THE V3 REGION OF GP120 IS RESPONSIBLE FOR ANTI-HIV-1 ACTIVITY OF HEPARIN SULFATE

The effect of heparin sulphate on the infection of CD4(+) lymphocytes by recombinant HIV-1 clones pIIIB and by pIIIB/V3-BaL was investigated . It was demonstrated that heparin sulphate decreased the infectivity of CD4(+) lymphocytes by the pIIIB virus stronger than by the pIIIB/V3 -BaL clone, and that the effect of heparin was concentration-dependent . This was accompanied by an inhibition of binding of the monoclonal a ntibodies 447-52-D to the V3 region and G45-60 to the C4 region of oli gomeric glycoprotein 120 (gp120). It has been concluded that the inhib itory effect of heparin sulphate on the infection of CD4(+) lymphocyte s by recombinant HIV-1 clones is mediated mainly by the V3 region of g p120. However, the C4 region contributes to the inhibitory effect of h eparin sulphate.