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Assessing the Innate Sensing of HIV-1 Infected CD4+ T Cells by Plasmacytoid Dendritic Cells Using an Ex vivo Co-culture System.
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Assessing the Innate Sensing of HIV-1 Infected CD4+ T Cells by Plasmacytoid Dendritic Cells Using an Ex vivo Co-culture System.

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Human immunodeficiency virus grown in CD4-expressing cells is associated with CD4

C A Hartley1, M J Gilbert, L Brigido

  • 1Macfarlane Burnet Centre for Medical Research, Fairfield, Victoria, Australia.

The Journal of General Virology
|September 1, 1996
PubMed

Insights

Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) virions grown in CD4-expressing cells show reduced CD4-reactive gp120. This is because host cell CD4 associates with virions, masking gp120 binding sites.

Area of Science:

  • Virology
  • Immunology
  • Cell Biology

Background:

  • Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) entry relies on the interaction between viral gp120 and host cell CD4 receptors.
  • The precise mechanisms influencing gp120 accessibility and infectivity during viral replication are not fully understood.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the amount of CD4-reactive gp120 in HIV-1 virions grown in different cell types.
  • To determine if host cell CD4 associates with HIV-1 virions and affects gp120 presentation.

Main Methods:

  • CD4-capture immunoassay to quantify CD4-reactive gp120.
  • Immunoblot assay to detect viral gp120 and associated CD4.
  • Sucrose gradient purification of virions.
  • Co-sedimentation assays with labeled antibodies.

Main Results:

  • HIV-1 grown in CD4-expressing cells had significantly lower CD4-reactive gp120 compared to virus grown in CD4-negative cells.
  • Immunoblot assays confirmed abundant total gp120 in both virus preparations.
  • Direct evidence showed CD4 association with HIV-1 virions propagated in CD4-positive cells, including primary isolates.

Conclusions:

  • Host cell-derived CD4 associates with HIV-1 virions grown in CD4-positive cells.
  • This CD4 association may conceal the gp120 binding domains, potentially impacting viral interactions.
  • The biological implications of CD4 coating on HIV particles require further investigation.

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