Nature, nurture and HIV: The effect of producer cell on viral physiology

- The type of virus producing cell determines the spectra of incorporated host cell proteins.
- Host cell factors (proteins and lipids) incorporated into HIV virions modify viral replication capacity.
- Proteins incorporated into the HIV core regulate post-entry events in viral replication and contribute to viral tropism.

Macrophages and CD4-positive T lymphocytes are the major targets and producers of HIV-1. While the molecular details underlying HIV replication in macrophages and T cells become better understood, it remains unclear whether viruses produced by these target cells differ in their biological properties. Recent reports suggest that HIV virions incorporate a large number of producer cell proteins and lipids which have an effect on subsequent viral replication in newly infected cells. The identity and abundance of these incorporated factors varies between different types of producer cells, suggesting that they may influence the replication capacity and pathogenic activity of the virions produced by T cells and macrophages.