ABSTRACT
Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) infection of individuals carrying the two alleles of the CCR5Δ32 mutation (CCR5−/−) has rarely been reported, but how the virus overcomes the CCR5Δ32 protective effect in these cases has not been delineated. We have investigated this in 6 infected (HIV+) and 25 HIV− CCR5−/− individuals. CD4+ T lymphocytes isolated from HIV− CCR5−/− peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) showed lower levels of CXCR4 expression that correlated with lower X4 Env-mediated fusion. Endogenous CCR5Δ32 protein was detected in all HIV− CCR5−/− PBMC samples (n = 25) but not in four of six unrelated HIV+ CCR5−/− PBMC samples. Low levels were detected in another two HIV+ CCR5−/− PBMC samples. The expression of adenovirus 5 (Ad5)-encoded CCR5Δ32 protein restored the protective effect in PBMCs from three HIV+ CCR5−/− individuals but failed to restore the protective effect in PBMCs isolated from another three HIV+ CCR5−/− individuals. In the latter samples, pulse-chase analyses demonstrated the disappearance of endogenous Ad5-encoded CCR5Δ32 protein and the accumulation of Ad5-encoded CCR5 during the chase periods. PBMCs isolated from CCR5−/− individuals showed resistance to primary X4 but were readily infected by a lab-adapted X4 strain. Low levels of Ad5-encoded CCR5Δ32 protein conferred resistance to primary X4 but not to lab-adapted X4 virus. These data provide strong support for the hypothesis that the CCR5Δ32 protein actively confers resistance to HIV-1 in vivo and suggest that the loss or reduction of CCR5Δ32 protein expression may account for HIV-1 infection of CCR5−/− individuals. The results also suggest that other cellular or virally induced factors may be involved in the stability of CCR5Δ32 protein.
Synapto-protective effect of lithium on HIV-1 Tat-induced synapse loss in rat hippocampal cultures
