PHENOTYPIC CHANGES OF MONOCYTES INDUCED BY HIV-1 GP120 MOLECULE AND ITS FRAGMENTS

Several phenotypic and functional changes of monocytes (M Phi) have be en described in HIV-1(+) subjects and AIDS patients. Some of these cha nges that are pertinent for immunopathogenesis of the disease may be i nduced by HIV-1 envelope glycoprotein 120 (gp120). In the present stud y the effect of recombinant full length gp120 (FLgp120) and its two fr agments: rp120cd (aa 410-511) and rp120 (aa 446-511) on the expression of the surface molecules of M Phi cultured in vitro was determined. T he FLgp120 and rp120cd caused upregulation of CD14 and CD44. The rp120 cd peptide significantly increased the expression of CD16 (Fc gamma re ceptor type III) and TNF receptor type II. In contrast, the rp120 down regulated HLA-DR, CD64 (Fc gamma RI), interferon gamma receptor and in duced IL-10 production by M Phi. This study indicates that gp120 molec ule and its fragments may induce several phenotypic changes of M Phi i n particular the increased proportion of CD14(+) CD16(+) cells that is observed in the blood of AIDS patients. These results provide further evidence for variable response of M Phi to gp120 which may explain th e variability of phenotypic changes and heterogeneity of M Phi subsets seen in HIV-1 disease.