Oral Keratinocytes and HIV-1 Infection
Author Information
Author(s): Anjalee Vacharaksa, Anil C Asrani, Kristin H Gebhard, Claudine E Fasching, Rodrigo A Giacaman, Edward N Janoff, Karen F Ross, Mark C Herzberg
Primary Institution: University of Minnesota
Hypothesis
HIV-1 infects oral keratinocytes in a restricted manner.
Conclusion
Oral keratinocytes support stable non-replicative integration, while harboring and transmitting infectious HIV-1 to permissive cells for up to 48 hours.
Supporting Evidence
- HIV-1gag RNA was detected in TERT-2 cells after infection.
- Integrated HIV-1 DNA was found in TERT-2 cell nuclei.
- TERT-2 cells transferred HIV-1 to PBMCs effectively for up to 48 hours.
Takeaway
Oral cells can catch and pass on HIV, but they don't make more of the virus. They can hold onto it for a while and share it with other cells.
Methodology
Immortalized oral keratinocytes were infected with HIV-1 and their ability to harbor and transfer the virus to permissive cells was studied.
Limitations
The study primarily used immortalized cell lines, which may not fully represent primary human cells.
Participant Demographics
Participants were HIV-seronegative individuals undergoing tonsillectomy.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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