Engagement of adhesion molecules (CD18, CD11a, CD45, CD44, and CD58) enhances human immunodeficiency virus type 1 replication in monocytic cells through a tumor necrosis factor-modulated pathway.

Engagement of monocytic cell membrane proteins was shown to enhance human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) replication in monocytic cells. Cross-linking of CD18, CD11a, or CD45 by immobilized antibodies produced up to an 11-fold enhancement of HIV-1 release in the OM10.1 monocytic cell line in a tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha)-dependent manner. In addition, adhesion of OM10.1 cells to immobilized intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ligand for CD18/CD11a) induced similar TNF-alpha-dependent enhancement of HIV-1 replication. After phenotypic differentiation of OM10.1 cells, engagement of cell membrane proteins CD18, CD11a, CD44, CD45, or CD58 by soluble antibodies enhanced HIV-1 replication in a TNF-alpha-dependent manner. These data suggest that cross-linkage of monocytic cell membrane proteins during cell-cell interaction and specifically during antigen presentation to CD4 T cells may enhance HIV-1 replication, facilitating infection of adjacent cells.