PERSISTENT HIV-1 INFECTION OF HUMAN MAMMARY EPITHELIAL CELLS

我们正在研究从正常乳腺和乳腺癌中分离的细胞系 乳腺癌，以确定乳腺上皮细胞（ME）是否可以 感染HIV-1。 ME是HIV的潜在储存库， 在血清反应阳性母亲的母乳中检测到的艾滋病毒的来源。 使用HIV-1（MN）感染六种不同的ME细胞系（以及H9 用于比较的细胞），通过p24 抗原测定、DNA PCR分析和免疫荧光。 这些被感染 培养物已经维持了60多天， 文化 低水平感染可通过p24测定和DNA PCR检测。 通过p24抗原测量的感染的时间过程在以下人群中变化： 不同的细胞系。 实验正在进行中，以确定 这些细胞是否在产生感染性病毒，以及2）识别 可能参与维持免疫应答的细胞和/或细胞因子 潜伏的艾滋病毒感染。

We are studying cell lines isolated from both normal breast and breast carcinomas to determine whether mammary epithelial cells (MEs) can be infected by HIV-1. MEs are a potential reservoir for HIV and may be a source of the HIV detected in the breast milk of seropositive mothers. HIV-1 (MN) was used to infect six different ME cell lines (as well as H9 cells for comparison), which were monitored for virus production by p24 antigen assay, DNA PCR analysis and immunofluorescence. These infected cultures have been maintained for over 60 days and are continuing in culture. Low level infection is detectable by p24 assay and by DNA PCR. The time course of infection as measured by p24 antigen varied among different cell lines. Experiments are in progress to 1) ascertain whether these cells are producing infectious virus and to 2) identify the cells and/or cellular factors which may be involved in maintaining a latent HIV infection.