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Published on: September 5, 2016
Fibrocytes Differ from Macrophages but Can Be Infected with HIV-1
Michihiro Hashimoto1, Hesham Nasser1, Farzana Bhuyan1
1Center for AIDS Research, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto 860-0811, Japan; International Research Center for Medical Sciences, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto 860-0811, Japan;
Abstract:
Fibrocytes (fibroblastic leukocytes) are recently identified as unique hematopoietic cells with features of both macrophages and fibroblasts. Fibrocytes are known to contribute to the remodeling or fibrosis of various injured tissues. However, their role in viral infection is not fully understood. In this study, we show that differentiated fibrocytes are phenotypically distinguishable from macrophages but can be infected with HIV-1. Importantly, fibrocytes exhibited persistently infected cell-like phenotypes, the degree of which was more apparent than macrophages. The infected fibrocytes produced replication-competent HIV-1, but expressed HIV-1 mRNA at low levels and strongly resisted HIV-1-induced cell death, which enabled them to support an extremely long-term HIV-1 production at low but steady levels. More importantly, our results suggested that fibrocytes were susceptible to HIV-1 regardless of their differentiation state, in contrast to the fact that monocytes become susceptible to HIV-1 after the differentiation into macrophages. Our findings indicate that fibrocytes are the previously unreported HIV-1 host cells, and they suggest the importance of considering fibrocytes as one of the long-lived persistently infected cells for curing HIV-1.
Insights
Fibrocytes, a type of immune cell, can be infected with HIV-1. These persistently infected fibrocytes support long-term HIV-1 production, suggesting they are a novel host cell for the virus.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Virology
- Cell Biology
Background:
- Fibrocytes are hematopoietic cells with macrophage and fibroblast characteristics.
- Fibrocytes are implicated in tissue remodeling and fibrosis.
- The role of fibrocytes in viral infections remains largely unknown.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the susceptibility of fibrocytes to HIV-1 infection.
- To characterize the phenotype and viral production of HIV-1 infected fibrocytes.
- To determine if fibrocytes represent a novel host cell for HIV-1.
Main Methods:
- Phenotypic analysis of differentiated fibrocytes compared to macrophages.
- HIV-1 infection assays using fibrocytes and macrophages.
- Assessment of viral replication, mRNA expression, and cell death in infected cells.
Main Results:
- Differentiated fibrocytes are phenotypically distinct from macrophages but susceptible to HIV-1.
- Infected fibrocytes exhibit persistent infection phenotypes, producing replication-competent HIV-1.
- Fibrocytes support long-term HIV-1 production and resist HIV-1-induced cell death.
- Fibrocytes are susceptible to HIV-1 regardless of differentiation state, unlike monocytes.
Conclusions:
- Fibrocytes are a previously unreported host cell for HIV-1.
- Fibrocytes can act as long-lived, persistently infected cells, impacting HIV-1 persistence.
- These findings highlight the importance of fibrocytes in HIV-1 infection and suggest therapeutic considerations.
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