Expression of CD4 by human megakaryocytes

Abstract

The CD4 antigen, which serves as the receptor for human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) on T cells, has been detected on human megakaryocytes. Recent evidence of impaired thrombopoiesis in HIV-1-related thrombocytopenia suggested that these cells could be directly infected by the virus and prompted a search for a receptor on megakaryocytes of normal subjects that could permit entry of HIV-1. Bone marrow specimens from uninfected normal control subjects were centrifuged over Ficoll-Hypaque (1.077 g/ml) and analyzed by three-color analysis with a flow cytometer utilizing monoclonal antibodies against CD4 and a glycoprotein present on the surface of megakaryocytes and platelets (GPIIb/IIIa; CD41), as well as 7-aminoactinomycin D, a stain for DNA. Cells presumed to be megakaryocytes were identified by having a DNA content greater than tetraploid and staining brightly with anti-CD41. Approximately 0.4% of the nucleated cells of the marrow met these criteria. Twenty-five percent of these megakaryocytes stained as brightly as CD4+ T cells. Several clones of antibody recognizing different epitopes of the CD4 molecule gave similar results. Platelets were CD4-. Staining of megakaryocytes with anti-CD4 was confirmed by direct microscopic examination of Percoll-gradient-enriched megakaryocytes employing two-color (CD4-phycoerythrin and CD41-fluorescein) immunofluorescence analysis and phase-contrast microscopy. The proportion of double-labeled cells among 112 phase-contrast-identifiable megakaryocytes from five bone marrow specimens varied between 20% and 26% with a mean and SD of 22% +/- 2.5%. Thus some human megakaryocytes express CD4 on their surface that should be capable of binding the HIV-1 gp120 envelope protein. This could serve as a portal of entry for HIV-1.