Retrovirology (Dec 2005)

Involvement of claudin-7 in HIV infection of CD4(-) cells

  • Yang Otto O,
  • Berenson James,
  • Chiu Robert,
  • Razi Miriam,
  • Massachi Samira,
  • Song Jun,
  • Campbell Richard,
  • Xie Yiming,
  • Zheng Junying,
  • Chen Irvin SY,
  • Pang Shen

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/1742-4690-2-79
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 2, no. 1
p. 79

Abstract

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Abstract Background Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection of CD4(-) cells has been demonstrated, and this may be an important mechanism for HIV transmission. Results We demonstrated that a membrane protein, claudin-7 (CLDN-7), is involved in HIV infection of CD4(-) cells. A significant increase in HIV susceptibility (2- to 100-fold) was demonstrated when CLDN-7 was transfected into a CD4(-) cell line, 293T. In addition, antibodies against CLDN-7 significantly decreased HIV infection of CD4(-) cells. Furthermore, HIV virions expressing CLDN-7 on their envelopes had a much higher infectivity for 293T CD4(-) cells than the parental HIV with no CLDN-7. RT-PCR results demonstrated that CLDN-7 is expressed in both macrophages and stimulated peripheral blood leukocytes, suggesting that most HIV virions generated in infected individuals have CLDN-7 on their envelopes. We also found that CLDN-7 is highly expressed in urogenital and gastrointestinal tissues. Conclusion Together these results suggest that CLDN-7 may play an important role in HIV infection of CD4(-) cells.