A ROLE FOR HUMAN-IMMUNODEFICIENCY-VIRUS TYPE-1 VPR DURING INFECTION OF PERIPHERAL-BLOOD MONONUCLEAR-CELLS

Studies analysing human immunodeficiency virus type 1 replication in p rimary cells have demonstrated that Vpr, although dispensable, plays a role along with the matrix (MA) protein in allowing nuclear localizat ion of viral preintegration complexes in non-dividing monocyte-derived macrophages (MDMs), In the current study, experimental infection cond itions to analyse the role of Vpr, independently of MA, during infecti on of PHA/IL-2-stimulated peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) we re designed. It was shown that the absence of Vpr results in a subtle effect on virus production in long-term infection. PCR analysis of the steps of virus retrotranscription during a single cycle of replicatio n in stimulated PBMC revealed that the absence of Vpr alone correlates with an impairment in the nuclear localization of viral DNA. Our data indicate that Vpr is involved in the virus life-cycle during infectio n of dividing PBMC, presumably as it is during infection of MDMs.