AEGiS-06IAC: Supernatants of HIV1-infected HUT 78 cells contain whole virions and viral degradation products coated with MHC class II antigens.

6th International AIDS Conference

San Francisco, California, USA — June 20-23, 1990

Supernatants of HIV1-infected HUT 78 cells contain whole virions and viral degradation products coated with MHC class II antigens.

Int Conf AIDS 1990 Jun 20-23; 6:317 (abstract no. 1013)
Zissis G, Lambert JP, Marbehant PE, Marissens DJ, Van Holder KF, Duchateau JR; AIDS Reference Center - Free University Brussels, Belgium

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether HIV1 virions or degradation products contain MHC Class II antigens.

METHODS: After pelleting (40.000 g/90') cell-free supernatants of HIV1 infected cells (HUT 78 cells chronically infected with SF2 or HTLV-III B; Molt-3 cells chronically infected with HTLV-III B) were submitted to rate-zonal centrifugation (5-40% metrizamide gradient) and subsequently to isopycnic banding in CsC1. Reactivity of virus (products) was tested versus monoclonal antibodies directed against viral peptides (anti-p24, anti-gp 120) and against MHC Class II antigens (anti-DR) by means of direct and indirect EIA.

RESULTS: Whole virions (d=1.18-1.16) as well as soluble degradation products originating from HIV1-infected HUT 78 cells were shown to react with anti-p24, anti-gp 120 but also with non-polymorphic MHC Class II antibodies. The latter reactivity was not observed with HTLV-III B virus material obtained from Molt-3 supernatants. Furthermore, HTLV-III B virions grown in HUT 78 cells lost Class II expression after back passage into Molt-3 cells (Class II negative). Also, anti-DR reactivity was observed both with SF2 and HTLV III B strains grown in HUT 78.

CONCLUSIONS: HIV1 virions express host-cell non-polymorphic class II antigens into their envelope during replication in HUT 78 cells. These antigens are not coded for by the virus nor are they strain-specific.

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