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Current notions on the pathogenesis of the HIV-induced disease sustain that progressive immunodeficiency results from a combination of the cell cytotoxicity produced by infection and replication of the virus in the target cells, mainly immune system cells, and of the indirect, harmful effects mediated by two main mechanisms: a sustained, chronic activation of the immune system that turns into immune dysfunction with the progressive degradation of lymphoid tissues, and the immunoregulatory and toxic properties of extracellular viral proteins on bystander cells (Choudhary et al., 2007; Moir et al., 2011). Bystander, non infected cells that show altered function and death, include cells with null or low expression of the CD4 receptor, such as CD8+ T and B lymphocytes, dendritic cells, neurons and tumor cells. The HIV-1 Gp120 protein has properties that maintain resemblance with animal toxins. Active forms of free Gp120 can be found at nanomolar concentrations in the plasma of a considerable proportion of HIV infected individuals (Rychert et al., 2010; Gilbert et al., 1991; Santosuosso et al., 2009). A number of in vitro and in vivo activities have been described for the extracellular form of this molecule, indicating that it may contribute to deregulation of immune function and damage to several tissues during HIV infection. Activation, apoptosis, chemotaxis and impaired cellular function are the most frequently reported effects of Gp120 in the absence of HIV infection. Gp120 interacts with chemokine receptors (mainly CXCR4 and CCR5) which are expressed by different cells and tissues, besides the immune system, thus providing a range of possible target cells for toxic effects. However, the high structural variability of Gp120, absorption by host’s glycan-binding compounds, and the complexity of the regulation processes involved in chemokine receptor function, have made difficult to asses the actual significance of the free form of this molecule for AIDS pathogenesis. On the other hand, soluble Gp120 or peptides derived of active portions of the molecule may be considered as potential therapeutic agents to target undesirable cells, i.e., tumor cells. This article provides a review of the main factors influencing the biological outcome of the interaction of the soluble form of Gp120 with cells and tissues, and a selection of recent literature illustrating the diversity of the effects induced by this molecule.

HIV Toxins: Gp120 as an Independent Modulator of Cell Function