Herpes simplex virus chronically infected human T lymphocytes are susceptible to HIV-1 superinfection and support HIV-1 pseudotyping.

Peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) and CEM CD4+ T-cell line can be infected by herpes simplex virus-1 (HSV-1). CEM cells were characterized as a cellular model to study interactions occurring between HSV-1 and HIV-1. Virtually all cells were persistently infected by HSV-1 (CEM(HSV)) and expressed the latency associated transcripts, whereas only a fraction tested positive for HSV-antigens. CD4 and CXCR-4 expression and function were not affected in CEM(HSV) cells and no significant increase of deoxyribonucleotide pools was noticed. Superinfection of CEM(HSV) cells with HIV-1 led to a cell line chronically infected by both viruses (CEM(HSV/HSV)). Evidence was also obtained that this cell line can produce HIV-1 pseudotyped by HSV-1 envelope. These results may have important implications for a better understanding of AIDS pathogenesis.