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Infection of epithelial cell line HEp‐2 with human immunodeficiency virus type 1 is CD4 dependent
Author(s) -
Nottet Hans S. L. M.,
Janse Ingmar,
De Graaf Loek,
Bakker Leendert J.,
Visser Maarten R.,
Verhoef Jan
Publication year - 1993
Publication title -
journal of medical virology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.782
H-Index - 121
eISSN - 1096-9071
pISSN - 0146-6615
DOI - 10.1002/jmv.1890400109
Subject(s) - virology , monoclonal antibody , cell culture , biology , antigen , virus , antibody , reverse transcriptase , cytopathic effect , viral culture , polymerase chain reaction , immunology , gene , biochemistry , genetics
HEp‐2 cells, human epithelial cells derived from a larynx carcinoma, were found to be highly susceptible to infection with HIV‐1 stain Illb and MN, but not to infection with the monotropic strain IllBa‐L or the clinical isolate HIV‐1 AT . HEp‐2 cells infected with HIV‐1 IIIb continuously secreted high levels of p24 antigen, while no cytopathic effects were observed. Although no CD4 antigen could be detected on the cells by flow cytometric analysis, CD4 mRNA was detected by reverse transcriptase PCR. Furthermore, infection could be blocked by anti‐CD4 monoclonal antibody OKT4a indicating a CD4 mediated viral entry in HEp‐2 cells. HEp‐2 cells are commonly used in clinical virology for the culture of different viruses from clinical specimens. HEp‐2 cells should therefore be handled with caution as they may potentially become infected with HIV. © 1993 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.