INFECTION OF EPITHELIAL-CELL LINE HEP-2 WITH HUMAN-IMMUNODEFICIENCY-VIRUS TYPE-1 IS CD4 DEPENDENT

HEp-2 cells, human epithelial cells derived from a larynx carcinoma, w ere found to be highly susceptible to infection with HIV-1 stain IIIb and MN, but not to infection with the monotropic strain IIIBa-L or the clinical isolate HIV-1AT. HEp-2 cells infected with HIV-1IIIb continu ously 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 transcr iptase PCR. Furthermore, infection could be blocked by anti-CD4 monocl onal antibody OKT4a indicating a CD4 mediated viral entry in HEp-2 cel ls. HEp-2 cells are commonly used in clinical virology for the culture of different viruses from clinical specimens. HEp-2 cells should ther efore be handled with caution as they may potentially become infected with HIV.