HIV-1 gp120 glycosylation is cell type-specific and influences reactivity with HIV-1-specific antibodies

N-glycans of HIV-1 gp120 are thought to affect folding and shield the virus from reactivity with antibodies (Abs). We analyzed glycosylation patterns of gp120 produced in five different human and animal cell lines. Gp120 produced by human embryonic kidney and T cells contained mostly high-mannose glycans, whereas gp120 from human rhabdomyosarcoma and hepatocellular carcinoma and Chinese-hamster ovary cells displayed higher proportion of complex glycans. This differential glycosylation affected reactivities with V3-loop-specific monoclonal Abs (mAbs), as well as with Abs from sera of HIV-1-infected patients. Our results underscore the importance of selection of the cells producing recombinant glycoprotein(s) for immunization, as well as the target tissue for DNA vaccination.