Laura Bernstone, Darshan Baskaran

  • 1Sir William Dunn School of Pathology, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3RE, UK.

Virology
|November 9, 2010
PubMed

Insights

HIV-1 entry into macrophages uses an endocytic pathway distinct from classical macropinocytosis. This study investigates HIV uptake mechanisms in macrophages, crucial for understanding viral infection spread.

Area of Science:

  • Virology
  • Cell Biology
  • Immunology

Background:

  • HIV-1 infects macrophages, a critical cell type in viral pathogenesis.
  • Previous studies established endocytosis for HIV-1 entry in lymphocytes but not macrophages.
  • Macrophages possess high endocytic activity essential for their function.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the specific endocytic pathways utilized by HIV-1 for entry into macrophages.
  • To differentiate HIV-1 uptake mechanisms in macrophages from those in other cell types.

Main Methods:

  • Pharmacological inhibition of key endocytic pathway components and cellular processes.
  • Assessment of HIV-1 entry sensitivity to inhibitors of Na+/H+ exchange, actin rearrangement, dynamin, Rho GTPases, Pak1, PI-3 kinase, and myosin II.
  • Analysis of caveolin-1 and caveolin-2 expression in human leukocytes.

Main Results:

  • HIV-1 entry into macrophages is not mediated by caveolae due to the absence of caveolin-1 and -2 in most human leukocytes.
  • HIV-1 entry is sensitive to inhibitors of Na+/H+ exchange, actin rearrangement, dynamin, Rho family GTPases, and Pak1.
  • HIV-1 entry is not inhibited by PI-3 kinase or myosin II inhibitors.

Conclusions:

  • HIV-1 entry into macrophages utilizes an endocytic pathway that differs from classical macropinocytosis.
  • The precise endocytic pathway requires further elucidation through forward genetic approaches in macrophages.

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