scholarly journals Antigenic Properties of the Human Immunodeficiency Virus Transmembrane Glycoprotein during Cell-Cell Fusion

2002 ◽  
Vol 76 (23) ◽  
pp. 12123-12134 ◽  
Author(s):  
Catherine M. Finnegan ◽  
Werner Berg ◽  
George K. Lewis ◽  
Anthony L. DeVico

ABSTRACT Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) entry is triggered by interactions between a pair of heptad repeats in the gp41 ectodomain, which convert a prehairpin gp41 trimer into a fusogenic three-hairpin bundle. Here we examined the disposition and antigenic nature of these structures during the HIV-mediated fusion of HeLa cells expressing either HIVHXB2 envelope (Env cells) or CXCR4 and CD4 (target cells). Cell-cell fusion, indicated by cytoplasmic dye transfer, was allowed to progress for various lengths of time and then arrested. Fusion intermediates were then examined for reactivity with various monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) against immunogenic cluster I and cluster II epitopes in the gp41 ectodomain. All of these MAbs produced similar staining patterns indicative of reactivity with prehairpin gp41 intermediates or related structures. MAb staining was seen on Env cells only upon exposure to soluble CD4, CD4-positive, coreceptor-negative cells, or stromal cell-derived factor-treated target cells. In the fusion system, the MAbs reacted with the interfaces of attached Env and target cells within 10 min of coculture. MAb reactivity colocalized with the formation of gp120-CD4-coreceptor tricomplexes after longer periods of coculture, although reactivity was absent on cells exhibiting cytoplasmic dye transfer. Notably, the MAbs were unable to inhibit fusion even when allowed to react with soluble-CD4-triggered or temperature-arrested antigens prior to initiation of the fusion process. In comparison, a broadly neutralizing antibody, 2F5, which recognizes gp41 antigens in the HIV envelope spike, was immunoreactive with free Env cells and Env-target cell clusters but not with fused cells. Notably, exposure of the 2F5 epitope required temperature-dependent elements of the HIV envelope structure, as MAb binding occurred only above 19°C. Overall, these results demonstrate that immunogenic epitopes, both neutralizing and nonneutralizing, are accessible on gp41 antigens prior to membrane fusion. The 2F5 epitope appears to depend on temperature-dependent elements on prefusion antigens, whereas cluster I and cluster II epitopes are displayed by transient gp41 structures. Such findings have important implications for HIV vaccine approaches based on gp41 intermediates.

2001 ◽  
Vol 75 (22) ◽  
pp. 11096-11105 ◽  
Author(s):  
Catherine M. Finnegan ◽  
Werner Berg ◽  
George K. Lewis ◽  
Anthony L. DeVico

ABSTRACT Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) fusion and entry involves sequential interactions between the viral envelope protein, gp120, cell surface CD4, and a G-protein-coupled coreceptor. Each interaction creates an intermediate gp120 structure predicted to display distinct antigenic features, including key functional domains for viral entry. In this study, we examined the disposition of these features during the fusion of HeLa cells expressing either HIVHXB2 envelope (Env cells) or CXCR4 and CD4 (target cells). Cell-cell fusion, indicated by cytoplasmic dye transfer, was allowed to progress for various times and then arrested. The cells were then examined for reactivity with antibodies directed against receptor-induced epitopes on gp120. Analyses of cells arrested by cooling to 4°C revealed that antibodies against the CD4-induced coreceptor-binding domain, i.e., 17b, 48d, and CG10, faintly react with Env cells even in the absence of target cell or soluble CD4 (sCD4) interactions. Such reactivity increased after exposure to sCD4 but remained unchanged during fusion with target cells and was not intensified at the Env-target cell interface. Notably, the antibodies did not react with Env cells when treated with a covalent cross-linker either alone or during fusion with target cells. Immunoreactivity could not be promoted or otherwise altered on either temperature arrested or cross-linked cells by preventing coreceptor interactions or by using a 17b Fab. In comparison, two other gp120-CD4 complex-dependent antibodies against epitopes outside the coreceptor domain, 8F101 and A32, exhibited a different pattern of reactivity. These antibodies reacted with the Env-target cell interface only after 30 min of cocultivation, concurrent with the first visible transfer of cytoplasmic dye from Env to target cells. At later times, the staining surrounded entire syncytia. Such binding was entirely dependent on the formation of gp120-CD4-CXCR4 tricomplexes since staining was absent with SDF-treated or coreceptor-negative target cells. Overall, these studies show that access to the CD4-induced coreceptor-binding domain on gp120 is largely blocked at the fusing cell interface and is unlikely to represent a target for neutralizing antibodies. However, new epitopes are presented on intermediate gp120 structures formed as a result of coreceptor interactions. Such findings have important implications for HIV vaccine approaches based on conformational alterations in envelope structures.


2007 ◽  
Vol 81 (15) ◽  
pp. 8165-8179 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cristina Pastore ◽  
Rebecca Nedellec ◽  
Alejandra Ramos ◽  
Oliver Hartley ◽  
John L. Miamidian ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT We studied the evolution of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) envelope function during the process of coreceptor switching from CCR5 to CXCR4. Site-directed mutagenesis was used to introduce most of the possible intermediate mutations in the envelope for four distinct coreceptor switch mutants, each with a unique pattern of CCR5 and CXCR4 utilization that extended from highly efficient use of both coreceptors to sole use of CXCR4. Mutated envelopes with some preservation of entry function on either CCR5- or CXCR4-expressing target cells were further characterized for their sensitivity to CCR5 or CXCR4 inhibitors, soluble CD4, and the neutralizing antibodies b12-IgG and 4E10. A subset of mutated envelopes was also studied in direct CD4 or CCR5 binding assays and in envelope-mediated fusion reactions. Coreceptor switch intermediates displayed increased sensitivity to CCR5 inhibitors (except for a few envelopes with mutations in V2 or C2) that correlated with a loss in CCR5 binding. As use of CXCR4 improved, infection mediated by the mutated envelopes became more resistant to soluble CD4 inhibition and direct binding to CD4 increased. These changes were accompanied by increasing resistance to the CXCR4 inhibitor AMD3100. Sensitivity to neutralizing antibody was more variable, although infection of CXCR4-expressing targets was generally more sensitive to neutralization by both b12-IgG and 4E10 than infection of CCR5-expressing target cells. These changes in envelope function were uniform in all four series of envelope mutations and thus were independent of the final use of CCR5 and CXCR4. Decreased CCR5 and increased CD4 binding appear to be common features of coreceptor switch intermediates.


2005 ◽  
Vol 79 (19) ◽  
pp. 12231-12241 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stéphanie Wyss ◽  
Antony S. Dimitrov ◽  
Frédéric Baribaud ◽  
Terri G. Edwards ◽  
Robert Blumenthal ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Truncation of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) or simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) gp41 cytoplasmic tail (CT) can modulate the fusogenicity of the envelope glycoprotein (Env) on infected cells and virions. However, the CT domains involved and the underlying mechanism responsible for this “inside-out” regulation of Env function are unknown. HIV and SIV CTs are remarkably long and contain amphipathic alpha-helical domains (LLP1, LLP2, and LLP3) that likely interact with cellular membranes. Using a cell-cell fusion assay and a panel of HIV Envs with stop codons at various positions in the CT, we show that truncations of gp41 proximal to the most N-terminal alpha helix, LLP2, increase fusion efficiency and expose CD4-induced epitopes in the Env ectodomain. These effects were not seen with a truncation distal to this domain and before LLP1. Using a dye transfer assay to quantitate fusion kinetics, we found that these truncations produced a two- to fourfold increase in the rate of fusion. These results were observed for X4-, R5-, and dual-tropic Envs on CXCR4- and CCR5-expressing target cells and could not be explained by differences in Env surface expression. These findings suggest that distal to the membrane-spanning domain, an interaction of the gp41 LLP2 domain with the cell membrane restricts Env fusogenicity during Env processing. As with murine leukemia viruses, where cleavage of a membrane-interactive R peptide at the C terminus is required for Env to become fusogenic, this restriction of Env function may serve to protect virus-producing cells from the membrane-disruptive effects of the Env ectodomain.


1986 ◽  
Vol 164 (6) ◽  
pp. 2101-2106 ◽  
Author(s):  
J Lifson ◽  
S Coutré ◽  
E Huang ◽  
E Engleman

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) envelope glycoprotein interactions with cell surface CD4 are involved in both virion infectivity and virally mediated cell fusion. D-mannose-specific lectins such as Con A specifically blocked virion infectivity and cell fusion. Studies with a recombinant vaccinia virus containing the HIV envelope gene demonstrated that Con A-mediated inhibition of HIV-induced fusion involved lectin binding to the viral envelope glycoprotein. These results indicate the importance of envelope glycosylation in the pathobiology of HIV infection, and suggest potential mechanisms for interfering with HIV infectivity and cytopathology.


1999 ◽  
Vol 73 (5) ◽  
pp. 4360-4371 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mark T. Esser ◽  
Toshiyuki Mori ◽  
Isabelle Mondor ◽  
Quentin J. Sattentau ◽  
Barna Dey ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Cyanovirin-N (CV-N), an 11-kDa protein isolated from the cyanobacterium Nostoc ellipsosporum, potently inactivates diverse strains of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1), HIV-2, and simian immunodeficiency virus. While it has been well established that the viral surface envelope glycoprotein gp120 is a molecular target of CV-N, the detailed mechanism of action is of further interest. We compared matched native and CV-N-treated virus preparations in a panel of assays that measure viral replication, assessing successive stages of the viral life cycle. CV-N-treated virions failed to infect cells as detected by p24 production and quantitative PCR for HIV-1 reverse transcription products, whereas treatment of the target cells did not block infection, confirming that CV-N acts at the level of the virus, not the target cell, to abort the initial infection process. Compared to native HIV-1 preparations, CV-N-treated HIV-1 virions showed impaired CD4-dependent binding to CD4+ T cells and did not mediate “fusion from without” of CD4+ target cells. CV-N also blocked HIV envelope glycoprotein Env-induced, CD4-dependent cell-cell fusion. Mapping studies with monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) to defined epitopes on the HIV-1 envelope glycoprotein indicated that CV-N binds to gp120 in a manner that does not occlude or alter the CD4 binding site or V3 loop or other domains on gp120 recognized by defined MAbs and does not interfere with soluble CD4-induced conformational changes in gp120. Binding of CV-N to soluble gp120 or virions inhibited subsequent binding of the unique neutralizing MAb 2G12, which recognizes a glycosylation-dependent epitope. However, prior binding of 2G12 MAb to gp120 did not block subsequent binding by CV-N. These results help clarify the mechanism of action of CV-N and suggest that the compound may act in part by preventing essential interactions between the envelope glycoprotein and target cell receptors. This proposed mechanism is consistent with the extensive activity profile of CV-N against numerous isolates of HIV-1 and other lentiviruses and supports the potential broad utility of this protein as a microbicide to prevent the sexual transmission of HIV.


1999 ◽  
Vol 73 (7) ◽  
pp. 6089-6092 ◽  
Author(s):  
Isabel Muñoz-Barroso ◽  
Karl Salzwedel ◽  
Eric Hunter ◽  
Robert Blumenthal

ABSTRACT We have examined mutations in the ectodomain of the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 transmembrane glycoprotein gp41 within a region immediately adjacent to the membrane-spanning domain for their effect on the outcome of the fusion cascade. Using the recently developed three-color assay (I. Muñoz-Barroso, S. Durell, K. Sakaguchi, E. Appella, and R. Blumenthal, J. Cell Biol. 140:315–323, 1998), we have assessed the ability of the mutant gp41s to transfer lipid and small solutes from susceptible target cells to the gp120-gp41-expressing cells. The results were compared with the syncytium-inducing capabilities of these gp41 mutants. Two mutant proteins were incapable of mediating both dye transfer and syncytium formation. Two mutant proteins mediated dye transfer but were less effective at inducing syncytium formation than was wild-type gp41. The most interesting mutant proteins were those that were not capable of inducing syncytium formation but still mediated dye transfer, indicating that the fusion cascade was blocked beyond the stage of small fusion pore formation. Fusion mediated by the mutant gp41s was inhibited by the peptides DP178 and C34.


2009 ◽  
Vol 83 (15) ◽  
pp. 7467-7474 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jia Weng ◽  
Dimitry N. Krementsov ◽  
Sandhya Khurana ◽  
Nathan H. Roy ◽  
Markus Thali

ABSTRACT In vitro propagation studies have established that human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) is most efficiently transmitted at the virological synapse that forms between producer and target cells. Despite the presence of the viral envelope glycoprotein (Env) and CD4 and chemokine receptors at the respective surfaces, producer and target cells usually do not fuse with each other but disengage after the viral particles have been delivered, consistent with the idea that syncytia, at least in vitro, are not required for HIV-1 spread. Here, we tested whether tetraspanins, which are well known regulators of cellular membrane fusion processes that are enriched at HIV-1 exit sites, regulate syncytium formation. We found that overexpression of tetraspanins in producer cells leads to reduced syncytium formation, while downregulation has the opposite effect. Further, we document that repression of Env-induced cell-cell fusion by tetraspanins depends on the presence of viral Gag, and we demonstrate that fusion repression requires the recruitment of Env by Gag to tetraspanin-enriched microdomains (TEMs). However, sensitivity to fusion repression by tetraspanins varied for different viral strains, despite comparable recruitment of their Envs to TEMs. Overall, these data establish tetraspanins as negative regulators of HIV-1-induced cell-cell fusion, and they start delineating the requirements for this regulation.


2003 ◽  
Vol 77 (6) ◽  
pp. 3634-3646 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vandana Kalia ◽  
Surojit Sarkar ◽  
Phalguni Gupta ◽  
Ronald C. Montelaro

ABSTRACT Two highly conserved cationic amphipathic α-helical motifs, designated lentivirus lytic peptides 1 and 2 (LLP-1 and LLP-2), have been characterized in the carboxyl terminus of the transmembrane (TM) envelope glycoprotein (Env) of lentiviruses . Although various properties have been attributed to these domains, their structural and functional significance is not clearly understood. To determine the specific contributions of the Env LLP domains to Env expression, processing, and incorporation and to viral replication and syncytium induction, site-directed LLP mutants of a primary dualtropic infectious human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) isolate (ME46) were examined. Substitutions were made for highly conserved arginine residues in either the LLP-1 or LLP-2 domain (MX1 or MX2, respectively) or in both domains (MX4). The HIV-1 mutants with altered LLP domains demonstrated distinct phenotypes. The LLP-1 mutants (MX1 and MX4) were replication defective and showed an average of 85% decrease in infectivity, which was associated with an evident decrease in gp41 incorporation into virions without a significant decrease in Env expression or processing in transfected 293T cells. In contrast, MX2 virus was replication competent and incorporated a full complement of Env into its virions, indicating a differential role for the LLP-1 domain in Env incorporation. Interestingly, the replication-competent MX2 virus was impaired in its ability to induce syncytia in T-cell lines. This defect in cell-cell fusion did not correlate with apparent defects in the levels of cell surface Env expression, oligomerization, or conformation. The lack of syncytium formation, however, correlated with a decrease of about 90% in MX2 Env fusogenicity compared to that of wild-type Env in quantitative luciferase-based cell-cell fusion assays. The LLP-1 mutant MX1 and MX4 Envs also exhibited an average of 80% decrease in fusogenicity. Altogether, these results demonstrate for the first time that the highly conserved LLP domains perform critical but distinct functions in Env incorporation and fusogenicity.


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