ROLE OF POTASSIUM IN HUMAN-IMMUNODEFICIENCY-VIRUS PRODUCTION AND CYTOPATHIC EFFECTS

Acute infection of CD4+ lymphoid cells by human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) induces an increase in the intracellular concentration of potassium (K+). Media containing reduced or elevated concentration s of K+ were used to investigate the role of this ion in HIV-1 product ion and cytopathology. Incubation of CD4+ lymphoblastoid cells acutely infected by HIV-1 (strain LAI) in low Kf medium resulted in an approx imately 50% decrease in HIV-1 production and markedly diminished HIV-1 induced cytopathic effects (CPE) relative to cells incubated in mediu m containing a normal K+ concentration (approximately 5 mM). Incubatio n of HIV-1 infected cells in media containing elevated concentrations of K+ (25 to 50 mM) increased HIV-1 production by two- to fivefold ove r the amount produced in cells incubated in normal K+ medium. Cells in cubated in high K+ media also displayed enhanced HIV-1-induced cytopat hology. The decrease in HIV-1 production by low K+ medium and increase by high K+ media could not be accounted for by effects on HIV-1revers e transcription. However, low K+ medium inhibited HIV-1 protein synthe sis and high K+ media increased HIV-1 protein synthesis. These results suggest that the HIV-1-induced increase in intracellular K+ concentra tion is required for efficient viral replication and to induce cytopat hology. (C) 1998 Academic Press.