A human CD4+ T-cell line expresses functional CD64 (Fc gamma RI), CD32 (Fc gamma RII), and CD16 (Fc gamma RIII) receptors but these do not enhance the infectivity of HIV-1-IgG complexes.

T cells do not generally express Fc receptors (FcRs). However, we report here that C8166 cells, a human CD4+ T lymphoblastoid cell line, widely used in research into the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1), expressed CD64 (Fc gamma RI), CD32 (Fc gamma RII), and CD16 (Fc gamma RIII) on the plasma membrane as shown by immunostaining with specific monoclonal antibody fragments. Another human CD4+ T lymphoblastoid cell line. H9, expressed none of these FcRs. C8166 cells bound monomeric normal rat serum IgG in a dose-dependent manner, and when saturated bound heat-complexed immunoglobulin G (IgG) also dose dependently. These observations are consistent with the presence on the C8166 T-cell line of both high- and low-affinity Fc gamma Rs. Fc gamma Rs are putative receptors for virus-IgG complexes, but in this study did not enhance infectivity of HIV-1 complexed with a human neutralizing mAb or three rat neutralizing mAbs. Virus complexed with a non-neutralizing mouse mAb was unable to infect cells using Fc gamma Rs as receptors after CD4 was blocked with a specific anti-CD4 mAb.