Differential properties of gp120 from HIV-1 group M subtypes A and B

Subtype A HIV-1 gp120 is more potent than subtype B in rats, increasing pulmonary artery wall thickness and right ventricular hypertrophy after four weeks.

• Why it matters: Subtype-specific gp120 sequence differences may contribute to complications like pulmonary arterial hypertension, but the functional impact of these differences is unclear.
• What they did: Rats received gp120 from HIV-1 group M subtypes A or B; pulmonary artery remodeling was quantified after four weeks by H&E staining and vessel morphometry, while binding and cleavage were probed with molecular dynamics and enzyme assays.
• The result: Subtype A’s altered CD4-binding region and furin-related sequence differences are linked to stronger furin interaction and a more pronounced positive feedback loop, implying a mechanism for greater PAH-promoting potency.

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