  
Urogenital epithelial cells sequester HIV-1, transfer it to activated immune cells
Last Updated: 2001-04-13 11:30:24 EDT (Reuters Health)
WESTPORT, CT (Reuters Health) - Researchers have learned that although urogenital epithelial cells are not productively infected with HIV-1, they can sequester the virus and transfer it to activated immune cells.
The findings suggest that "preventing the interaction between HIV-1 and the urogenital cells through the use of condoms or topical microbicides...would be beneficial for the reduction of sexually acquired HIV-1 infection," Dr. Charlene S. Dezzutti, senior investigator in the HIV/AIDS and Retrovirology Branch at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, told Reuters Health.
In culture studies, Dr. Dezzutti and colleagues examined primary prostate and cervical epithelial cells and epithelial cell lines for HIV-1 infection and determined their ability to transmit the virus to peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs).
"Our main finding is that the primary cervical and prostate epithelial cells are incapable of being naturally infected with HIV-1," Dr. Dezzutti told Reuters Health. This is largely because they lack cell surface receptors and coreceptors essential for entry, she explained.
"Interestingly, HIV-1 adheres to or is sequestered by these primary cervical and prostate epithelial cells," Dr. Dezzutti said. "This would extend the presence of the virus in the urogenital tract and increase the likelihood of HIV-1 infecting local, activated immune cells."
The ability of epithelial cells to sequester HIV-1 may give the virus more time to interact with the intraepithelial and lamina propria immune cells, the researchers report in the April 15th issue of The Journal of Infectious Diseases. "This may be one mechanism for sexual transmission of the virus."
J Infect Dis 2001;183:1204-1213.
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