HIV gp120 is an aberrant chemoattractant for blood resting CD4 T cells.

Abstract

Binding of HIV gp120 to the chemokine coreceptor CXCR4 mediates signal transduction that promotes actin dynamics critical for the establishment of viral latency in resting CD4 T cells. To some extent, this gp120-mediated signal transduction resembles the chemotactic response mediated by chemokines such as the stromal cell-derived factor-1 alpha (SDF-1). It has been suggested that gp120 functions as a bona fide chemokine to attract or repel blood CD4 T cells. To determine whether gp120 is a viral chemoattractant, we compared the chemotactic properties of gp120 with those of SDF- 1, and confirmed previous observations that gp120 possesses some chemotactic ability at certain dosages. However, when we examined gp120 in a range of dosages, we found that in general, gp120 only attracts or repels blood resting CD4 T cells at a low level, and there is no clear pattern of dosage-dependency as normally seen in a typical chemokine. These irregularities of gp120 were observed in multiple donors. Nevertheless, gp120 aberrantly interferes with SDF-1-mediated T cell chemotaxis and cell migration. These results suggest that gp120 does not act like a typical chemoattractant, although it triggers actin dynamics to facilitate HIV infection.

• Authors: Jia Guo, Xuehua Xu, Wen Yuan, Tian Jin, Yuntao Wu
• Journal: Current HIV research (Curr HIV Res) Vol. 10 Issue 8 Pg. 636-42 (Dec 2012) ISSN: 1873-4251 [Electronic] Netherlands
• PMID: 22954308 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural)

Chemical References

• CXCL12 protein, human
• Chemokine CXCL12
• HIV Envelope Protein gp120

Topics

• CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes (cytology, immunology)
• Cell Movement (physiology)
• Chemokine CXCL12 (physiology)
• Chemotaxis, Leukocyte (immunology)
• Dose-Response Relationship, Immunologic
• HIV Envelope Protein gp120 (physiology)
• Humans
• Signal Transduction (physiology)