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Journal of Undergraduate Research

Keywords

preferential infection, germinal center T cells, GC, X4 tropic HIV

College

Physical and Mathematical Sciences

Department

Chemistry and Biochemistry

Abstract

HIV infects CD4 T cells through binding to CD4 and an appropriate co-receptor. Two co-receptors of concern in HIV biology are CXCR4 and CCR5 because of their affect on disease progression. The majority of transmittable HIV strains use CCR5 as a co-receptor. However, during the latter stages of disease the virus may shift from using CCR5 to using CXCR4 as its co-receptor. This change is referred to as a shift in tropism, and it is of major concern because it leads to rapid disease progression (3). The site and mechanism by which this shift occurs still elude scientists. Recent findings show that follicular dendritic cells (FDCs) in secondary lymphoid tissue up-regulate the expression of CXCR4 on CD4 T cells (6). In this study we show that germinal center T cells, which are located proximal to FDCs, are more readily infected by X4 tropic HIV even when simultaneously surrounded by a higher concentration of R5 virus. These results suggest that the germinal center is a unique environment that may facilitate a shift in the tropism of HIV.

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