J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr. 1992;5(9):915-20. Unique Identifier :
To study interactions between the human immunodeficiency virus type 1
(HIV-1) envelope glycoprotein (gp120-gp41) and the receptor in the
target membrane, CD4, a new experimental system utilizing CD4-carrying
plasma membrane vesicles (CD4 PMVs) was developed. CD4 PMVs were
prepared by hypotonic lysis of HeLa cells expressing CD4 after infection
with recombinant vaccinia virus containing the CD4 cDNA. The CD4 PMVs
carried up to 680 CD4 molecules per vesicle. Their fusion with cells
expressing gp120-gp41 after infection with recombinant vaccinia virus
was monitored by fluorescence video microscopy by using lipophilic
fluorescent dyes. Fluorescence changes as a result of fusion occurred
within 30 min at 37 degrees C, and little fluorescence changes were seen
with cells expressing the noncleaved HIV-1 envelope glycoprotein
(gp160). The preincubation of CD4 PMVs with HIV-1 reduced its
infectivity 10-fold. The CD4 PMVs were more effective in inhibiting
syncytia formation than sCD4. These results demonstrate that CD4 PMVs
could be used to study the mechanisms of HIV-1 envelope-mediated fusion
and have the potential to inactivate HIV-1.
Animal Antigens, CD4/*METABOLISM Cell Line Cell Membrane/*METABOLISM
Hela Cells Human HIV Envelope Protein gp120/*METABOLISM HIV Envelope
Protein gp41/*METABOLISM HIV-1/*METABOLISM Microscopy, Fluorescence
Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S. JOURNAL ARTICLE