In Vitro Infection of Human Umbilical Cord Blood CD34+ Hematopoietic Progenitor Cells by HIV-1 CRF07_BC Enveloped Pseudovirus

To determine whether CRF07_BC, one of the most predominant strains that accounts for one third HIV-1 prevalence in China, has the ability to infect hematopoietic progenitor cells (HPCs), human Umbilical Cord Blood (UCB) derived CD34(+) HPCs isolated with high purity were infected by HIV-1 pseudotyped with CRF07_BC envelope. After HIV-1 infection, similar to 0.86% CD34(+) HPCs were co-stained for CD34 and intracellular HIV Gag. HIV p24 antigen was detectable and reached maximal release between day 2-4 after HIV-1 infection. The data of nested Alu-LTR PCR proved the integration of HIV-1 genome into the host genome occurred in HIV-1-infected HPCs. These data demonstrated that the envelope of CRF07_BC from China has the capability of resulting in infection to CD34(+) HPCs, which may serve as a mechanism for long-term latency of HIV-1 infection in vivo.