Lack of pseudotype formation between human immunodeficiency virus type 1 and Epstein-Barr virus in productively coinfected B lymphoblastoid cell lines.

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) can form pseudotypes with other enveloped viruses, including herpes simplex virus, when the two viruses coinfect the same cell. Pseudotypes between HIV and Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) have not been described. We observed unusually high levels of HIV-1 replication in SCID mice transplanted with human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (hu-PBL-SCID mice) when the mice developed EBV-associated human B cell lymphoproliferative disease. If this enhancement of HIV-1 replication were due to pseudotype formation rather than direct infection of B lymphoblastic cells by HIV-1, the pseudotypes could pose a novel biohazard to laboratory workers. To assess whether HIV-1 and EBV can form such pseudotypes, we established and characterized CD4-positive B lymphoblastoid cell lines (LCL) that contained cells infected with both EBV and HIV-1. A high-titered virus pool from these LCL could induce HIV infection in the Burkitt's lymphoma (BL) line BJA-B, but not in the BL line Ramos. Infection of BJA-B was blocked by neutralizing antibody to HIV gp120 but not by neutralizing anti-EBV gp350. These experiments provide no evidence for pseudotype formation, suggesting a low risk for EBV:HIV pseudotypes in natural infection of humans or in human cells transplanted to SCID mice.

Cloned human CD8+ cytotoxic T lymphocytes protect human peripheral blood leukocyte-severe combined immunodeficient mice from HIV-1 infection by an HLA-unrestricted mechanism.

The ability to infect human peripheral blood leukocyte-reconstituted severe combined immunodeficient (hu-PBL-SCID) mice with HIV has allowed evaluation of several strategies for preventing or treating infection. In one study, hu-PBL-SCID mice derived from HIV gp160-vaccinated donors were shown to resist HIV infection, and resistance correlated best with in vitro assays of cellular immunity. We have assessed directly the importance of cellular immunity to HIV in the present experiments by the adoptive transfer of HLA-A3-restricted HIV-1 Nef-specific or HLA-B14-restricted Gag-specific CD8+ CTL clones to SCID mice bearing HLA-matched or mismatched PBL grafts. Multiple inoculations of CTL before and after HIV-1 exposure protected HLA-matched hu-PBL-SCID mice from infection, but initiation of CTL therapy on the same day as HIV infection was much less effective. However, at the high numbers of CTL required for complete protection from HIV infection, many HLA-mismatched hu-PBL-SCID mice were also protected by pre-exposure CTL transfer. Transfer of CTL with a different specificity (HTLV-1 Tax) to HLA-matched hu-PBL-SCID mice also afforded partial protection. These results suggest that HLA-restricted cytotoxicity may be less important than other nonspecific effector mechanisms for the inhibition of HIV-1 infection in vivo.

Characterization of rhesus macaque B-lymphoblastoid cell lines infected with simian type D retrovirus.

A simian type D retrovirus designated SRV induces a fatal immunosuppressive disease in rhesus macaques. This syndrome shows many clinical similarities to acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) in human immunodeficiency virus-infected individuals. To investigate the mechanisms of immune dysfunction in SRV infection, we have focused on the interactions of SRV serotype 1 (SRV-1) with macaque B-lymphoblastoid cell lines (B-LCL). Procedures were optimized for establishing B-LCL by immortalization of macaque B lymphocytes with rhesus Epstein-Barr virus (EBV). These cell lines express B-cell surface markers, secrete immunoglobulins of the IgG or IgM isotypes, and release EBV which transforms monkey B cells. In vitro cultures of B-LCL supported replication of SRV-1. Several B-LCL infected with SRV-1 showed downregulation of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II antigen expression whereas levels of MHC class I antigen remained unchanged. Infection of B-LCL with SRV-1 did not alter the level of secreted immunoglobulin. Rhesus EBV was also used to obtain B-LCL from macaques infected with SRV-1; these cell lines were found to release infectious SRV-1. Investigations on the interactions of SRV-1 with B cells will be useful for elucidating mechanisms involved in the immunopathogenesis of primate retroviruses.

Functional and immunological characterization of SIV envelope glycoprotein produced in genetically engineered mammalian cells.

Retroviral envelope glycoproteins interact with cell receptors and are targets for antiviral immune responses in infected hosts. Macaque simian immunodeficiency virus (SIVmac) is a T-lymphocytopathic lentivirus which causes an AIDS-like disease in rhesus macaques. The envelope gene of SIVmac encodes a precursor glycoprotein (gp160) which is cleaved into an external domain (gp130) and a transmembrane domain (gp32). To investigate the functional and immunological properties of the SIV external envelope glycoprotein, we have used genetically engineered mammalian cells to produce recombinant gp130 (rgp130). The rgp130 has the appropriate molecular weight, is glycosylated, and has native conformation as determined by binding to the cell receptor for SIV, the CD4 antigen. Rhesus macaques immunized with purified rgp130 formulated in muramyl dipeptide adjuvant generated high titers of antienvelope antibodies. Antibodies from these macaques were tested for in vitro virus neutralization; very low or undetectable levels of neutralization were observed. In contrast, neutralizing antibodies were readily detected in sera from goats immunized with rgp130. With respect to cell-mediated immunity, proliferative responses to rgp130 were demonstrated in peripheral blood monocyte cells (PBMC) from macaques immunized with the recombinant glycoprotein as well as in PBMC from SIV-infected animals. These results show that rgp130 is functional and immunogenic; the potential of rgp130 for protective immunization remains to be determined.

A mitochondrial nuclease is modified in Drosophila mutants (mus308) that are hypersensitive to DNA crosslinking agents.

The mus308 mutants of Drosophila have previously been demonstrated to be defective in an enzyme that is designated Nuclease 3 (Boyd et al. 1990b). In this study that enzyme is shown to be present in mitochondria of both wild-type flies and embryos. Since the mus308 mutants are hypersensitive to DNA crosslinking agents. Nuclease 3 is potentially required for resistance of the mitochondrial genome to such agents. In support of this hypothesis, electron microscopic studies of mus308 mutant flies that had been exposed to nitrogen mustard revealed an increased frequency of mitochondrial abnormalities. Further investigation of the defect at the enzymological level revealed that the mutants possess a new nuclease activity that is apparently a modified form of the wild-type protein. In the earlier study, enzyme extracts from mus308 mutants were found to lack an enzyme with a pI of approximately 6.2. More precisely defined assay conditions in this study revealed the appearance of a new nuclease activity with a higher pI in extracts from mutants. This observation, together with the finding that only the normal enzyme form is present in heterozygous individuals, supports the hypothesis that the mus308 locus is not the structural gene for the enzyme. Rather, the mus308 gene product is necessary for Nuclease 3 to assume the lower pI. Nuclease 3 has been partially purified and characterized from wild-type embryos. Its activity is stimulated by Mg++ and ATP. Optimum activity is found at a pH of 5.5 and a NaCl concentration of 50-100 mM. Nuclease 3 exhibits a temperature optimum of 42 degrees C and is insensitive to N-ethylmaleimide.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)