Abstract
In an in vitro coculture model of monocyte-derived, cultured human dendritic cells (DC) with autologous CD4+ resting T cells, CCR5 (R5)-tropic strains of HIV-1, but not CXCR4 (X4)-tropic strains, were transmitted to resting CD4+ T cells, leading to prolific viral output, although DC were susceptible to infection with either strain. Macrophages, which were also infectable with either R5- or X4-tropic strains, did not transmit infection to CD4+ cells. Highly productive HIV infection in this model appeared to be a consequence of heterokaryotic syncytium formation between infected DC and T cells since syncytia formation developed only in R5-infected DC/CD4+ cocultures. These results suggested that the unique microenvironment derived from the fusion between the infected DC and CD4+ cell was highly permissive and selective for replication of R5-tropic viruses. The apparent selectivity for R5-tropic strains in such syncytia was attributable neither to differential DC-mediated activation nor to selective modulation of induction of α- or β-chemokines in the infected DC. This model of HIV replication may provide useful insights into in vitro correlates of HIV pathogenicity.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 59-68 |
Number of pages | 10 |
Journal | AIDS Research and Human Retroviruses |
Volume | 17 |
Issue number | 1 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Jan 1 2001 |
Externally published | Yes |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Immunology
- Virology
- Infectious Diseases