Interferon Induction by HIV-1-Infected Cells: A Possible Role of Sulfatides or Related Glycolipids

AbstractWe have investigated the mechanism of interferon (IFN) induction in peripheral blood mononuclear cells by HIV-1(IIIB)-infected H9 cells or by recombinant gp120. A monoclonal antibody specific for the galactosylsphingosinyl moiety in galactocerebrosides and sulfatides inhibited IFN induction in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, exogenous sulfatides inhibited with an ID50of approximately 1 μM,whereas galactocerebrosides were not inhibitory at 40 times higher concentrations. These studies suggest that sulfate containing galactolipids such as sulfatides on responder cells may be part of the gp120–membrane complex that initiates the induction of IFN. A partial homology of an epitope on the V3 loop of gp120 with a previously suggested binding domain for sulfated glycoconjugates supports this conclusion