Enhancement of HIV-1 infection by the capsular polysaccharide of Cryptococcus neoformans.

Abstract

Patients with AIDS who become infected with Cryptococcus neoformans have a poor prognosis. We speculated that the presence of cryptococcal capsular polysaccharide may enhance HIV-1 infection. In an in-vitro study, the presence of cryptococcal polysaccharide significantly increased (p less than 0.05) production of p24 antigen after infection of H9 cells with HIV-1-infected H9 cells. We also found similar results when lymphocytes from an HIV-1-infected patient were co-cultured with mononuclear cells from an uninfected individual. Our findings suggest a new pathogenic role for the capsular polysaccharide--namely, the capacity to enhance HIV-1 infectivity.

• Authors: M Pettoello-Mantovani, A Casadevall, T R Kollmann, A Rubinstein, H Goldstein
• Journal: Lancet (London, England) (Lancet) Vol. 339 Issue 8784 Pg. 21-3 (Jan 04 1992) ISSN: 0140-6736 [Print] England
• PMID: 1370335 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't, Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.)

Chemical References

• HIV Core Protein p24
• Polysaccharides
• cryptococcal polysaccharide
• HIV Reverse Transcriptase
• RNA-Directed DNA Polymerase

Topics

• Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (microbiology)
• CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes (drug effects, metabolism, microbiology)
• Cells, Cultured
• Cryptococcosis (microbiology)
• HIV Core Protein p24 (biosynthesis)
• HIV Reverse Transcriptase
• HIV-1 (drug effects, growth & development, pathogenicity)
• Humans
• In Vitro Techniques
• Polysaccharides (pharmacology)
• Prognosis
• RNA-Directed DNA Polymerase (metabolism)
• Virus Activation (drug effects)