Antibody-dependent and antibody-independent complement-mediated enhancement of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 infection in a human, Epstein-Barr virus-transformed B-lymphocytic cell line.

A human Epstein-Barr virus-transformed B-cell line (IC.1) was characterized for cell surface antigen profile and permissivity to immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. According to cocultivation assay with MT2 cells, P24 release, and immunofluorescence assay, complement-sufficient serum enhanced in vitro infection of IC.1 cells. Enhancement occurs independently of the presence of HIV type 1-specific antibodies, although more efficiently when they are present. Blocking experiments with monoclonal antibodies demonstrated that complement receptor type 2 mediates this phenomenon and that the CD4 molecule is required for infection. Enhancement of in vitro infection on IC.1 cells appears closely related to previously described complement-mediated, antibody-dependent enhancement of HIV infection on the T-lymphoblastoid cell line MT2 (W. E. Robinson, Jr., D. C. Montefiori, and W. M. Mitchell, Lancet i:790-794, 1988).