Interferon induction by HIV-1-infected cells: A possible role of sulfatides or related glycolipids

We have investigated the mechanism of interferon (IFN) induction in peripheral blood mononuclear cells by HIV-1(IIIB)infected H9 cells or by recombinant gp120. A monoclonal antibody specific for the galactosylsphingosinyl moiety in galactocerebrosides and sulfatides inhibited IFN induction in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, exogenous sulfatides inhibited with an ID50 of approximately 1 mu M, whereas galactocerebrosides were not inhibitory at 40 times higher concentrations. These studies suggest that sulfate containing galactolipids such as sulfatides on responder cells may be part of the gp120-membrane complex that initiates the induction of IFN. A partial homology of an epitope on the V3 loop of gp120 with a previously suggested binding domain for sulfated glycoconjugates supports this conclusion. (C) 1996 Academic Press, Inc.