Abstract
The CD16+ subset of monocytes is dramatically expanded in peripheral blood during progression to AIDS, but its contribution to HIV pathogenesis is unknown. Here, we demonstrate that CD16+ but not CD16- monocytes promote high levels of HIV replication upon differentiation into macrophages and interaction with T cells. Conjugates formed between CD16+ monocyte-derived macrophages and T cells are major sites of viral replication. Furthermore, similar monocyte-T cell conjugates detected in peripheral blood of HIV-infected patients harbor HIV DNA. Thus, expansion of CD16+ monocytes during HIV infection and their subsequent recruitment into tissues such as lymph nodes, brain, and intestine may contribute to HIV dissemination and establishment of productive infection in T cells.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 267-276 |
Number of pages | 10 |
Journal | Virology |
Volume | 344 |
Issue number | 2 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Jan 20 2006 |
Keywords
- CD16 monocytes
- Conjugates
- HIV
- T cells
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Virology