Extracellular human immunodeficiency virus type 1 Tat protein promotes aggregation and adhesion of cerebellar neurons

Recombinant human immunodeficiency virus (HIV-1) Tat protein added to the culture medium of rat cerebellar neurons promoted aggregation and formation of spoke-like neurites in a dose-dependent manner. Tat proteins containing mutations in the Arg-Gly-Asp (RGD) cell adhesion motif or a deletion of the cysteine-rich domain had no effect on neuronal morphology. In contrast, a Tat protein that contained a deletion of the proline-rich domain promoted neuronal aggregation. Aggregation of neurons was inhibited by the addition of monoclonal antibodies directed against the RGD and basic domains of Tat, but not against the proline-rich domain. The same domains of Tat required to induce aggregation also mediated adhesion of neurons to Tat-coated substrates. The HIV-2 Tat protein, which lacks an RGD sequence but contains cysteine-rich and basic domains similar to HIV-1 Tat, induced aggregation and acted as a substrate for adhesion when added at higher concentrations than HIV-1 Tat. Vitronectin, fibronectin, and RGD-containing peptides did not induce morphological changes in neurons or act as substrates for adhesion. The ability of Tat to induce morphological changes and promote adhesion was independent of the ability of Tat to transactivate HIV gene expression. Our results suggest that extracellular Tat protein most likely alters neuronal morphology and mediates adhesion by acting in a manner similar to an extracellular matrix protein.