Research

Alterations in intracellular potassium concentration by HIV-1 and SIV Nef

Bongkun Choi^1,3 , Cesar D Fermin² , Alla M Comardelle¹ , Allyson M Haislip¹ , Thomas G Voss¹ and Robert F Garry¹

¹  Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Tulane University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA

²  College of Veterinary Medicine, Nursing & Allied Health (CVMNAH), Tuskegee University, Tuskegee, AL 36088, USA

³  Departments of Environmental Medicine, Pathology, and Medicine, New York University School of Medicine, Tuxedo, NY 10987, USA

author email corresponding author email

Virology Journal 2008, 5:60doi:10.1186/1743-422X-5-60

Published:	19 May 2008

Abstract

Background

HIV-1 mediated perturbation of the plasma membrane can produce an alteration in the transmembrane gradients of cations and other small molecules leading to cell death. Several HIV-1 proteins have been shown to perturb membrane permeability and ion transport. Xenopus laevis oocytes have few functional endogenous ion channels, and have proven useful as a system to examine direct effects of exogenously added proteins on ion transport.

Results

HIV-1 Nef induces alterations in the intracellular potassium concentration in CD4+ T-lymphoblastoid cells, but not intracellular pH. Two electrode voltage-clamp recording was used to determine that Nef did not form ion channel-like pores in Xenopus oocytes.

Conclusion

These results suggest that HIV-1 Nef regulates intracellular ion concentrations indirectly, and may interact with membrane proteins such as ion channels to modify their electrical properties.