Interferon induction by HIV-1-infected cells: a possible role of sulfatides or related glycolipids.

We have investigated the mechanism of interferon (IFN) induction in peripheral blood mononuclear cells by HIV-1(IIIB)-infected H9 cells or by recombinant gp120. A monoclonal antibody specific for the galactosylsphingosinyl moiety in galactocerebrosides and sulfatides inhibited IFN induction in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, exogenous sulfatides inhibited with an ID50 of approximately 1 microM, whereas galactocerebrosides were not inhibitory at 40 times higher concentrations. These studies suggest that sulfate containing galactolipids such as sulfatides on responder cells may be part of the gp120-membrane complex that initiates the induction of IFN. A partial homology of an epitope on the V3 loop of gp 120 with a previously suggested binding domain for sulfated glycoconjugates supports this conclusion.