Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 infection of endothelial cells in vitro.

In order to establish whether endothelial cells are involved in immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) infection, we performed a virological study on endothelial cells isolated from human adipose tissue and infected with HIV-1 in vitro. Supernatants from cultures showed a reverse transcriptase activity starting one day after HIV inoculation. Viral rescue was significantly impaired in cycloheximide treated cells confirming a de novo synthesis of viral products.