HOST CELL-DEPENDENT ALTERATIONS IN ENVELOPE COMPONENTS OF HUMAN-IMMUNODEFICIENCY-VIRUS TYPE-1 VIRIONS

In addition to gp41 and gp120, an array of cell adhesion molecules is present on the envelope of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) . To examine the role of the host cell in the acquisition of these mol ecules by virions, both laboratory-adapted and primary isolates were s equentially passaged into different host cells. Viruses obtained from the various host cells were examined for the presence of 10 different cell-derived molecules by a virus binding enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Virus progeny raised in peripheral blood mononuclear cells expr essed most of the adhesion molecules tested, with the level of LFA-1 b eing the highest. When viruses were passaged into CEM-SS or SupT1 cell s, the expression of most of the adhesion molecules on the virus envel ope was lost. In contrast, when viruses were passaged into MT2 cells, the virus progeny bore high levels of LFA-3, ICAM-1, and major histoco mpatibility complex classes I and II. These studies demonstrate for th e first time the host cell dependence of the adhesion molecule profile present on the envelope of primary isolates of HIV-1. The presence of several adhesion molecules that have not previously been identified a s components of the envelope of either laboratory or primary isolates is also described. In addition, we show that the adhesion molecule pro file of the virions is acquired, or lost, within one passage and is ma intained with subsequent passages in the same cell type.