Abstract
Dendritic cells (DCs) are essential in order to combat invading viruses and trigger antiviral responses. Paradoxically, in the case of HIV-1, DCs might contribute to viral pathogenesis through trans-infection, a mechanism that promotes viral capture and transmission to target cells, especially after DC maturation. In this review, we highlight recent evidence identifying sialyllactose-containing gangliosides in the viral membrane and the cellular lectin Siglec-1 as critical determinants for HIV-1 capture and storage by mature DCs and for DC-mediated trans-infection of T cells. In contrast, DC-SIGN, long considered to be the main receptor for DC capture of HIV-1, plays a minor role in mature DC-mediated HIV-1 capture and trans-infection.
Highlights
Dendritic cells (DCs) are derived from bone marrow precursors and have a major role in antigen presentation and induction of host immune responses
Pathogen sensing by immature DCs in mucosal tissues elicits the secretion of cytokines and chemokines
Treatment of HIV-1- or exosome-producing cells with inhibitors of glycosphingolipid biosynthesis yielded particles with reduced glycosphingolipid content, which exhibited reduced capture by mature DCs (mDCs) [53,54]. These findings suggested a critical role of glycosphingolipids for mDC capture and storage of HIV-1 and exosomes [54]
Summary
Dendritic cells (DCs) are derived from bone marrow precursors and have a major role in antigen presentation and induction of host immune responses. Trans-infection of CD4+ T cells by HIV-1 captured on mDCs appears to be a potent mechanism of viral transmission and is thought to play a major role in HIV-1 spread in lymphoid tissues in vivo.
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