HIV-1 incorporation of host-cell–derived glycosphingolipid GM3 allows for capture by mature dendritic cells

• Published in: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences - PNAS Vol. 109; no. 19; pp. 7475 - 7480
• Main Authors: Puryear, Wendy Blay, Yu, Xinwei, Ramirez, Nora P, Reinhard, Björn M, Gummuluru, Suryaram
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States National Academy of Sciences 08-05-2012; National Acad Sciences
• Subjects: Biological Sciences; Cell Line; Cell membranes; Cells; Cells, Cultured; Dendritic cells; Dendritic Cells - immunology; Dendritic Cells - metabolism; Dendritic Cells - virology; Flow Cytometry; G(M1) Ganglioside - immunology; G(M1) Ganglioside - metabolism; G(M3) Ganglioside - immunology; G(M3) Ganglioside - metabolism; Galactosyltransferases - genetics; Galactosyltransferases - metabolism; Ganglioside Galactosyltransferase; Gangliosides; gene overexpression; Glucosyltransferases - genetics; Glucosyltransferases - metabolism; Glycosphingolipids - immunology; Glycosphingolipids - metabolism; HEK293 Cells; HeLa Cells; HIV; HIV 1; HIV-1 - immunology; HIV-1 - physiology; Host-Pathogen Interactions - drug effects; Host-Pathogen Interactions - immunology; Human immunodeficiency virus; Human immunodeficiency virus 1; Humans; Lipids; Lipopeptides - pharmacology; Liposomes; Liposomes - immunology; Liposomes - metabolism; Monocytes - immunology; Monocytes - metabolism; Monocytes - virology; N-Acetylgalactosaminyltransferases - genetics; N-Acetylgalactosaminyltransferases - metabolism; pathogenesis; pathogens; Ribonucleic acid; RNA; RNA Interference; small interfering RNA; T lymphocytes; virion; Virion - immunology; Virion - metabolism; Virions; Viruses
• ISSN: 0027-8424; 1091-6490
• DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1201104109

The interaction between HIV and dendritic cells (DCs) is an important early event in HIV-1 pathogenesis that leads to efficient viral dissemination. Here we demonstrate a HIV gp120-independent DC capture mechanism that uses virion-incorporated host-derived gangliosides with terminal α2–3-linked sialic acid linkages. Using exogenously enriched virus and artificial liposome particles, we demonstrate that both α2–3 gangliosides GM1 and GM3 are capable of mediating this interaction when present in the particle at high levels. In the absence of overexpression, GM3 is the primary ligand responsible for this capture mechanism, because siRNA depletion of GM3 but not GM1 from the producer cell and hence virions, resulted in a dramatic decrease in DC capture. Furthermore, HIV-1 capture by DCs was competitively inhibited by targeting virion-associated GM3, but was unchanged by targeting GM1. Finally, virions were derived from monocytoid THP-1 cells that constitutively display low levels of GM1 and GM3, or from THP-1 cells induced to express high surface levels of GM1 and GM3 upon stimulation with the TLR2/1 ligand Pam3CSK4. Compared with untreated THP-1 cells, virus produced from Pam3CSK4-stimulated THP-1 cells incorporated higher levels of GM3, but not GM1, and showed enhanced DC capture and trans-infection. Our results identify a unique HIV-1 DC attachment mechanism that is dependent on a host-cell–derived ligand, GM3, and is a unique example of pathogen mimicry of host-cell recognition pathways that drive virus capture and dissemination in vivo.