Short communication: In vitro synergy between peptides or neutralizing antibodies targeting the N- and C-terminal heptad repeats of HIV Type 1 gp41

AIDS Res Hum Retroviruses. 2008 Dec;24(12):1537-44. doi: 10.1089/aid.2008.0129.

Abstract

Class 1 and class 2 fusion peptides bind to the trimeric N-terminal heptad repeat (NHR) and C-terminal heptad repeat (CHR) regions of HIV-1 envelope glycoprotein gp41, respectively, and block its intramolecular folding required for Env-mediated viral and host cell membrane fusion and subsequent viral entry. Using a combination of T-20 (class 1) and (CCIZN17)(3) (class 2), we provide evidence that these classes of fusion peptides work synergistically in an in vitro infectivity assay in inhibiting the entry of primary HIV-1 isolate 89.6 with combination indexes reaching 0.37 and 0.32 at IC(50) and IC(90), respectively. We further demonstrate a similar degree of neutralization synergy between a monoclonal antibody (MAb), D5, targeting the hydrophobic pocket region of the NHR, and 2F5, a well-characterized MAb that targets the C-terminal end of CHR and the membrane-proximal external region (MPER), providing a rational basis for developing combination vaccines targeting these two highly conserved regions of gp41.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal / immunology
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal / metabolism
  • Antiviral Agents / metabolism
  • Antiviral Agents / pharmacology*
  • Drug Synergism
  • Enfuvirtide
  • HIV Antibodies / immunology*
  • HIV Antibodies / metabolism
  • HIV Envelope Protein gp41 / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • HIV Envelope Protein gp41 / immunology
  • HIV Envelope Protein gp41 / metabolism
  • HIV Envelope Protein gp41 / pharmacology*
  • HIV-1 / drug effects*
  • Humans
  • Inhibitory Concentration 50
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Peptide Fragments / metabolism
  • Peptide Fragments / pharmacology*
  • Protein Binding
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins / metabolism
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins / pharmacology*
  • Virus Internalization / drug effects*

Substances

  • (CCIZN17)3 protein
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal
  • Antiviral Agents
  • HIV Antibodies
  • HIV Envelope Protein gp41
  • Peptide Fragments
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins
  • gp41 protein, Human immunodeficiency virus 1
  • Enfuvirtide