PROBLEM: Sperm are the major cells in semen. Human sperm possess a number of HIV-1 gp120 binding ligands including sulfogalactosylglycerolipid (SGG). However, the mechanisms of how sperm capture HIV-1 onto their surface are unclear. Furthermore, the ability of sperm to deliver HIV-1 to vaginal/cervical epithelial cells lining the lower female reproductive tract, as a first step in HIV-1 transmission, needs to be determined. METHOD OF STUDY: Sperm from healthy donors were incubated with dual-tropic HIV-1CS204 (clinical isolate), and virus capture was determined by p24 antigen ELISA. The involvement of SGG in HIV-1 capture was assessed by determining Kd values of HIV-1 gp120-SGG binding as well as computational docking of SGG to the gp120 V3 loop. The ability of sperm-associated HIV-1 to infect peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and TZM-bl indicator cells was determined. Lastly, infection of vaginal (Vk2/E6E7), ectocervical (Ect1/E6E7), and endocervical (End1/E6E7) epithelial cells mediated by HIV-1-associated sperm was evaluated. RESULTS: Sperm were able to capture HIV-1 in a dose-dependent manner, and the capture reached a maximum within 5 minutes. Captured HIV-1, however, could be removed from sperm by Percoll-gradient centrifugation. Affinity of gp120 for SGG was substantial, implicating sperm SGG in HIV-1 capture. Sperm-associated HIV-1 could productively infect PBMCs and TZM-bl cells, and was capable of being transmitted into vaginal/cervical epithelial cells. CONCLUSION: Sperm are able to capture HIV-1, which remains infectious and is able to be transmitted into vaginal/cervical epithelial cells, a result indicating the importance of sperm in HIV transmission.
Sperm can act as vectors for HIV‐1 transmission into vaginal and cervical epithelial cells / C.D. Young, S. Tatieng, K. Kongmanas, D. Fongmoon, B. Lomenick, A.J. Yoon, W. Kiattiburut, F. Compostella, K.F. Faull, N. Suree, J.B. Angel, N. Tanphaichitr. - In: AMERICAN JOURNAL OF REPRODUCTIVE IMMUNOLOGY. - ISSN 1046-7408. - 82:1(2019 Jul), pp. e13129.1-e13129.12.
Titolo: | Sperm can act as vectors for HIV‐1 transmission into vaginal and cervical epithelial cells |
Autori: | |
Parole Chiave: | HIV-1; cervical epithelial cells; gp120; infectious disease; sperm; sulfogalactosylglycerolipid; vaginal epithelial cells |
Settore Scientifico Disciplinare: | Settore BIO/10 - Biochimica |
Data di pubblicazione: | lug-2019 |
Rivista: | |
Tipologia: | Article (author) |
Data ahead of print / Data di stampa: | 8-mag-2019 |
Digital Object Identifier (DOI): | http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/aji.13129 |
Appare nelle tipologie: | 01 - Articolo su periodico |
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