Cell-intrinsic HIV-1 immune responses in conventional dendritic cells from HIV-1 elite controllers (P6171)

Abstract

Abstract Introduction: Recent data suggest that in most HIV-1-infected individuals, cell-intrinsic immune responses of conventional dendritic cells (cDC) are blocked by the host proteins Samhd1 and Trex1. Elite controllers (EC) control HIV-1 replication in the absence of treatment, but immune defense mechanisms in these patients are not well understood. Here, we investigated cell-intrinsic immune responses to HIV-1 in these specific patients. Methods: PBMC from EC, untreated chronic progressors (CP), HAART-treated and HIV-1 negative subjects were ex vivo infected with HIV-1. Expression of viral replication products, type I interferons, Samhd1 and Trex1 were analyzed by qPCR. Results: cDC from HIV-1 negative persons were moderately susceptible to HIV-1, while cDC from EC and CP supported HIV-1 replication very weakly. However, in CP, HIV-1 replication was blocked at the level of early reverse transcription, likely as a result of high-level Samdh1 expression, while In EC, reverse transcription was unaltered, and restriction of viral replication mostly occurred at the level of integration. Functionally, these altered patterns of viral restriction in cDC from EC were associated with increased cellular activation, secretion of type I interferons and improved abilities to prime T cell responses. Conclusion: cDC from EC can mount cell-intrinsic immune responses against HIV-1, which may support the generation of highly effective HIV-1-specific T cell responses in these patients.