A SENSITIVE REPORTER CELL-LINE FOR HIV-1 TAT ACTIVITY, HIV-1 INHIBITORS, AND T-CELL ACTIVATION EFFECTS

The production and characterization of a cell line for quantitative HI V-1 Tat function and T cell activation assays is described. 1G5 is a c lonal cell line derived from Jurkat T cells stably transfected with a luciferase gene driven by an HLV-1 long terminal repeat (HIV-LTR). The 1G5 clone was selected for low basal luciferase activity, susceptibil ity to HIV infection, and high responsiveness to Tat and T cell activa tion signals. A 10 to 1000-fold increase in luciferase activity after transfection or infection with tat-expressing vectors or HIV was obser ved. Equivalent levels of expression were detected after stimulation w ith T cell mitogens. The characteristics of 1G5 make it a valuable rea gent for studies of HIV infection, HIV regulatory agents, and other T cell or HIV-activating factors, and for screening potential anti-HIV t herapeutic agents.