Human immunodeficiency virus Env-independent infection of human CD4- cells

CD4(-) epithelial cells covering mucosal surfaces serve as the primary barrier to prevent human immunodeficiency virus type I (HIV-1) infection. We used HIV-1 vectors carrying the enhanced green fluorescent protein gene as a reporter gene to demonstrate that HIV-1 can infect some CD4- human epithelial cell lines with low but significant efficiencies. Importantly, HIV-1 infection of these cell lines is independent of HIV-1 envelope proteins. The Env-independent infection of CD4- cells by HIV-1 suggests an alternative pathway for HIV-1 transmission. Even on virions bearing Env, a neutralizing antibody directed against gp120 is incapable of neutralizing the infection of these cells, thus raising potential implications for HIV-1 vaccine development.