HIV-1 Nef binding protein expressed on the surface of murine blood cells

The Nef protein of HIV-1 binds to and induces apoptotic cytolysis of a broad spectrum of uninfected blood cells of humans and mice independently of CD95 (Fas). A 24-kDa glycoprotein responsible for Nef binding and the Nef-induced apoptosis has been identified on the surface of human CD4+ T cells. Using mouse monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) against the human Nef-binding protein and flow cytometry, we analyzed the expression of a corresponding protein on murine cells. The mAbs were shown to bind to the surface of various murine cell lines including T and B lymphocytes and macrophages, in a fashion similar to the binding by soluble Nef protein. The mAbs competed with the Nef protein in binding to the cell surfaces. Immunoprecipitation of cell membranes revealed a 25-kDa protein recognized by the mAbs. Treatment of the soluble Nef protein with anti-Nef (C terminus) mAb, but not anti-Nef (N terminus) mAb, deprived the Nef of the cell binding activity, indicating that binding site is located in the C-terminal domain. Cross-linking of the cell-bound mAbs with secondary antibodies induced apoptotic cytolysis, which occurred independently of CD95 (Fas). On the other hand, neither the mAbs nor the soluble Nef protein reacted with primary lymphocytes in a resting stage obtained from lymph nodes, thymus and spleen of 5-week-old mice. However, some of the cells, predominantly comprising CD4+ T cells, became positive for the both reactions after mitogenic stimulation with phytohemagglutinin, concanavalin A or lipopolysaccharide of Escherichia coli. These results suggest that the 25-kDa protein on murine cell surfaces corresponds to the human Nef binding protein and is responsible for the Nef-induced apoptosis, and that its expression on the cell surface depends on cellular activation.