In Vitro Exposure to Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 Induces Apoptotic Cell Death of the Factor-Dependent TF-1 Hematopoietic Cell Line

In this study, we evaluated the effect of a short-term exposure (2 hours) to two different lymphocytotropic strains of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1; HIVIIIBand ICR-3) on the survival of a factor-dependent CD34+hematopoietic progenitor cell line (TF-1). At flow cytometry analysis, a significant [P <.05) increase in the frequency of apoptotic cell death was observed in HIV-1 -treated TF-1 cells, supplemented with low doses of either interleukin-3 (IL-3; 0.02 to 1 ng/mL) or granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF; 0.02 to 0.2 ng/mL) with respect to mock-treated cells. On the other hand, higher doses of both cytokines or combinations of suboptimal concentrations of IL-3 plus GM-CSF (eg, 0.2 plus 0.2 ng/mL) completely reversed the HIV-1-induced increase of apoptosis. Remarkably, no signs of productive or latent virus replication were ever observed in HIV-1— treated TF-1 cells up to 16 days of liquid culture. In parallel experiments, the in vitro exposure to HIVIIIBinduced a significant and progressive increase of apoptotic death in purified bone marrow CD34+cells, seeded in liquid cultures in the presence of 1 ng/mL IL-3. The HIV-1-induced apoptosis of TF-1 cells was likely triggered by the simple interaction of HIV-1 envelope glycoprotein gp120 with CD4 receptor, which was expressed at a low level on the surface of TF-1 cells. In fact, treatment of TF-1 cells with recombinant gp120 plus a polyclonal anti-gp120 antibody or with anti-CD4 monoclonal antibody plus rabbit anti-mouse IgG significantly increased the percentage of apoptotic death. These data suggest that HIV-1, and perhaps also free gp120 in the presence of anti-gpl 20 antibody. could play a direct role in the pathogenesis of peripheral blood cytopenias in acquired immunodeficiency syndrome patients by inducing apoptotic death of hematopoietic progenitor cells without the need of a direct infection. © 1994 by The American Society of Hematology.