AEGiS-1IAC: T-LYMPHOCYTE T4 MOLECULE BEHAVES AS THE RECEPTOR FOR HUMAN RETROVIRUS LAV

1st International AIDS Conference

Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.A. - April 14-17, 1985

T-LYMPHOCYTE T4 MOLECULE BEHAVES AS THE RECEPTOR FOR HUMAN RETROVIRUS LAV

Int Conf AIDS. 1985 Apr 14-17;1:25 (abstract no. S6C)

D. Klatzmann, E. Champagne, J.C. Gluckman and L. Montagnier
La Pitie-Salpetriere Hospital and Pasteur Institute, Paris.

Lymphadenopathy associated virus (LAV)displays selective tropism for a subset of T lymphocytes defined by the surface glycoprotein termed T4. Such a tropism may be controlled at the genomic level by regulatory sequences or at the membrane level, requiring the interaction of a specific cellular receptor with the virus envelope. Therefore, we have investigated whether the T4 molecule itself is related to the receptor for LAV. We report here that pre-incubation of T4+ lymphocytes with three individual monoclonal antibodies directed at the T4 glycoprotein blocked cell infection by LAV. This blocking effect was specific as other monoclonal antibodies such as antibody to histocompatibility locus antigen (HLA) class II or anti-INK-tar- directed at other surface structures strongly expressed on activated cultured T4+ cells, did not prevent LAV infection. Direct virus neutralization by monoclonal antibodies was also ruled out. These results strongly support the view that a surface molecule directly involved in cellular functions acts as, or is related to, the receptor for a human retrovirus. From these results, which should help to delineate future therapeutic strategies, a pathophysiological model will be proposed.

850414
S6C