Downregulation of cell-surface CD4 expression by simian immunodeficiency virus Nef prevents viral super infection.
Year: 1993
Type: article
Abstract: The nef gene product encoded by the mac239 proviral clone of simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) markedly enhances viral replication and pathogenesis in vivo. We have used this biologically active nef isolate to examine the phenotype of Nef in retrovirally transduced human T cells in culture. SIV Nef is shown to dramatically inhibit cell-surface expression of the CD4 glycoprotein without significantly affecting the total steady-state level of cellular CD4. This downregulation of the cell-surface CD4 receptor for human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) infection correlated with the acquisition of resistance to superinfection by HIV-1. However, SIV Nef did not affect the level of gene expression directed by the HIV-1 long terminal repeat. It is hypothesized that downregulation of cell-surface CD4 by Nef facilitates the efficient release of infectious progeny virions and, hence, viral spread in vivo.
Authors: R E Benson, A Sanfridson, J S Ottinger, C Doyle, B R Cullen
Institutions: Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Duke Medical Center
Language: English
Topic: HIV Research and Treatment
Subfield: Virology
Field: Immunology and Microbiology
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: bronze
OpenAlex ID: W2162126058