AEGiS-07IAC: Persistent infection of a human neuronal cell line by HIV-1: virus-cell interaction.

7th International AIDS Conference


Florence, Italy — June 16-21, 1991

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Persistent infection of a human neuronal cell line by HIV-1: virus-cell interaction.

Int Conf AIDS 1991 Jun 16-21; 7:104 (abstract no. M.A.1048)
Orecchia A, Equestre M, Carlini F, Novello F, Federico M, Santoro R, Genovese D; Lab. Virology, Istituto Superiore di Sanita, Roma, Italy

OBJECTIVE: To study the mechanism of interaction between HIV-1 and Central Nervous System (CNS) cells. Dysfunction of the CNS is a prominent feature of the AIDS syndrome. The precise role of the HIV in CNS dysfunction remains to be determined. For this purpose an "in vitro" model was established to study the mechanism of the persistance of HIV infection in neuronal cells.

METHODS: A human neuronal cell line, SK-N-SH, was infected with the HTLVIIIb strain. Viral production was monitored via cocultivation with an HIV-1 susceptible cell line, CEM-SS. Characterization of the persistently infected cell line has been performed by: 1) the release of antigens and viral particles; 2) IFA test; 3) molecular analysis of the viral DNA.

RESULTS: An infected cell line was established. After six months, cells are permanently infected. The cocultivation of SK-N-SH HIV-1-infected cells with CEM-SS resulted in positive RT, p24 antigen capture and IFN assays. Morover, CEM-SS showed cythopatic effect with syncytia formation. Integration of HIV-1 proviral genome was revealed by Southern blotting and PCR analysis.

DISCUSSION: We demonstrated the susceptibility to HIV-1 infection of SK-N-SH cell line, resulting in the establishment of a persistant infection. This cell line will be used in an attempt to isolate neurotropic HIV variants from cerebral spinal fluid of patients with neurological AIDS syndromes.

Keywords: AEGIS, HIV-1, HIV Core Protein p24, HIV Infections, Tumor Cells, Cultured, DNA, Viral, HIV, Cell Communication, Cell Line, Giant Cells, HIV Envelope Protein gp120, HIV Antibodies, HIV Long Terminal Repeat, HIV Antigens, HIV Envelope Protein gp160, Clone Cells, Neurons, Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, Human, In Vitro, genetics, ICA7
910616
MA1048

Copyright © 1991 - International AIDS Society (IAS). Reproduction of this abstract (other than one copy for personal reference) must be cleared through the IAS.