Epitope switching as a novel escape mechanism of HIV to CCR5 monoclonal antibodies

Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 2010 Feb;54(2):734-41. doi: 10.1128/AAC.00841-09. Epub 2009 Dec 7.

Abstract

In passaging experiments, we isolated HIV strains resistant to MAb3952, a chemokine (C-C motif) receptor 5 (CCR5) monoclonal antibody (MAb) that binds to the second extracellular domain (extracellular loop 2 [ECL-2]) of CCR5. MAb3952-resistant viruses remain CCR5-tropic and are cross-resistant to a second ECL-2-specific antibody. Surprisingly, MAb3952-resistant viruses were more susceptible to RoAb13, a CCR5 antibody binding to the N terminus of CCR5. Using CCR5 receptor mutants, we show that MAb3952-resistant virus strains preferentially use the N terminus of CCR5, while the wild-type viruses preferentially use ECL-2. We propose this switch in the CCR5 binding site as a novel mechanism of HIV resistance.

MeSH terms

  • Anti-HIV Agents / pharmacology
  • Anti-HIV Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal / pharmacology*
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal / therapeutic use*
  • Binding Sites / genetics
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Drug Resistance, Viral / genetics
  • Epitopes / chemistry
  • Epitopes / genetics
  • Epitopes / immunology*
  • HIV / drug effects*
  • HIV / genetics
  • HIV Infections / drug therapy*
  • HIV Infections / virology
  • Humans
  • Receptors, CCR5 / chemistry
  • Receptors, CCR5 / genetics
  • Receptors, CCR5 / immunology*

Substances

  • Anti-HIV Agents
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal
  • Epitopes
  • Receptors, CCR5