Enhanced production of p24 Gag protein in HIV-1-infected rat cells fused with uninfected human cells

Exp Mol Pathol. 2007 Aug;83(1):125-30. doi: 10.1016/j.yexmp.2006.11.003. Epub 2007 Jan 12.

Abstract

Although many human molecules have been suggested to affect replication of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1), the distribution of such cofactors in human cell types is not well understood. Rat W31/D4R4 fibroblasts expressing human CD4 and CXCR4 receptors were infected with HIV-1. The provirus was integrated in the host genome, but only a limited amount of p24 Gag protein was produced in the cells and culture supernatants. Here we found that p24 production was significantly increased by fusing HIV-1-infected W31/D4R4 cells with uninfected human cell lines of T-cell, B-cell, or macrophage lineages. These findings suggest that human cellular factors supporting HIV-1 replication are distributed widely in cells of lymphocyte and macrophage lineages. We also examined whether the amount of p24 produced by rat-human hybrid cells was correlated with expression levels of specific human genes. The results suggested that HP68 and MHC class II transactivator (CIITA) might up- and down-regulate p24 production, respectively. It was also suggested that HIV-1 replication is affected by molecules other than those examined in this study, namely, cyclin T1, cyclin-dependent kinase 9, CRM1, HP68, and CIITA.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cell Fusion
  • Cell Line
  • Gene Expression Regulation
  • HIV Core Protein p24 / biosynthesis*
  • HIV-1 / genetics
  • HIV-1 / metabolism*
  • Humans
  • Hybrid Cells / metabolism*
  • Rats

Substances

  • HIV Core Protein p24