Decay-accelerating factor (CD55) protects human immunodeficiency virus type 1 from inactivation by human complement.

HIV-1, in contrast to animal retroviruses, is not lysed by human complement, but is readily inactivated by the sera from different animal species. To identify a possible species-specific protection mechanism. HIV-1 was expressed in cells of non-human origin. Recombinant HIV-1 virions that could encode the chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT) protein were produced in African green monkey COS-1 cells, mink cells and, as a control, in human HEp-2 cells and were then used to infect CD4-positive target cells. Analysis of the CAT activity of the target cells revealed that fresh HIV-1-negative human serum reduced the infectivity of HIV-1 derived from monkey and mink cells five- to tenfold, but had no effect on HIV-1 produced in human cells. In addition, human serum efficiently lysed HIV-1 produced in non-human cells in contrast to HIV-1 originating from human cells, suggesting lysis as an important mechanism of virus inactivation. Mammalian cells are protected against lysis by homologous complement by membrane-bound regulatory molecules. Two of these complement inhibitors, namely decay-accelerating factor (DAF) and, to a lesser extent, CD59 were found on the surface of HIV-1 virions by means of a virus capture assay. Antibodies against DAF, but not against other host cell molecules found on the viral surface, efficiently blocked the resistance of HIV-1 produced in human cells to human complement. These results suggest that the acquisition of DAF during the budding process from human cells protects HIV-1 in a species-specific way against the attack of human complement.