HIV-1 is able to replicate in primary human macrophages without stimulating innate immunity despite reverse transcription of genomic RNA into double stranded DNA, an activity that might be expected to trigger innate pattern recognition receptors (PRRs). We hypothesized that, if correctly orchestrated HIV-1 uncoating and nuclear entry is important for evasion of innate sensors, then manipulation of specific interactions between HIV-1 capsid (CA) and host factors that putatively regulate these processes should trigger PRRs and stimulate type 1 interferon secretion. Here we show that HIV-1 CA mutants N74D and P90A, which are impaired for interaction with cofactors Cleavage and Polyadenylation Specificity Factor subunit 6 (CPSF6) and cyclophilins (Nup358 and CypA) respectively(1-2), cannot replicate in primary human monocyte derived macrophages (MDM) because they trigger innate sensors leading to nuclear translocation of NFκB and IRF3, the production of soluble type-1 interferon (IFN) and induction of an antiviral state. Depletion of CPSF6 with shRNA expression allows wild type virus to trigger innate sensors and interferon production. In each case, suppressed replication is rescued by IFN-receptor blockade demonstrating a role for IFN in restriction. IFN production is dependent on viral reverse transcription but not integration suggesting that a viral reverse transcription product comprises the HIV-1 pathogen associated molecular pattern (PAMP). Finally, we show that we can pharmacologically induce wild type HIV-1 infection to stimulate IFN secretion and an antiviral state using a non-immunosuppressive cyclosporine analogue. We conclude that HIV-1 has evolved to utilize CPSF6 and cyclophilins to cloak its replication allowing evasion of innate immune sensors and induction of a cell autonomous innate immune response in primary human macrophages (Extended Data Fig 1).

During the early stages of infection, the HIV-1 capsid protects viral components from cytosolic sensors, such as cGAS, and nucleases, such as TREX, while allowing access to nucleotides for efficient reverse transcription1. Here we show that each capsid hexamer has a size-selective pore bounded by a ring of six arginine residues and a ‘molecular iris’ formed by the N-terminal β-hairpin. The arginine ring creates a strongly positively charged channel that recruits the four nucleotides with on-rates that near diffusion limits. Progressive removal of pore arginines results in a dose-dependent and concomitant decrease in nucleotide affinity, reverse transcription and infectivity. This positively charged channel is universally conserved in lentiviral capsids despite the fact that it is strongly destabilising without nucleotides to counteract charge repulsion. We also describe a channel inhibitor, hexacarboxybenzene, which competes for nucleotide binding and efficiently blocks encapsidated reverse transcription demonstrating the tractability of the pore as a novel drug target.

Significance Retroviral infection of cells can be blocked by the action of the postentry restriction factors. The Trim5α and Fv1 factors do so by targeting the capsid that surrounds the viral core. The nature of the interaction of these factors with the viral assembly is unclear. We show that these factors form antiparallel dimers that display specificity domains spaced to target motifs on the capsid lattice surface. In doing so Fv1 and Trim5α take advantage of the regularly spaced array of binding sites on the capsid surface, generating avidity to aid recognition of retroviral pathogens.

HighlightsHIV-1 utilises CPSF6 to suppress premature reverse transcription and target viral cores to nuclear pores.HIV-1 uses TNPO3 to transport the preintegration complex into the nucleus.HIV-1 uses this pathway to target active chromatin whilst evading innate sensors.