Tat and rev differentially affect restricted replication of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 in various cells

Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) can infect various cell lines in culture and be maintained in a chronic state of restricted replication. These states of proviral latency are characterized by a predominance of spliced compared to unspliced viral RNA species. The proximate molecular mechanisms leading to restricted HIV-1 replication may differ in various cell lines. Importantly, recent studies have demonstrated that the site of integration is the critical parameter leading to proviral latency in ACH-2 cells. Utilizing murine retroviral shuttle vectors, the HIV-1 Tat protein was demonstrated to dramatically increase HIV-1 expression in the restrictively infected U1 monocytic cell line but not in the ACH-2 T-lymphocytic line. The HIV-1 Rev protein only modestly increased viral expression in both of these cell types. Thus, these data support the hypothesis that the mechanisms which initiate and/or maintain restricted HIV-1 expression may differ in various cell types in cell culture, and possibly in vivo.