HIV-1 envelope pseudotyped viral vectors and infectious molecular clones expressing the same envelope glycoprotein have a similar neutralization phenotype, but culture in peripheral blood mononuclear cells is associated with decreased neutralization sensitivity

Virology. 2005 Sep 1;339(2):226-38. doi: 10.1016/j.virol.2005.06.003.

Abstract

Recombinant lentiviral vectors pseudotyped with heterologous HIV-1 envelope glycoproteins allow rapid and accurate measurement of antibody-mediated HIV-1 neutralization. However, the neutralization phenotypes of envelope pseudoviruses have not been directly compared to isogenic replication competent HIV-1. We produced pseudoviruses expressing three different HIV-1 envelope glycoproteins and subcloned the same three env genes into a replication competent NL4-3 molecular clone. For each of the antibodies tested, the neutralization dose-response curves of pseudoviruses and corresponding replication competent viruses were similar. Thus, envelope pseudoviruses can be used to study the anti-HIV-1 neutralizing antibody response. A single passage of replication competent virus derived from 293T cells through peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) caused a substantial decrease in sensitivity to neutralizing antibodies. This was associated with an increase in average virion envelope glycoprotein content of the PBMC-derived virus. Replication competent HIV-1 and isogenic envelope pseudoviruses have similar neutralization characteristics, but passage into PBMC is associated with decreased sensitivity to neutralization.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • HIV Antibodies / immunology*
  • HIV Envelope Protein gp120 / immunology*
  • HIV Envelope Protein gp120 / physiology
  • HIV-1 / physiology*
  • Humans
  • Leukocytes, Mononuclear / immunology
  • Leukocytes, Mononuclear / virology*
  • Neutralization Tests
  • Phenotype
  • T-Lymphocytes / virology
  • Viral Envelope Proteins / physiology*
  • Virus Replication*

Substances

  • HIV Antibodies
  • HIV Envelope Protein gp120
  • Viral Envelope Proteins