Related Experiment Videos
Defective infection of rabbit peripheral blood monocyte cultures with human immunodeficiency virus type 1
C K Tseng1, J Leibowitz, S Sell
1Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Medical School, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston 77225.
Abstract:
Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) produces abortive infections of primary cultures of rabbit peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PMBCs). Mitogen activation of rabbit PBMCs or the addition of exogenous cytokines to the cultures does not change the level of release of the early HIV core protein, p24, into the culture medium. The amount of p24 increases steadily and reaches peak levels about 7 days after infection. HIV-1-specific DNA env sequences are also detected in infected PBMCs. However, reverse transcription of RNA of samples from activated infected cultures to cDNA, followed by amplification by the polymerase chain reaction, revealed transcription of gag, but not env, regions, suggesting that HIV-1 infection of rabbit PBMC does not lead to the replication and maturation of complete HIV-1 virions. In addition, neither CPE nor lytic infection was observed in HIV-1-infected rabbit cells and infectivity could not be transferred from rabbit cells infected with HIV for up to 2 weeks to MT-2 or H9 indicator cell lines. In addition, no CPE was seen in long-term cultures of the HTLV-I-transformed rabbit cell line PLT-1441, after inoculation with HIV. It is concluded that primary rabbit PBMCs may be infectable by HIV-1 but are not permissive for production of infectious virus. This conclusion is consistent with the apparent long-term latent infection seen after inoculation of rabbits with HIV-1 or HIV-1-infected cells.
Insights
Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) infects rabbit peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), but does not produce infectious virus. This suggests a latent infection rather than active viral replication in rabbits.
Area of Science:
- Virology
- Immunology
- Cell Biology
Background:
- Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) establishes persistent infections in humans.
- Rabbit peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) are investigated as a model for HIV-1 infection.
- Understanding host-pathogen interactions is crucial for developing effective HIV-1 therapies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the permissiveness of primary rabbit PBMCs to HIV-1 infection.
- To determine if HIV-1 infection leads to viral replication and production of infectious virions in rabbits.
- To explore the potential of rabbit PBMCs as a model for latent HIV-1 infection.
Main Methods:
- Infection of primary rabbit PBMCs with HIV-1.
- Measurement of HIV-1 core protein p24 release.
- Detection of HIV-1 DNA env sequences using polymerase chain reaction (PCR).
- Analysis of viral RNA transcription (gag and env regions).
- Assessment of cytopathic effect (CPE) and infectivity transfer to indicator cell lines.
Main Results:
- HIV-1 infection of rabbit PBMCs resulted in detectable p24 protein and gag gene transcription, but not env gene transcription.
- No infectious HIV-1 virions were produced, and no cytopathic effect was observed in infected rabbit cells.
- Infectivity could not be transferred from HIV-1-infected rabbit cells to human indicator cell lines (MT-2 or H9).
- Long-term cultures of rabbit cells, including the PLT-1441 cell line, showed no cytopathic effect after HIV-1 inoculation.
Conclusions:
- Primary rabbit PBMCs are infectable by HIV-1 but not permissive for the production of infectious virus.
- HIV-1 infection in rabbits appears to result in a latent or abortive infection.
- Rabbit PBMCs may serve as a model for studying latent HIV-1 infection and its implications.