Abstract
Patients with AIDS who become infected with Cryptococcus neoformans have a poor prognosis. We speculated that the presence of cryptococcal capsular polysaccharide may enhance HIV-1 infection. In an in-vitro study, the presence of cryptococcal polysaccharide significantly increased (p less than 0.05) production of p24 antigen after infection of H9 cells with HIV-1-infected H9 cells. We also found similar results when lymphocytes from an HIV-1-infected patient were co-cultured with mononuclear cells from an uninfected individual. Our findings suggest a new pathogenic role for the capsular polysaccharide--namely, the capacity to enhance HIV-1 infectivity.
Publication types
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
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Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.
MeSH terms
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Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / microbiology*
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CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / drug effects
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CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / metabolism
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CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / microbiology
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Cells, Cultured
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Cryptococcosis / microbiology*
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HIV Core Protein p24 / biosynthesis*
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HIV Reverse Transcriptase
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HIV-1 / drug effects*
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HIV-1 / growth & development
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HIV-1 / pathogenicity
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Humans
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In Vitro Techniques
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Polysaccharides / pharmacology*
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Prognosis
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RNA-Directed DNA Polymerase / metabolism
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Virus Activation / drug effects*
Substances
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HIV Core Protein p24
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Polysaccharides
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cryptococcal polysaccharide
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HIV Reverse Transcriptase
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RNA-Directed DNA Polymerase