ALTERATION OF INTRACELLULAR POTASSIUM AND SODIUM CONCENTRATIONS CORRELATES WITH INDUCTION OF CYTOPATHIC EFFECTS BY HUMAN-IMMUNODEFICIENCY-VIRUS

Increases in intracellular concentrations of potassium ([K+](i)) and s odium ([Na+](i)) occur concomitantly with cytopathic effects induced i n a CD4(+) T-lymphoblastoid cell line acutely infected by human immuno deficiency virus (HIV). This [K+](i) increase was greater in cells inf ected by cytopathic HIV strains than in cells infected by less cytopat hic strains. T cells persistently infected by HIV had an increased [K](i) but displayed an [Na+](i) similar to that of mock-infected cells. HIV induced increases in [K+](i) and [Na+](i) after cytopathic infect ion of human peripheral blood mononuclear cells, but the magnitude of the Na+ changes did not correlate with the extent of the cytopathic ef fect. Enhanced movement of cations may osmotically drive water entry, resulting in balloon degeneration and lysis of HIV-infected cells. The se observations offer potential approaches for antiviral therapies.