Potential for Virus Endogenization in Humans through Testicular Germ Cell Infection: the Case of HIV
Dominique Mahé, Giulia Matusali, Claire Deléage, Ronália Leite Alvarenga, Anne-Pascale Satié, Amélie Pagliuzza, Romain Mathiéu, Sylvain Lavoué, Bernard Jégou, Luiz R. França, Nicolas Chomont, Laurent Houzet, Antoine D. Rolland, Nathalie Dejucq‐Rainsford
Abstract
Viruses have colonized the host germ line on many occasions during evolution to eventually become endogenous. Here, we aimed at investigating whether human testicular germ cells (TGCs) can support such viral invasion by studying HIV interactions with TGCs in vitro . Our results indicate that isolated primary TGCs express alternative HIV-1 receptors, allowing virion binding but not entry. However, HIV-1 entered and integrated into TGCs upon cell-associated infection and produced low levels of viral proteins. In vivo , HIV-1 and SIV DNA was detected in a few TGCs. Molecular landscape analysis showed that TGCs have overall weak antiviral defenses. Altogether, our results indicate that human TGCs can support HIV-1 early replication, including integration, suggesting potential for endogenization in future generations.