Vpr and Vpu Are Important for Efficient Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 Replication and CD4+ T-Cell Depletion in Human Lymphoid Tissue Ex Vivo

E Rücker, JC Grivel, J Münch, F Kirchhoff… - Journal of …, 2004 - Am Soc Microbiol
E Rücker, JC Grivel, J Münch, F Kirchhoff, L Margolis
Journal of virology, 2004Am Soc Microbiol
The relevance of the accessory vpr, vpu, and nef genes for human immunodeficiency virus
type 1 (HIV-1) replication in human lymphoid tissue (HLT), the major site of viral replication
in vivo, is largely unknown. Here, we show that an individual deletion of nef, vpr, or vpu
significantly decreases HIV-1 replication and prevents CD4+ T-cell depletion in ex vivo HLT.
However, only combined defects in all three accessory genes entirely disrupt the replicative
capacity of HIV-1. Our results demonstrate that nef, vpr, and vpu are all essential for efficient …
Abstract
The relevance of the accessory vpr, vpu, and nef genes for human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) replication in human lymphoid tissue (HLT), the major site of viral replication in vivo, is largely unknown. Here, we show that an individual deletion of nef, vpr, or vpu significantly decreases HIV-1 replication and prevents CD4+ T-cell depletion in ex vivo HLT. However, only combined defects in all three accessory genes entirely disrupt the replicative capacity of HIV-1. Our results demonstrate that nef, vpr, and vpu are all essential for efficient viral spread in HLT, suggesting an important role in AIDS pathogenesis.
American Society for Microbiology