Cervical and prostate primary epithelial cells are not productively infected but sequester human immunodeficiency virus type 1

Primary prostate and cervical epithelial cells and epithelial cell lines we re examined for human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) infection or tr ansmission to peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC). Neither cell-free nor cell-associated HIV-1 infected primary epithelial cells or cell lines. Pretreatment of HIV-1 to enhance CD4-independent entry did not augment infe ction. Cell surface expression was detected for galactosyl ceramide but not for CC-chemokine receptor 5, CXC-chemokine receptor 4, or CD4. The ability to transfer HIV-1 to resting or activated PBMC was tested by culturing wit h rinsed or trypsinized and replated HIV-1-exposed epithelial cells. Virus was not recovered from the rinsed or replated cocultures with resting PBMC; however, activated PBMC recovered HIV-1 from rinsed epithelial cells and r arely from replated epithelial cells. Although urogenital epithelial cells are not infected, these data suggest that they can transfer virus to activa ted immune cells and have implications for sexual transmission of HIV-1.