Modulation of the severe CD4 + T-cell loss caused by a pathogenic simian–human immunodeficiency virus by replacement of the subtype B vpu with the vpu from a subtype C HIV-1 clinical isolate

Abstract

Previously, we showed that the Vpu protein from subtype C human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) was efficiently targeted to the cell surface, suggesting that this protein has biological properties that differ from the well-studied subtype B Vpu protein. In this study, we have further analyzed the biological properties of the subtype C Vpu protein. Flow cytometric analysis revealed that the subtype B Vpu (strain HXB2) was more efficient at down-regulating CD4 surface expression than the Vpu proteins from four subtype C clinical isolates. We constructed a simian-human immunodeficiency virus virus, designated as SHIV SCVpu, in which the subtype B vpu gene from the pathogenic SHIV KU-1bMC33 was substituted with the vpu from a clinical isolate of subtype C HIV-1 (strain C.96.BW16B01). Cell culture studies revealed that SHIV SCVpu replicated with slightly reduced kinetics when compared with the parental SHIV KU-1bMC33 and that the viral Env and Gag precursor proteins were synthesized and processed similarly compared to the parental SHIV KU-1bMC33. To determine if substitution of the subtype C Vpu protein affected the pathogenesis of the virus, three pig-tailed macaques were inoculated with SHIV SCVpu and circulating CD4 + T-cell levels and viral loads were monitored for up to 44 weeks. Our results show that SHIV SCVpu caused a more gradual decline in the rate of CD4 + T cells in pig-tailed macaques compared to those inoculated with parental subtype B SHIV KU-1bMC33. These results show for the first time that different Vpu proteins of HIV-1 can influence the rate at which CD4 + T-cell loss occurs in the SHIV/pig-tailed macaque model.