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Third-party-funded project

Title:
Role and Mechanism of Apoptosis in HIV Infection

Project management at the University of Würzburg:

• Priv.-Doz. Dr. Christian Jassoy ,Tel: (0931) 201 49442,Fax: (0931) 201 49553

Participating scientists:

• Dr. H. Ohnimus
• Dr. C. Scheller
• Prof. Dr. U. Zimmermann , Kooperationspartner
• Dr. P. Tas , Kooperationspartner
• Dr. E. Flory , Kooperationspartner

Abstract:
The mechanism underlying the T helper cell depletion in HIV infection is still unknown. Our analyses demonstrate that contact of HIV-infected with uninfected CD4+ T lymphocytes result in rapid cell death and cell depletion in vitro. Interactions between the HIV glycoproteins and the receptors on uninfected cells are involved in this process. Apoptotic cell death is observed In cell culture but is not causally related to the cell death. Instead, pre-existing low levels of apoptosis act in a dominant fashion upon fusion of infected with uninfected cells and cause spread of cell death in syncytia.

Key words:
    HIV
    T helper lymphocytes
    glycoprotein
    apoptosis

Projekt period: from 02.1998 to 04.2001

Funding institution:
DFG ,Granting date: 08.12.1997

Publications:

• Ohnimus H. et al.. (20:207-213 (1999)). Lysis of HIV envelope glycoprotein-expressing cells by CD4 T lymphocytes from chimpanzees.. (monograph)
• Hofmann F. et al.. (169(2):103-109 (1999)). Electric field pulses can induce apoptosis.. (monograph)
• Strupp W. et al.. (175(3):181-189 (2000)). Treatment of cells with detergent activates caspases and induces apoptotic cell death.. (monograph)
• Stocker H. et al.. (81:1907-1911 (2000)). Destruction of primary CD4+ T-cells by cell-cell interaction in human immunodeficiency virus infection in vitro.. (monograph)
• Scheller C. et al.. (282:48-55 (2001)). Syncytium formation amplified apoptosis: A new view on cell death in HIV-infection in vitro.. (monograph)