Abstract
Cell contact is required for efficient transmission of human T cell leukemia virus- type 1 (HTLV-I) between cells and between individuals, because naturally infected lymphocytes produce virtually no cell-free infectious HTLV-I particles. However, the mechanism of cell-to-cell spread of HTLV-I is not understood. We show here that cell contact rapidly induces polarization of the cytoskeleton of the infected cell to the cell-cell junction. HTLV-I core (Gag protein) complexes and the HTLV-I genome accumulate at the cell-cell junction and are then transferred to the uninfected cell. Other lymphotropic viruses, such as HIV-1, may similarly subvert normal T cell physiology to allow efficient propagation between cells.
Publication types
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
MeSH terms
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CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / immunology
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CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / ultrastructure
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CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / virology
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CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / immunology
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CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / ultrastructure
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CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / virology
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Cell Adhesion Molecules / metabolism
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Cell Communication
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Cell Line
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Cell Polarity*
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Extracellular Space / virology
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Gene Products, env / metabolism
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Gene Products, gag / metabolism
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Genome, Viral
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HTLV-I Infections / virology
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Human T-lymphotropic virus 1 / genetics
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Human T-lymphotropic virus 1 / physiology*
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Humans
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In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence
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Intercellular Junctions / physiology*
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Intercellular Junctions / ultrastructure
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Intercellular Junctions / virology
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Microscopy, Confocal
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Microtubule-Organizing Center / physiology*
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Microtubule-Organizing Center / ultrastructure
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Microtubules / physiology
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Nucleocapsid Proteins / metabolism
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Peptide Nucleic Acids
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Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / immunology
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T-Lymphocytes / immunology
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T-Lymphocytes / ultrastructure*
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T-Lymphocytes / virology*
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Talin / metabolism
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Virion / physiology
Substances
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Cell Adhesion Molecules
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Gene Products, env
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Gene Products, gag
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Nucleocapsid Proteins
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Peptide Nucleic Acids
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Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell
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Talin