Coreceptor requirements of primary HIV type 1 group O isolates from Cameroon

AIDS Res Hum Retroviruses. 1999 May 20;15(8):707-12. doi: 10.1089/088922299310791.

Abstract

HIV-1 group O has its epicenter in Cameroon and neighboring countries and is responsible for 3 to 5% of all HIV infections in this region. It is believed that HIV-1 group O was introduced into the human population by a separate cross-species transmission, occurring independently of the HIV-1 (group M and group N) and HIV-2 transmissions. We have studied the coreceptor requirements of 12 primary HIV-1 O-type isolates from individuals with different clinical symptoms. Only 2 of these 12 viruses showed a syncytium-inducing phenotype after infection of primary peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and were infectious for the T cell line C8166. These isolates used CXCR4 as a coreceptor for entry, whereas the remaining isolates used only CCR5 efficiently. One isolate was able to use BOB and CCR8 as coreceptors in addition to CXCR4. All group O isolates tested were efficiently inhibited by SDF-1 or RANTES, the natural ligands of CXCR4 and CCR5, respectively. These results indicate that CXCR4 and CCR5 are the principal coreceptors for HIV-1 O-type viruses. Most of the HIV-1 group O isolates studied were derived from patients at later stages of the disease. Although HIV-1 group O and group M infections do not differ in their pathogenesis, the studied isolates did not evolve to use a broad range of coreceptors as described for HIV-1 group M and HIV-2.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Female
  • HIV Infections / virology*
  • HIV-1 / classification
  • HIV-1 / isolation & purification
  • HIV-1 / physiology*
  • Humans
  • Leukocytes, Mononuclear / virology
  • Macrophages / virology
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Receptors, CCR5 / metabolism*
  • Receptors, CXCR4 / metabolism*
  • Receptors, HIV / metabolism*

Substances

  • Receptors, CCR5
  • Receptors, CXCR4
  • Receptors, HIV