Identification of a LFA-1 region involved in the HIV-1-induced syncytia formation through phage-display technology
✍ Scribed by Francesca Poloni; Patrizia Puddu; Franca Moretti; Michela Flego; Giulia Romagnoli; Marina Tombesi; Imerio Capone; Alberto Chersi; Franco Felici; Maurizio Cianfriglia
- Publisher
- John Wiley and Sons
- Year
- 2001
- Tongue
- English
- Weight
- 92 KB
- Volume
- 31
- Category
- Article
- ISSN
- 0014-2980
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✦ Synopsis
We have identified a peptide region on CD18 molecule (the beta subunit of the LFA-1 molecule) involved in syncytia formation of HIV-1-infected lymphocytes. Several phage clones mimicking an epitope of the CD18 cell-surface determinant were isolated from two 9-mer random peptide phage-displayed libraries via their binding to the CD18-specific monoclonal antibody (mAb) MHM23, which in in vitro assay inhibits syncytia formation in HIV-1-infected cells. The peptide sequences displayed on phages that blocked immunolabeling of this mAb on LFA-1-expressing cells were used to identify the epitope recognized by mAb MHM23 by sequence comparison. On the basis of this analysis, two peptides which inhibited syncytia formation in HIV-1-infected cells in vitro were synthesized, thus confirming that they mimic a CD18 domain that is involved in this phenomenon. The results here presented highlight the potential of phage-display technology for the study of biological processes at the basis of virus infection, but also suggest new approaches for the therapy of AIDS.