The HIV-2 SU Glycoprotein Influence Proviral Integration Dynamics into Human CD4+ T-Lymphocytes

Abstract

Primary and chimeric Human Immunodeficiency Virus type 2 (HIV-2), co-receptor usage, cDNA integration and, pathogenesis are mechanisms still poorly understood. However, these features seem to be related to a flexible envelope oligomeric structure. Sensitive methods are needed for quantifying gene expression and copy number in HIV infected cells. Combining qRT-PCR with ONEp-PCR (one primer-PCR), is a relatively simple customized technique that can be used to investigate fingerprinting, polymorphisms, genomic instability in HIV infected cells. This technique has the potential to reveal associated markers and, is a renewable resource for numerous studies in various fields of modern biology and medicine. In this work, from this combined method, it is shown that primary HIV-2 R5 and ROD/envR5 or ROD/env-R5/-X4 chimeric viruses have differential behaviour related to copy number integration and expression. Additionally, HIV-2 integrated copies are removed from host DNA, indicating genomic instability in live cells. We conclude that HIV-2 env-SU region is responsible to trigger different signal pathways leading to ccr5 and env expression and, env copy number in infected human T-lymphocytes. These results also point out the potential usefulness of combining qRT-PCR and ONEp-PCR to detect changes in HIV proviral DNA within the infected cell´s genome.