CCR7 ligands CCL19 and CCL21 increase permissiveness of resting memory CD4 T cells to HIV-1 infection: A novel model of HIV-1 latency

Abstract

Latent HIV-1 infection of resting memory CD4+ T cells represents the major barrier to HIV-1 eradication. To determine whether the CCR7 ligands involved in lymphocyte migration can alter HIV-1 infection of resting CD4 + T cells, we infected purified resting CD4+ T cells after incubation with the chemokines CCL19 and CCL21. Incubation with CCL19 or CCL21 did not alter markers of T-cell activation or proliferation. However, after HIV-1 infection of CCL19- or CCL21-treated CD4+ T-cells, we observed low-level HIV-1 production but high concentrations of integrated HIV-1 DNA, approaching that seen in mitogen-stimulated T-cell blasts. Restimulation of CCL19-treated infected CD4+ T cells resulted in ..