HIV phenotype correlates with the relative amounts of lymphocyte function-related molecule 1 (LFA-1) and major histocompatibility complex (MHC) classII in the virion envelope

Objective: The biological phenotype of HIV-1 has been associated with vario us aspects of its infectivity, including syncytium formation and coreceptor usage. Adhesion molecules, present. on both the target cell and the virus, have also been shown to play a role in the infectious process. A possible correlation between the presence of adhesion molecules in the envelope of H IV-1 with the biological phenotype of the virus is examined. Design: The envelopes of 56 isolates of HIV-1 of known biological phenotype were analyzed for the presence of lymphocyte function-related molecule 1 ( LFA-1) and major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II molecules. Methods: The coreceptor usage of each isolate was determined in a GHOST cel l or a U87.CD4 infectivity assay. The presence of LFA-1 and MHC class II in each virus envelope was then determined using a virus-binding enzyme-linke d immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Results: Viruses using the chemokine receptor CCR5 have relatively higher l evels of MWC class II than LFA-1 in their envelopes compared with those usi ng CXCR4. Conclusions: The finding that there is a differential incorporati on of MHC class II and LFA-1 molecules by CXCR4- and CCR5-using viruses aug ments the list of properties contributing to the biological phenotype of HI V-1. This may explain, in part, how CXCR4-using viruses are able to bind to and infect a broader range of cell types than CCR5-using viruses, and why CXCR4-using viruses are associated with a more aggressive disease course. ( C) 2000 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.