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Cited by 110T-cell and Retrovirus StudiesHIV Research and TreatmentPlant Virus Research Studies

Human T-Lymphotropic Virus-1 Visualized at the Virological Synapse by Electron Tomography

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Majorovits, Endre, Nejmeddine, Mohamed, Tanaka, Yuetsu, Taylor, Graham P., Fuller, Stephen D., Bangham, Charles R. M.·2008·PLoS ONE
DOI 10.1371/journal.pone.0002251PMC PMC2386264
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Abstract

Human T-lymphotropic virus 1 (HTLV-1) is transmitted directly between cells via an organized cell-cell contact called a virological synapse (VS). The VS has been studied by light microscopy, but the ultrastructure of the VS and the nature of the transmitted viral particle have remained unknown. Cell-free enveloped virions of HTLV-1 are undetectable in the serum of individuals infected with the human T-lymphotropic virus 1 (HTLV-1) and during in vitro culture of naturally infected lymphocytes. However, the viral envelope protein is required for infectivity of HTLV-1, suggesting that complete, enveloped HTLV-1 virions are transferred across the synapse. Here, we use electron tomography combined with immunostaining of viral protein to demonstrate the presence of enveloped HTLV-1 particles within the VS formed between naturally infected lymphocytes. We show in 3D that HTLV-1 particles can be detected in multiple synaptic clefts at different locations simultaneously within the same VS. The synaptic clefts are surrounded by the tightly apposed plasma membranes of the two cells. HTLV-1 virions can contact the recipient cell membrane before detaching from the infected cell. The results show that the HTLV-1 virological synapse that forms spontaneously between lymphocytes of HTLV-1 infected individuals allows direct cell-cell transmission of the virus by triggered, directional release of enveloped HTLV-1 particles into confined intercellular spaces.

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  • Virus transfer across the synaptic cleft occurs within 1-3 h, after which Gag is detected in the target cell.

    “Virus transfer across the synaptic cleft occurs within 1–3 h, after which Gag is detected in the target cell [35,40].”

    From HIV-1 and HTLV-1 Transmission Modes: Mechanisms and Importance for Virus Spread (2022) · cites this paper as [40]

    The Results section (page unavailable) reports virions in synaptic clefts and Gag staining associated with both cell membranes, consistent with cell-to-cell transfer. The Discussion describes transfer as rapid, but the paper does not establish that it occurs within 1–3 hours or that Gag is subsequently detected inside the target cell. (LLM, conf=0.86)

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References 36 · Cited by 110

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Authors
Majorovits, E., Nejmeddine, M., Tanaka, Y., Taylor, G. P., Fuller, S. D., & Bangham, C. R. M.
Affiliations
  • Centre for Human Genetics (GB)
  • Imperial College London (GB)
  • University of the Ryukyus (JP)
Corresponding author
  • Fuller, Stephen D.
  • Bangham, Charles R. M.
ORCID
Venue
PLoS ONE
Publisher
Public Library of Science (PLoS)
Published
2008-05-28
Volume
3
Issue
5
Pages
e2251
ISSN
1932-6203 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.1371/journal.pone.0002251
PMC
PMC2386264
OpenAlex
W2013152693
Cited by
110
References
36
Citations by year
2026: 1 · 2025: 2 · 2024: 1 · 2023: 5 · 2022: 5 · 2021: 1 · 2020: 4 · 2019: 4 · 2018: 1 · 2017: 4 · 2016: 5 · 2015: 10 · 2014: 10 · 2013: 5 · 2012: 9
FWCI
6.00
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • PLoS ONE (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
  • Figshare (submittedVersion, cc-by)
Funders
  • Wellcome Trust (H5RCYV0, 064766)
  • National Institutes of Health (RR 00592)
  • National Center for Research Resources (P41RR000592, RR00592)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Immunology and Microbiology › Immunology › T-cell and Retrovirus Studies
  • Life Sciences › Immunology and Microbiology › Virology › HIV Research and Treatment
  • Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Plant Science › Plant Virus Research Studies
Keywords
HTLV-1, virological synapse, cell-to-cell transmission, viral envelope, synaptic cleft, ultrastructure, lymphocytes, electron tomography, viral particle release
MeSH terms
Humans, Membrane Fusion, Human T-lymphotropic virus 1, Jurkat Cells

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