The envelope glycoprotein ectodomains determine the efficiency of CD4+ T lymphocyte depletion in simian-human immunodeficiency virus-infected macaques

Gunilla B. Karlsson, Matilda Halloran, Dominik Schenten, Juliette Lee, Paul Racz, Klara Tenner-Racz, Judith Manola, Rebecca Gelman, Bijan Etemad-Moghadam, Elizabeth Desjardins, Richard Wyatt, Norma P. Gerard, Luisa Marcon, David Margolin, John Fanton, Michael K. Axthelm, Norman L. Letvin, Joseph Sodroski

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

93 Scopus citations

Abstract

CD4+ T lymphocyte depletion in human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1)-infected humans underlies the development of acquired immune deficiency syndrome. Using a model in which rhesus macaques were infected with chimeric simian-human immunodeficiency viruses (SHIVs), we show that both the level of viremia and the structure of the HIV-1 envelope glycoprotein ectodomains individually contributed to the efficiency with which CD4+ T lymphocytes were depleted. The envelope glycoproteins of recombinant SHIVs that efficiently caused loss of CD4+ T lymphocytes exhibited increased chemokine receptor binding and membrane-fusing capacity compared with those of less pathogenic viruses. These studies identify the HIV-1 envelope glycoprotein ectodomains as determinants of CD4+ T lymphocyte loss in vivo and provide a foundation for studying pathogenic mechanisms.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1159-1171
Number of pages13
JournalJournal of Experimental Medicine
Volume188
Issue number6
DOIs
StatePublished - Sep 21 1998

Keywords

  • CD4 T lymphocyte depletion
  • Envelope glycoprotein
  • Pathogenesis
  • Rhesus macaques
  • Simian-human immunodeficiency virus

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Medicine

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