Analysis of the molecules involved in human T-cell leukaemia virus type 1 entry by a vesicular stomatitis virus pseudotype bearing its envelope glycoproteins.

Cellular entry of human T-cell leukaemia virus type 1 (HTLV-1) was studied by a quantitative assay system using vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) pseudotypes in which a recombinant VSV (VSVDeltaG*) containing the gene for green fluorescent protein instead of the VSV G protein gene was complemented with viral envelope glycoproteins in trans. Most of the cell lines tested showed susceptibility to VSVDeltaG* complemented with either HTLV-1 envelope glycoproteins (VSVDeltaG*-Env) or VSV G protein (VSVDeltaG*-G), but not to VSVDeltaG* alone, indicating that cell-free HTLV-1 could infect many cell types from several species. High concentration pronase treatment of cells reduced their susceptibility to VSVDeltaG*-Env, while trypsin treatment, apparently, did not. Treatment of the cells with sodium periodate, heparinase, heparitinase, phospholipase A2 or phospholipase C reduced the susceptibility of cells to VSVDeltaG*-Env, but not to VSVDeltaG* complemented with measles virus (Edmonston strain) H and F proteins (VSVDeltaG*-EdHF), which was used as a control. Purified phosphatidylcholine also inhibited the infectivity of VSVDeltaG*-Env, but not VSVDeltaG*-G. These findings indicated that, in addition to cell surface proteins, glycosaminoglycans and phospholipids play an important role in the process of cell-free HTLV-1 entry.