scholarly journals Environmental Restrictions: A New Concept Governing HIV-1 Spread Emerging from Integrated Experimental-Computational Analysis of Tissue-Like 3D Cultures

Cells ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (5) ◽  
pp. 1112 ◽  
Author(s):  
Samy Sid Ahmed ◽  
Nils Bundgaard ◽  
Frederik Graw ◽  
Oliver Fackler

HIV-1 can use cell-free and cell-associated transmission modes to infect new target cells, but how the virus spreads in the infected host remains to be determined. We recently established 3D collagen cultures to study HIV-1 spread in tissue-like environments and applied iterative cycles of experimentation and computation to develop a first in silico model to describe the dynamics of HIV-1 spread in complex tissue. These analyses (i) revealed that 3D collagen environments restrict cell-free HIV-1 infection but promote cell-associated virus transmission and (ii) defined that cell densities in tissue dictate the efficacy of these transmission modes for virus spread. In this review, we discuss, in the context of the current literature, the implications of this study for our understanding of HIV-1 spread in vivo, which aspects of in vivo physiology this integrated experimental–computational analysis takes into account, and how it can be further improved experimentally and in silico.

2012 ◽  
Vol 86 (16) ◽  
pp. 8773-8780 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marc Permanyer ◽  
Ester Ballana ◽  
Alba Ruiz ◽  
Roger Badia ◽  
Eva Riveira-Munoz ◽  
...  

Cell-to-cell transmission of HIV has been proposed as a mechanism contributing to virus escape to the action of antiretrovirals and a mode of HIV persistence during antiretroviral therapy. Here, cocultures of infected HIV-1 cells with primary CD4+T cells or lymphoid cells were used to evaluate virus transmission and the effect of known antiretrovirals. Transfer of HIV antigen from infected to uninfected cells was resistant to the reverse transcriptase inhibitors (RTIs) zidovudine (AZT) and tenofovir, but was blocked by the attachment inhibitor IgGb12. However, quantitative measurement of viral DNA production demonstrated that all anti-HIV agents blocked virus replication with similar potency to cell-free virus infections. Cell-free and cell-associated infections were equally sensitive to inhibition of viral replication when HIV-1 long terminal repeat (LTR)-driven green fluorescent protein (GFP) expression in target cells was measured. However, detection of GFP by flow cytometry may incorrectly estimate the efficacy of antiretrovirals in cell-associated virus transmission, due to replication-independent Tat-mediated LTR transactivation as a consequence of cell-to-cell events that did not occur in short-term (48-h) cell-free virus infections. In conclusion, common markers of virus replication may not accurately correlate and measure infectivity or drug efficacy in cell-to-cell virus transmission. When accurately quantified, active drugs blocked proviral DNA and virus replication in cell-to-cell transmission, recapitulating the efficacy of antiretrovirals in cell-free virus infections andin vivo.


Author(s):  
Bernadien M. Nijmeijer ◽  
Marta Bermejo-Jambrina ◽  
Tanja M. Kaptein ◽  
Carla M. S. Ribeiro ◽  
Doris Wilflingseder ◽  
...  

AbstractSemen is important in determining HIV-1 susceptibility but it is unclear how it affects virus transmission during sexual contact. Mucosal Langerhans cells (LCs) are the first immune cells to encounter HIV-1 during sexual contact and have a barrier function as LCs are restrictive to HIV-1. As semen from people living with HIV-1 contains complement-opsonized HIV-1, we investigated the effect of complement on HIV-1 dissemination by human LCs in vitro and ex vivo. Notably, pre-treatment of HIV-1 with semen enhanced LC infection compared to untreated HIV-1 in the ex vivo explant model. Infection of LCs and transmission to target cells by opsonized HIV-1 was efficiently inhibited by blocking complement receptors CR3 and CR4. Complement opsonization of HIV-1 enhanced uptake, fusion, and integration by LCs leading to an increased transmission of HIV-1 to target cells. However, in the absence of both CR3 and CR4, C-type lectin receptor langerin was able to restrict infection of complement-opsonized HIV-1. These data suggest that complement enhances HIV-1 infection of LCs by binding CR3 and CR4, thereby bypassing langerin and changing the restrictive nature of LCs into virus-disseminating cells. Targeting complement factors might be effective in preventing HIV-1 transmission.


2019 ◽  
Vol 93 (11) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jennifer A. Juno ◽  
Kathleen M. Wragg ◽  
Anne B. Kristensen ◽  
Wen Shi Lee ◽  
Kevin J. Selva ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Sexual HIV-1 transmission occurs primarily in the presence of semen. Although data from macaque studies suggest that CCR5+ CD4+ T cells are initial targets for HIV-1 infection, the impact of semen on T cell CCR5 expression and ligand production remains inconclusive. To determine if semen modulates the lymphocyte CCR5 receptor/ligand axis, primary human T cell CCR5 expression and natural killer (NK) cell anti-HIV-1 antibody-dependent beta chemokine production was assessed following seminal plasma (SP) exposure. Purified T cells produce sufficient quantities of RANTES to result in a significant decline in CCR5bright T cell frequency following 16 h of SP exposure (P = 0.03). Meanwhile, NK cells retain the capacity to produce limited amounts of MIP-1α/MIP-1β in response to anti-HIV-1 antibody-dependent stimulation (median, 9.5% MIP-1α+ and/or MIP-1β+), despite the immunosuppressive nature of SP. Although these in vitro experiments suggest that SP-induced CCR5 ligand production results in the loss of surface CCR5 expression on CD4+ T cells, the in vivo implications are unclear. We therefore vaginally exposed five pigtail macaques to SP and found that such exposure resulted in an increase in CCR5+ HIV-1 target cells in three of the animals. The in vivo data support a growing body of evidence suggesting that semen exposure recruits target cells to the vagina that are highly susceptible to HIV-1 infection, which has important implications for HIV-1 transmission and vaccine design. IMPORTANCE The majority of HIV-1 vaccine studies do not take into consideration the impact that semen exposure might have on the mucosal immune system. In this study, we demonstrate that seminal plasma (SP) exposure can alter CCR5 expression on T cells. Importantly, in vitro studies of T cells in culture cannot replicate the conditions under which immune cells might be recruited to the genital mucosa in vivo, leading to potentially erroneous conclusions about the impact of semen on mucosal HIV-1 susceptibility.


1999 ◽  
Vol 73 (3) ◽  
pp. 1828-1834 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mehdi Gasmi ◽  
Jacqueline Glynn ◽  
Ming-Jie Jin ◽  
Douglas J. Jolly ◽  
Jiing-Kuan Yee ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT A number of human immunodeficiency type 1 (HIV-1)-based vectors have recently been shown to transduce nondividing cells in vivo as well as in vitro. However, if these vectors are to be considered for eventual clinical use, a major consideration is to reduce the probability of unintended generation of replication-competent virus. This can be achieved by eliminating viral genetic elements involved in the generation of replication-competent virus without impairing vector production. We have designed a system to transiently produce HIV-1-based vectors by using expression plasmids encoding Gag, Pol, and Tat of HIV-1 under the control of the cytomegalovirus immediate-early promoter. Our data show that the best vector yield is achieved in the presence of the Rev/Rev-responsive element (RRE) system. However, the constitutive transport element of Mason-Pfizer monkey virus can substitute for RRE and Rev at least to some extent, whereas the posttranscriptional regulatory element of human hepatitis B virus appeared to be inefficient. In addition, we show that high-titer virus preparations can be obtained in the presence of sodium butyrate, which activates the expression of both the packaging construct and the vector genome. Finally, our results suggest that efficient infectivity of vectors defective in the accessory proteins Vif, Vpr, Vpu, and Nef depends on the nature of the target cells.


Blood ◽  
1994 ◽  
Vol 84 (5) ◽  
pp. 1567-1572 ◽  
Author(s):  
ST Fan ◽  
K Hsia ◽  
TS Edgington

Abstract Cells of monocytic lineage (Mo) persistently infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) have been suspected to be a major reservoir for in vivo transmission of virus to susceptible target cells. Cellular events and mechanisms that upregulate viral gene expression in such cells are important issues. Because the traffic of such cells is central to biodistribution of HIV, we have explored the impact of interaction of endothelium with HIV-1-infected U1 promonocytic cells. Coculturing of U1 with human umbilical endothelial cells (HUVEC) for 24 to 72 hours in the absence of stimulation induced HIV-1 p24 biosynthesis significantly. Antibody-blocking experiments indicated that CD11/CD18 integrins play a role in upregulation of HIV expression elicited by interaction with HUVEC. Engagement of CD11b/CD18 by adherence of U1 to surfaces coated with either the cognate ligand fibrinogen or monoclonal antibody specific for CD11b/CD18 also enhanced p24 biosynthesis. Furthermore, endothelial cells were found to constitutively synthesize and secrete soluble factors that enhanced HIV- 1 synthesis. The enhancing factors, of estimated size 10 to 45 kD, were induced in HUVEC to high levels by monokines or by lipopolysaccharide, resulting in markedly enhanced HIV-1 expression by U1. These endothelial cell-derived HIV-1-enhancing factors consist of, among others, interleukin-6 (IL-6), IL-1 beta, and granulocyte-macrophage CSF (GM-CSF). Our results suggest that activation of HIV biosynthesis in infected Mo via interaction with endothelium may impact significantly on the tissue distribution and pathogenesis of HIV infections.


2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Rogers A. Ñahui Palomino ◽  
Christophe Vanpouille ◽  
Luca Laghi ◽  
Carola Parolin ◽  
Kamran Melikov ◽  
...  

AbstractThe vaginal microbiota, dominated by Lactobacillus spp., plays a key role in preventing HIV-1 transmission. Here, we investigate whether the anti-HIV effect of lactobacilli is mediated by extracellular vesicles (EVs) released by these bacteria. Human cervico-vaginal and tonsillar tissues ex vivo, and cell lines were infected with HIV-1 and treated with EVs released by lactobacilli isolated from vaginas of healthy women. EVs released by L. crispatus BC3 and L. gasseri BC12 protect tissues ex vivo and isolated cells from HIV-1 infection. This protection is associated with a decrease of viral attachment to target cells and viral entry due to diminished exposure of Env that mediates virus-cell interactions. Inhibition of HIV-1 infection is associated with the presence in EVs of several proteins and metabolites. Our findings demonstrate that the protective effect of Lactobacillus against HIV-1 is, in part, mediated by EVs released by these symbiotic bacteria. If confirmed in vivo, this finding may lead to new strategies to prevent male-to-female sexual HIV-1 transmission.


2015 ◽  
Vol 89 (15) ◽  
pp. 7813-7828 ◽  
Author(s):  
Randi B. Gombos ◽  
Dror Kolodkin-Gal ◽  
Leila Eslamizar ◽  
Joshua O. Owuor ◽  
Emanuele Mazzola ◽  
...  

ABSTRACTTo date, most therapeutic and vaccine candidates for human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) are evaluated preclinically for efficacy against cell-free viral challenges. However, cell-associated HIV-1 is suggested to be a major contributor to sexual transmission by mucosal routes. To determine if neutralizing antibodies or inhibitors block cell-free and cell-associated virus transmission of diverse HIV-1 strains with different efficiencies, we tested 12 different antibodies and five inhibitors against four green fluorescent protein (GFP)-labeled HIV-1 envelope (Env) variants from transmitted/founder (T/F) or chronic infection isolates. We evaluated antibody/inhibitor-mediated virus neutralization using either TZM-bl target cells, in which infectivity was determined by virus-driven luciferase expression, or A3R5 lymphoblastoid target cells, in which infectivity was evaluated by GFP expression. In both the TZM-bl and A3R5 assays, cell-free virus or infected CD4+lymphocytes were used as targets for neutralization. We further hypothesized that the combined use of specific neutralizing antibodies targeting HIV-1 Env would more effectively prevent cell-associated virus transmission than the use of individual antibodies. The tested antibody combinations included two gp120-directed antibodies, VRC01 and PG9, or VRC01 with the gp41-directed antibody 10E8. Our results demonstrated that cell-associated virus was less sensitive to neutralizing antibodies and inhibitors, particularly using the A3R5 neutralization assay, and the potencies of these neutralizing agents differed among Env variants. A combination of different neutralizing antibodies that target specific sites on gp120 led to a significant reduction in cell-associated virus transmission. These assays will help identify ideal combinations of broadly neutralizing antibodies to use for passive preventive antibody administration and further characterize targets for the most effective neutralizing antibodies/inhibitors.IMPORTANCEPrevention of the transmission of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) remains a prominent goal of HIV research. The relative contribution of HIV-1 within an infected cell versus cell-free HIV-1 to virus transmission remains debated. It has been suggested that cell-associated virus is more efficient at transmitting HIV-1 and more difficult to neutralize than cell-free virus. Several broadly neutralizing antibodies and retroviral inhibitors are currently being studied as potential therapies against HIV-1 transmission. The present study demonstrates a decrease in neutralizing antibody and inhibitor efficiencies against cell-associated compared to cell-free HIV-1 transmission among different strains of HIV-1. We also observed a significant reduction in virus transmission using a combination of two different neutralizing antibodies that target specific sites on the outermost region of HIV-1, the virus envelope. Therefore, our findings support the use of antibody combinations against both cell-free and cell-associated virus in future candidate therapy regimens.


1998 ◽  
Vol 95 (16) ◽  
pp. 9530-9534 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christer Owman ◽  
Alfredo Garzino-Demo ◽  
Fiorenza Cocchi ◽  
Mikulas Popovic ◽  
Alan Sabirsh ◽  
...  

The recently cloned human chemoattractant receptor-like (CMKRL)1, which is expressedin vivoin CD4-positive immune cells, has structural homology with the two chemokine receptors C-C chemokine receptor (CCR)5 and C-X-C chemokine receptor (CXCR)4, which serve as the major coreceptors necessary for fusion of the HIV-1 envelope with target cells. In view of the structural similarity, CMKRL1 was tested for its possible function as another HIV-1 coreceptor after stable expression in murine fibroblasts bearing the human CD4 receptor. The cells were infected with 10 primary clinical isolates of HIV-1, and entry was monitored by semiquantitative PCR of viral DNA. The efficiency of the entry was compared with the entry taking place in CD4-positive cells expressing either CCR5 or CXCR4. Seven of the isolates used CMKRL1 for viral entry; they were mainly of the syncytium-inducing phenotype and also used CXCR4. Entry efficiency was higher with CMKRL1 than with CXCR4 for more than half of these isolates. Three of the ten isolates did not use CMKRL1; instead, entry was mediated by both CCR5 and CXCR4. The experiments thus indicate that CMKRL1 functions as a coreceptor for the entry of HIV-1 into CD4-positive cells. In the course of this study, leukotriene B4was shown to be the natural ligand for this receptor (now designated BLTR), which therefore represents a novel type of HIV-1 coreceptor along with the previously identified chemokine receptors. BLTR belongs to the same general chemoattractant receptor family as the chemokine receptors but is structurally more distant from them than are any of the previously described HIV-1 coreceptors.


2005 ◽  
Vol 79 (21) ◽  
pp. 13579-13586 ◽  
Author(s):  
W. David Wick ◽  
Otto O. Yang ◽  
Lawrence Corey ◽  
Steven G. Self

ABSTRACT The antiviral role of CD8+ cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) in human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) infection is poorly understood. Specifically, the degree to which CTLs reduce viral replication by killing HIV-1-infected cells in vivo is not known. Here we employ mathematical models of the infection process and CTL action to estimate the rate that CTLs can kill HIV-1-infected cells from in vitro and in vivo data. Our estimates, which are surprisingly consistent considering the disparities between the two experimental systems, demonstrate that on average CTLs can kill from 0.7 to 3 infected target cells per day, with the variability in this figure due to epitope specificity or other factors. These results are compatible with the observed decline in viremia after primary infection being primarily a consequence of CTL activity and have interesting implications for vaccine design.


2004 ◽  
Vol 78 (20) ◽  
pp. 11405-11410 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cecile Schiffer ◽  
Charles-Henri Lecellier ◽  
Abdelkrim Mannioui ◽  
Nathalie Felix ◽  
Elisabeth Nelson ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT We report that human T cells persistently infected with primate foamy virus type 1 (PFV-1) display an increased capacity to bind human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1), resulting in increased cell permissiveness to HIV-1 infection and enhanced cell-to-cell virus transmission. This phenomenon is independent of HIV-1 receptor, CD4, and it is not related to PFV-1 Bet protein expression. Increased virus attachment is specifically inhibited by heparin, indicating that it should be mediated by interactions with heparan sulfate glycosaminoglycans expressed on the target cells. Given that both viruses infect similar animal species, the issue of whether coinfection with primate foamy viruses interferes with the natural course of lentivirus infections in nonhuman primates should be considered.


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