Published in:
01-05-2010 | Brief Report
Protection against HIV-envelope-induced neuronal cell destruction by HIV attachment inhibitors
Authors:
Sharon Zhang, Louis Alexander, Tao Wang, Michele Agler, Nannon Zhou, Hua Fang, John Kadow, Paul Clapham, Pin-Fang Lin
Published in:
Archives of Virology
|
Issue 5/2010
Login to get access
Abstract
We demonstrate that HIV attachment inhibitors (AIs) prevent HIV envelope-induced destruction of two neuronal cell lines (SH-SY5Y and BE(2)-M17) at low nanomolar concentrations. The fusion inhibitor enfuvirtide and the CCR5 inhibitors UK427,857 and TAK779 do not display protection activity, suggesting the involvement of Env/cell interaction site(s) distinct from the sites involved in the viral entry process. We surmise that by inducing conformation changes in the envelope, AIs likely obstruct novel interactions with a neuronal cell factor(s) required for induction of apoptosis. This antiretroviral class may therefore have the potential to inhibit HIV-induced neuron damage, thereby curtailing the increasing incidence of HIV-associated cognitive impairment.