A novel, sensitive dual-indicator cell line for detection and quantification of inducible, replication-competent latent HIV-1 from reservoir cells

Sci Rep. 2019 Dec 18;9(1):19325. doi: 10.1038/s41598-019-55596-8.

Abstract

Understanding the mechanisms involved in HIV infection and latency, and development of a cure, rely on the availability of sensitive research tools such as indicator cells, which allow rigorous quantification of viral activity. Here we describe the construction and validation of a novel dual-indicator cell line, Sup-GGR, which offers two different readouts to quantify viral replication. A construct expressing both Gaussia luciferase and hrGFP in a Tat- and Rev-dependent manner was engineered into SupT1-CCR5 to create Sup-GGR cells. This cell line supports the replication of both X4 and R5-tropic HIV as efficiently as its parental cell line, SupT1-CCR5, and allows repeated sampling without the need to terminate the culture. Sup-GGR demonstrates comparable sensitivity and similar kinetics in virus outgrowth assays (VOA) to SupT1-CCR5 using clinical samples. However the Gaussia luciferase reporter is significantly less labor-intensive and allows earlier detection of reactivated latent viruses compared to the conventional HIV p24 ELISA assay. The Sup-GGR cell line constitutes a versatile new tool for HIV research and clinical trials.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

  • CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / immunology
  • CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / virology
  • Cell Line
  • Disease Reservoirs / virology*
  • HIV Infections / immunology
  • HIV Infections / virology
  • HIV-1 / isolation & purification*
  • HIV-1 / physiology*
  • Humans
  • Luciferases / metabolism
  • Virus Latency / physiology*
  • Virus Replication / physiology*

Substances

  • Luciferases