Infection of SK-N-MC cells, a CD4-negative neuroblastoma cell line, with primary human immunodeficiency virus type 1 isolates.

Most studies looking at CD4-independent infection have used laboratory strains or their respective molecular clones. To determine whether primary human immunodeficiency virus type 1 isolates could infect CD4-negative cells, we obtained a panel of 23 clinical isolates and characterized the early steps of the viral life cycle in SK-N-MC cells, a CD4-negative, galactosylceramide-positive neuroblastoma cell line. Eight of 23 isolates established a nonproductive infection; entry and postentry restrictions were noted in the others. We were unable to correlate the infectivity for SK-N-MC cells with established biological phenotypes, such as syncytium induction, or with genetic classifications, suggesting that pantropism is an independent biological variable.