Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 20, 2026

Assessment of Immunologically Relevant Dynamic Tertiary Structural Features of the HIV-1 V3 Loop Crown R2 Sequence by ab initio Folding
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Assessment of Immunologically Relevant Dynamic Tertiary Structural Features of the HIV-1 V3 Loop Crown R2 Sequence by ab initio Folding

Published on: September 15, 2010

Interferon induction by HIV glycoprotein 120: role of the V3 loop

H Ankel1, M R Capobianchi, C Castilletti

  • 1Department of Biochemistry, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee 53226.

Virology
|November 15, 1994
PubMed

Insights

HIV-1

Area of Science:

  • Immunology
  • Virology
  • Molecular Biology

Background:

  • Human Immunodeficiency Virus type 1 (HIV-1) infection can trigger immune responses.
  • Interferon (IFN) induction is a key component of the innate immune system.
  • Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) are crucial in immune responses to viral infections.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To elucidate the mechanism by which HIV-1 induces IFN in PBMC.
  • To identify the viral and cellular components involved in IFN induction by HIV-1.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized recombinant HIV-1 gp120 glycoproteins from different strains (HIVIIIB and MN) as potential inducers.
  • Employed monoclonal antibodies (mABs) targeting specific domains of gp120 and CD4.
  • Investigated the inhibitory effects of mABs and V3-homologous peptides on IFN induction.

Main Results:

  • HIVIIIB-derived gp120 induced IFN in PBMC, while MN-derived gp120 did not.
  • Antibodies blocking gp120-CD4 binding or targeting the CD4 hinge region abolished IFN induction.
  • Antibodies against the HIV-1 V3 loop and V3-homologous peptides also inhibited IFN induction.

Conclusions:

  • HIV-1 gp120 binding to CD4 initiates a conformational change, positioning the V3 loop.
  • Interaction of the V3 loop with a putative secondary receptor on PBMC triggers IFN induction.
  • This mechanism highlights a novel pathway for viral-mediated immune activation by HIV-1.

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