Restriction of HIV-1 infectivity by interferon and IFITM3 is counteracted by Nef

Sci Adv. 2025 Oct 3;11(40):eadz7083. doi: 10.1126/sciadv.adz7083. Epub 2025 Oct 1.

Abstract

The viral accessory protein Nef is a major determinant of HIV-1 pathogenicity in vivo. Nef is a multifunctional, immunomodulatory protein that downmodulates cell surface proteins, including CD4 and MHC class I (MHC-I), which are important for T cell-mediated immunity. In addition, Nef also regulates cell-intrinsic immunity-Nef boosts the infectivity of virions produced and released from HIV-infected cells, at least in part, by counteracting the antiviral activity of transmembrane proteins SERINC3 and SERINC5. Here, we show that Nef proteins derived from many primary isolates of HIV-1 restore infectivity in interferon-treated cells and confer resistance to the antiviral protein interferon-induced transmembrane protein 3 (IFITM3) in a SERINC3/5-independent manner. Using Nef derived from primary HIV-1 clade C infection, we found that Nef interacts with IFITM3 in membranes, reduces IFITM3 incorporation into HIV-1 virions, and restores HIV-1 fusion with target cells. Our findings reveal a previously unrecognized immunomodulatory role for Nef in the setting of the interferon-induced antiviral state during HIV-1 infection.

MeSH terms

  • HEK293 Cells
  • HIV Infections* / immunology
  • HIV Infections* / metabolism
  • HIV Infections* / virology
  • HIV-1* / pathogenicity
  • HIV-1* / physiology
  • Host-Pathogen Interactions
  • Humans
  • Interferons* / pharmacology
  • Membrane Glycoproteins
  • Membrane Proteins* / genetics
  • Membrane Proteins* / metabolism
  • Protein Binding
  • RNA-Binding Proteins* / genetics
  • RNA-Binding Proteins* / metabolism
  • Virion
  • nef Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus* / genetics
  • nef Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus* / metabolism

Substances

  • IFITM3 protein, human
  • nef Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus
  • Membrane Proteins
  • RNA-Binding Proteins
  • Interferons
  • SERINC5 protein, human
  • nef protein, Human immunodeficiency virus 1
  • SERINC3 protein, human
  • Membrane Glycoproteins