New CD4(+) cell line susceptible to infection by HIV-1.

Infection of a newly described human T lymphoid cell line, CEM-CL10, with three different variants of HIV-1 resulted in cytopathic effects followed by cell lysis. Following primary lytic infection, proviral DNA could not be detected by Southern blot analysis in the outgrowth of the surviving CEM-CL 10 cells 60 days after initial exposure to HIV-1. These surviving cells could be further grown as a separate line, derived from CEM-CL10, and were found to be resistant to subsequent infection by HIV-1. A marked decrease in CD4 antigen expression was observed in these latter cells but not of the CD3 and transferrin receptor antigens. This decline in cell surface CD4 expression was correlated with both an absence of specific CD4 mRNA and with changes in structure of the CD4 gene. Both the HIV-1-sensitive CEM-CL10 cell line and its CD4(-), HIV-1-resistant derivative line, will be made available to interested investigators.