Interferon gamma stimulates cell-mediated transmission of HIV type 1 from abortively infected endothelial cells.

Human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) can be abortively infected with HIV-1, but virus production is rescued by T cells. The influence of interferon gamma (IFN-gamma) in this experimental system has been investigated. HUVEC either untreated or treated with IFN-gamma were infected with HIV-1 and cocultivated with rescuer T cells.

Antibody to ICAM-1 mediates enhancement of HIV-1 infection of human endothelial cells.

Human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) can be abortively infected with HIV-1, but virus production is rescued by the addition of T cells. Monoclonal antibody (Mab) to ICAM-1, but not its Fab' fragment or MAbs to LFA-1 and PECAM-1, increases HIV-1 infection of HUVEC by enhancing HIV-1 absorption. Enhancement by anti ICAM-1 is probably due to a bridging effect different from the ADE mediated by anti-gp120 that involves FcR or CR-mediated capture of the virus-antibody complex.