CD4 downregulation precedes Env expression and protects HIV-1-infected cells from ADCC mediated by non-neutralizing antibodies

ABSTRACT HIV-1 envelope glycoprotein (Env) conformation substantially impacts antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC). Envs from primary HIV-1 isolates adopt a prefusion “closed” conformation, which is targeted by broadly neutralizing antibodies (bnAbs). CD4 binding drives Env into more “open” conformations, which are recognized by non-neutralizing Abs (nnAbs). To better understand Env–Ab and Env–CD4 interaction in CD4+ T cells infected with HIV-1, we simultaneously measured antibody binding and HIV-1 mRNA expression using multiparametric flow cytometry and RNA flow fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) techniques. We observed that env mRNA is almost exclusively expressed by HIV-1 productively infected cells that already downmodulated CD4. This suggests that CD4 downmodulation precedes env mRNA expression. Consequently, productively infected cells express “closed” Envs on their surface, which renders them resistant to nnAbs. Cells recognized by nnAbs were all env mRNA negative, indicating Ab binding through shed gp120 or virions attached to their surface. Consistent with these findings, treatment of HIV-1-infected humanized mice with the ADCC-mediating nnAb A32 failed to lower viral replication or reduce the size of the viral reservoir. These findings confirm the resistance of productively infected CD4+ T cells to nnAbs-mediated ADCC and question the rationale of immunotherapy approaches using this strategy. IMPORTANCE Antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) represents an effective immune response for clearing virally infected cells, making ADCC-mediating antibodies promising therapeutic candidates for HIV-1 cure strategies. Broadly neutralizing antibodies (bNAbs) target epitopes present on the native "closed" envelope glycoprotein (Env), while non-neutralizing antibodies (nnAbs) recognize epitopes exposed upon Env–CD4 interaction. Here, we provide evidence that env mRNA is predominantly expressed by productively infected cells that have already downmodulated cell-surface CD4. This indicates that CD4 downmodulation by HIV-1 precedes Env expression, making productively infected cells resistant to ADCC mediated by nnAbs but sensitive to those mediated by bnAbs. These findings offer critical insights for the development of immunotherapy-based strategies aimed at targeting and eliminating productively infected cells in people living with HIV.