Identification of a novel human immunodeficiency virus strain cytopathic to
megakaryocytic cells
MS Kunzi and JE Groopman
Mapplethorpe Laboratory for AIDS Research, Department of Medicine, New
England Deaconess Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02215.
Impaired megakaryocytopoiesis may be a contributing factor to
thrombocytopenia associated with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)
infection. Because HIV isolates differ in their host range and
pathogenicity, we investigated whether HIV strains with demonstrable cell
tropism and increased cytopathicity for megakaryocytes could be derived
from the blood of thrombocytopenic HIV-infected individuals. We derived a
strain, HIV-WW, from the peripheral blood of an individual with severe
thrombocytopenia and found the virus to be highly and specifically
cytotoxic to CMK and DAMI megakaryocytic cells. CMK and DAMI cells were not
permissive for the virus and HIV-WW induced cytopathicity for these
megakaryocytic cells did not depend on viral replication. The CD4
N-terminus-binding domain of the HIV gp120 envelope protein did not appear
to be involved in determining the cytopathic phenomenon. HIV may impair
megakaryocytopoiesis through interactions at the cell surface in some cases
rather than through viral entry and intracellular replication.
Volume 81,
Issue 12,
pp. 3336-3342,
06/15/1993
Copyright © 1993 by The American Society of Hematology
