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Depuis plusieurs années, nous étudions les mécanismes moléculaires responsables de la fusion du virus de l’immunodéficience humaine (VIH) avec la membrane plasmique des cellules cibles. Ces travaux ont permis de préciser le rôle essentiel joué par les micro-domaines de glycosphingolipides au cours de la fusion virus-cellule. En particulier, nous avons pu reconstituer un complexe de fusion fonctionnel faisant intervenir les différents partenaires moléculaires de la fusion : un micro-domaine de glycosphingolipide se présentant sous la forme d’un film monomoléculaire à l’interface eau-air, le récepteur CD4 et la glycoprotéine externe de l’enveloppe du virus, la gp120. La dynamique des interactions moléculaires dans ce complexe de fusion a pu être mesurée à l’aide d’un micro-tensiomètre. Ce système expérimental pourrait permettre d’évaluer l’activité d’inhibiteurs de fusion tels que des analogues synthétiques de glycosphingolipides.

The fusion (F) protein of measles virus (MeV) activates the alternative pathway of human complement in the presence of both CD46 and CD55 which regulate the complement activation [Devaux, P., Christiansen, D., Plumet, S., Gerlier, D., 2004. Cell surface activation of the alternative complement pathway by the fusion protein of measles virus. J. Gen. Virol. 85, 1665-1673]. The original observation of cold detergent-resistant membranes sedimenting at a higher density than the membrane rafts lead us to analyse the respective distribution of F, CD46 and C55 molecules in what we call heavy rafts (HRs) and in the classical low-density membrane rafts (Rs). Membrane rafts were isolated after cold TX100 solubilization and flotation on a sucrose gradient. The denser fractions collected from the lower part of the gradient could be further separated into a translucent pellet (HR) and a soluble supernatant (S). HR and R were both sensitive to TX100 solubilization after cholesterol depletion and solubilized by octyl-d-glucoside but differed in their lipid and protein composition. A proteomic analysis revealed that the HR fraction was derived from heterogeneous cellular membranes including plasma membrane, early endosomes and rough endoplasmic reticulum. Interestingly, CD55 and CD46 almost exclusively associated with R and S fractions, respectively, while after MeV infection or transient expression, MeV-F distributed almost equally between R, HR and S fractions. However more immature MeV-F(0) than mature MeV-F(1) proteins was associated with the HR fraction whereas this ratio was reverse in R and S fractions. After activation of the alternative pathway of human complement by F expressing cells, both C3b and F protein associated with R, HR and S fractions. When four or five of the five cysteines located in the transmembrane and cytoplasmic tail of F protein were substituted with serine residues, the mutated F distributed almost exclusively in HR fractions and was still efficient in activating the complement. We propose that the partitioning of F, CD46 and CD55 molecules in different membrane microdomains could account for the ability of F to escape complement regulation by the CD55 and CD46 regulators.

The nerve growth factor (NGF)-tyrosine kinase receptor TrkA plays a critical role in various neuronal and non-neuronal cell types by regulating cell survival, differentiation, and proliferation. In breast cancer cells, TrkA stimulation results in the activation of cellular growth, but downstream signaling largely remains to be described. Here we used a proteomics-based approach to identify partners involved in TrkA signaling in breast cancer cells. Wild type and modified TrkA chimeric constructs with green fluorescent protein were transfected in MCF-7 cells, and co-immunoprecipitated proteins were separated by SDS-PAGE before nano-LC-MS/MS analysis. Several TrkA putative signaling partners were identified among which was the DNA repair protein Ku70, which is increasingly reported for its role in cell survival and carcinogenesis. Physiological interaction of Ku70 with endogenous TrkA was induced upon NGF stimulation in non-transfected cells, and co-localization was observed with confocal microscopy. Mass spectrometry analysis and Western blotting of phosphotyrosine immunoprecipitates demonstrated the induction of Ku70 tyrosine phosphorylation upon NGF stimulation. Interestingly no interaction between TrkA and Ku70 was detected in PC12 cells in the absence or presence of NGF, suggesting that it is not involved in the initiation of neuronal differentiation. In breast cancer cells, RNA interference indicated that whereas Ku70 depletion had no direct effect on cell survival, it induced a strong potentiation of apoptosis in TrkA-overexpressing cells. In conclusion, TrkA signaling appears to be proapoptotic in the absence of Ku70, and this protein might therefore play a role in the long time reported ambivalence of tyrosine kinase receptors that can exhibit both anti- and eventually proapoptotic activities.

Galactosylceramide (GalCer) is a glycosphingolipid (GSL) receptor that allows HIV-1 infection of CD4-negative cells from neural and intestinal tissues. A water-soluble analogue of GalCer that features its polar head and the characteristic galactose-ceramide linkage but lacks the carbohydrate chains was prepared as a single enantiomer from (S)-serine. This analogue was not recognized in binding tests with the HIV-1 surface envelope glycoprotein gp120 in solution, which revealed the crucial importance of the ceramide alkyl chains. Two series of water-soluble GalCer analogues that contained either a hexanoic or a decanoic acyl unit and a saturated nine-carbon sphingosine moiety were designed by using molecular modeling results from natural GSLs and analogues with truncated alkyl chains. The longer chain compounds exhibit the characteristic fundamental conformation of GalCer. Seven analogues were prepared from Garner's aldehyde according to a straightforward and efficient asymmetric synthesis. All of these compounds proved to be water soluble but did not bind to gp120 in a solid-phase binding assay. These analogues were thus tested by using surface pressure measurements on a monomolecular film of GalCer, which served as a model of the plasma membrane. The incorporation of analogues very similar to GalCer into a GalCer monolayer prevented the insertion of gp120, whereas a structurally different derivative was not active. Based on these data, the molecular bases for recognition of GSLs by gp120 were elucidated. The essential importance of the GSL conformation in the primary interaction event and the crucial role of the alkyl chains of the ceramide moiety in the secondary interactions and the insertion process were clearly established.

HIV-1 has been shown to infect CD4 negative cells by the binding of HIV gp120 to the glycolipid galactosylceramide (1) (GalCer). Several analogues of 1 were prepared to investigate the specific orientation of 1 in the membrane bilayer that is involved in gp120 binding. Interestingly, N-stearyl-1-deoxynojirimycin (8) displayed potent and specific affinity for gp120 equal to that of 1, a finding that may shed light on the antiviral activity of N-butyl-1-deoxynojirimycin.

The fusion of HIV-1 with the plasma membrane of CD4+ cells is triggered by the interaction of HIV-1 surface envelope glycoprotein gp120 with the CD4 receptor, and requires coreceptors (CCR5 and CXCR4). Recent advances in the study of HIV-1 entry into CD4+ cells suggest that glycosphingolipids (GSL) may also participate in the fusion process. GSL are organized in functional microdomains which are associated with specific membrane proteins such as CD4. GSL-enriched microdomains were purified from human lymphocytes and reconstituted as a monomolecular film at the air-water interface of a Langmuir film balance. Surface pressure measurements allowed to characterize the sequential interaction of GSL with CD4 and with gp120. Using this approach, we identified globotriaosylceramide (Gb3) and ganglioside GM3 as the main lymphocyte GSL recognized by gp120. In both cases, the interaction was saturable and dramatically increased by CD4. We propose that GSL microdomains behave as moving platforms allowing the recruitment of HIV-1 coreceptors after the initial interaction between the viral particle and CD4. According to this model, the GSL microdomain may: i) stabilize the attachment of the virus with the cell surface through multiple low affinity interactions between the V3 domain of gp120 and the carbohydrate moiety of GSL, and ii) convey the virus to an appropriate coreceptor by moving freely in the outer leaflet of the plasma membrane. This model can be extrapolated to all envelope viruses (e.g. influenza virus) that use cell surface GSL of the host cells as receptors or coreceptors.

Glycosphingolipid (GSL)-enriched microdomains are used as cellular binding sites for various pathogens including viruses and bacteria. These attachment platforms are specifically associated with transducer molecules, so that the binding of host pathogens (or their toxins) to the cell surface may result in the activation of signal transduction pathways. In the intestinal epithelium, such pathogen-induced dysregulations of signal transduction can elicit a severe impairment of enterocytic functions. In this study, we demonstrate that the interaction of a bacterial toxin (cholera toxin) and a viral envelope glycoprotein (HIV-1 gp120) with the apical plasma membrane of intestinal cells is mediated by GSL-enriched microdomains that are associated with G regulatory proteins. These microbial proteins induce a GSL-dependent increase of intestinal fluid secretion by two mechanisms: activation of chloride secretion and inhibition of Na+ -dependent glucose absorption. Taken together, these data support the view that GSL-enriched microdomains in the apical plasma membrane of enterocytes are involved in the regulation of intestinal functions.

Glycosphingolipids from human erythrocytes mediate CD4-dependent fusion with cells expressing human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) envelope glycoproteins. To identify the glycosphingolipid(s) which participates in the fusion process, we have analyzed the interaction of HIV-1 gp120 (X4 and R5X4 isolates) with reconstituted membrane microdomains of human erythrocyte glycosphingolipids. We identified globotriaosylceramide (Gb3) and ganglioside GM3 as the main glycosphingolipids recognized by gp120. In the presence of CD4, Gb3 interacted preferentially with the X4 gp120, whereas GM3 interacted exclusively with the R5X4 gp120. These data suggest that glycosphingolipid microdomains are required in CD4-dependent fusion and that Gb3 and/or GM3 may function as alternative entry cofactors for selected HIV-1 isolates.

The metabolism of glycosphingolipids (GSL) has been investigated in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from 8 patients at an early stage of HIV-1 infection. Following metabolic labeling of these cells with [14C]galactose, the GSL were purified and the radioactivity incorporated into each individual GSL quantitated by phosphoimaging. Compared with PBMC from seronegative donors, the GSL metabolism in PBMC from HIV-1-infected individuals was characterized by an increased synthesis of two GSL: the B-lymphocyte differentiation antigen globotriaosylceramide (Gb3, also referred to as CD77), and the monosialoganglioside GM3, a marker of T-lymphocytes and macrophages. The accumulation of Gb3 and GM3 in PBMC from HIV-1-infected patients was associated with the appearance of anti-Gb3 and anti-GM3 antibodies. Because these GSL are involved in the control of cell proliferation and signal transduction, such anti-GSL autoantibodies may contribute to the immune suppression during the course of HIV-1 infection. Studies on purified cell populations showed that GM3 accumulation occurred preferentially in HIV-1-infected monocytes/macrophages, whereas the synthesis glucosylceramide, the common precursor of complex GSL, was enhanced in both macrophages and CD4+ lymphocytes. Taken together, our data suggest that the dysregulation of GSL metabolism is an early event of HIV-1 pathogenesis that can induce important effects on immune cells homeostasis.

Sulfatide (3'sulfogalactosylceramide) is the natural sulfated derivative of galactosylceramide (GalCer), a glycosphingolipid receptor allowing HIV-1 infection of CD4-negative cells from neural and intestinal tissues. The incorporation of exogenous sulfatide into the plasma membrane of HT-29 (a CD4-/GalCer+/CXCR4+ human intestinal cell line) or RD (CD4-/GalCer-/ CXCR4+ human rhabdomyosarcoma) resulted in a dose-dependent inhibition of HIV-1 infection. Experiments with luciferase reporter viruses pseudotyped with HIV-1 or amphotropic murine leukemia virus envelopes demonstrated that sulfatide acts at the level of viral entry. Paradoxically, the transfer of sulfatide in the plasma membrane of various CD4- cells resulted in increased binding of HIV-1. Surface pressure measurements were conducted to study the interaction of gp120 with glycosphingolipid monolayers. The data showed that gp120 could penetrate into a monomolecular film of GalCer, confirming the role of this glycosphingolipid as a functional receptor for HIV-1. In contrast, the insertion of gp120 into a monolayer of sulfatide was very limited. Moreover, the incorporation of sulfatide in a monomolecular film of GalCer specifically inhibited the penetration of gp120. In conclusion, these data show that sulfatide mediates gp120 binding but, in marked contrast with GalCer, is not able to initiate the fusion event.

The fusion of HIV-1 with CD4+ cells involves, in addition to CD4, specific cell surface molecules acting as fusion cofactors. Recently, we reported that the V3 loop of HIV-1 gp120 binds to GM3, a ganglioside abundantly expressed on CD4+ lymphocytes and macrophages. In the present study, we show that CD4 interacts with a reconstituted patch of GM3 by measuring the surface pressure with a Langmuir film balance. A biphasic increase in surface pressure is observed after the sequential addition of CD4 and gp120 under the GM3 monolayer, indicating the formation of the trimolecular complex GM3-CD4-gp120. Neutralization of gp120 with an anti-V3 antibody inhibits the secondary interaction with GM3, suggesting that the CD4-induced conformational change in gp120 allows the V3 loop to interact with GM3. In conclusion, this study supports the concept that glycolipids can function as HIV-1 fusion cofactors.

Objective: To detect the expression CXCR4/fusin in human intestinal epithelial cells and to assess its potential role in the pathway of HIV-1 infection mediated by the alternative gp120 receptor galactosylceramide (GalCer)., Methods: GalCer+ (HT-29, HT-29/CD4+) and GalCer- (Caco-2/Cl2, Cl14 and Cl14/CD4+) human intestinal cell lines were analysed for CXCR4/fusin expression using the monoclonal antibody (MAb) 12G5. This MAb was then evaluated for its ability to inhibit HIV-1 infection in permissive cells. HIV-1 infection was measured by detection of p24 antigen, polymerase chain reaction amplification, and cocultivation with CD4+ cells., Results: CXCR4/fusin was detected on the surface of HT-29 and HT-29/CD4+, but not on Caco-2/Cl2, Cl14 and Cl14/CD4+ cells. Ninety per cent of CXCR4/fusin+ HT-29 and HT-29/CD4+ cells co-expressed GalCer. Infection of HT-29 cells by laboratory isolates of HIV-1 was inhibited by both anti-GalCer and anti-CXCR4/fusin MAbs. Expression of CD4 rendered HT-29 cells sensitive to HIV-1(89.6), a macrophage-tropic isolate that does not recognize GalCer. The 12G5 MAb blocked HIV-1 infection of HT-29/CD4+ cells. In contrast, the expression of HIV-1 receptors, i.e., CD4 GalCer or both, into CXCR4/fusin-negative intestinal cells did not confer sensitivity to HIV-1 infection. The resulting receptor-positive cell lines could, however, bind HIV-1, whereas the original cell lines could not., Conclusion: HIV-1 entry into human intestinal cells involves both GalCer and CXCR4/fusin. HIV-1 isolates such as 89.6 that are able to use CXCR4/fusin as coreceptor, but do not bind to GalCer, do not infect these cells. These data raise the possibility that CXCR4/fusin may function as a coreceptor for HIV-1 entry into CD4-/GalCer+ intestinal epithelial cells.

Synthetic multibranched peptides derived from the V3 domain of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) gp120 inhibit HIV-1 entry into CD4+ and CD4- cells by two distinct mechanisms: competitive inhibition of HIV-1 binding to CD4-/GalCer+ colon cells and postbinding inhibition of HIV-1 fusion with CD4+ lymphocytes. In the present study, we have characterized the cellular binding sites for the V3 peptide SPC3, which possesses eight V3 consensus motifs GPGRAF radially branched on a neutral polyLys core matrix. These binding sites are glycosphingolipids that share a common structural determinant, i.e., a terminal galactose residue with a free hydroxyl group in position 4: GalCer/sulfatide on CD4-/GalCer+ colon cells; LacCer and its sialosyl derivatives GM3 and GD3 on CD4+ human lymphocytes. These data suggest that the V3 peptide binds to the GalCer/sulfatide receptor for HIV-1 gp120 on HT-29 cells and thus acts as a competitive inhibitor of virus binding to these CD4- cells, in full agreement with previously published virological data. In contrast, SPC3 does not bind to the CD4 receptor, in agreement with the data showing that the peptide inhibits HIV-1 infection of CD4+ cells by acting at a postattachment step. The binding of SPC3 to LacCer, GM3, and GD3, expressed by CD4+ lymphocytes, suggests a role for these glycosphingolipids in the fusion process between the viral envelope and the plasma membrane of CD4+ cells. Since the multivalent peptide can theoretically bind to several of these glycosphingolipids, we hypothesize that the resulting cross-linking of membrane components may affect the fluidity of the plasma membrane and/or membrane curvature, altering the virus-cell fusion mechanism.