Correspondence

Human Immunodeficiency Virus

N Engl J Med 1995; 332:1719June 22, 1995

Article

To the Editor:

The caption to the transmission electron microphotograph of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) that shows HIV-1 budding from a cell (Jan. 26 issue)1 states that during the budding process, “The membrane proteins of the cell are left behind when the virus buds off.” We have recently shown that cellular proteins (HLA class I and class II proteins) are incorporated into the intact virus.2 In fact, the concentrations of these cellular proteins may be even higher than those of the viral-envelope glycoproteins. Orentas and Hildreth,3 using solid-phase capture techniques, have identified several other virus-associated cellular proteins, including CD71, CD63, CD43, CD8, LFA-1 (CD11A/CD18), and CD44. Also, we have shown that macaques immunized with purified HLA-DR are protected when they are challenged with the simian immunodeficiency virus grown in human cells.4 Therefore, these virus-associated cellular proteins are not only present on the virus, but may play an important part in the design of an AIDS vaccine.

Larry O. Arthur, Ph.D.
Louis E. Henderson, Ph.D.
Raoul E. Benveniste, Ph.D., M.D.
National Cancer Institute–Frederick Cancer Research and Development Center, Frederick, MD 21702

4 References

1. 1

   Phillips DM. Human immunodeficiency virus. N Engl J Med 1995;332:233-233
   Full Text | Web of Science | Medline

2. 2

   Arthur LO, Bess JW Jr, Sowder RC II, et al. Cellular proteins bound to immunodeficiency viruses: implications for pathogenesis and vaccines. Science 1992;258:1935-1938
   CrossRef | Web of Science | Medline

3. 3

   Orentas RJ, Hildreth JE. Association of host cell surface adhesion receptors and other membrane proteins with HIV and SIV. AIDS Res Hum Retroviruses 1993;9:1157-1165
   CrossRef | Web of Science | Medline

4. 4

   Arthur LO, Bess JW, Urban RG, et al. Macaques immunized with HLA-DR are protected from simian immunodeficiency virus challenge. J Virol (in press).
   

Author/Editor Response

Dr. Phillips replies:

To the Editor: In the caption to my transmission electron microphotograph of HIV budding from the surface of a cultured human T cell, I noted that the viral envelope incorporates viral glycoproteins, a well-established observation. I added that the cell proteins are left behind. This point of view is also well accepted, although it may be true that people have not looked hard for cellular proteins in the viral envelope. The provocative experiments of Arthur et al. remind us that we should not be complacent about such apparent truisms. I appreciate their reminding me that some of the viral membrane protein may indeed include selected cellular proteins.

David M. Phillips, Ph.D.
Population Council, New York, NY 10021