Abstract
Dendritic cells are the principal antigen-presenting cells (APCs) in the host defense mechanism. An altered dendritic cell response increases the risk of susceptibility of infections, such as Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M. tb), and the survival of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). The altered response of dendritic cells leads to decreased activity of T-helper-1 (Th1), Th2, Regulatory T cells (Tregs), and Th17 cells in tuberculosis (TB) infections due to a diminishment of cytokine release from these APCs, while HIV infection leads to DC maturation, allowing DCs to migrate to lymph nodes and the sub-mucosa where they then transfer HIV to CD4 T cells, although there is controversy around this topic. Increases in the levels of the antioxidant glutathione (GSH) plays a critical role in maintaining dendritic cell redox homeostasis, leading to an adequate immune response with sufficient cytokine release and a subsequent robust immune response. Thus, an understanding of the intricate pathways involved in the dendritic cell response are needed to prevent co-infections and co-morbidities in individuals with TB and HIV.
Highlights
Tuberculosis (TB) is a respiratory infection that originates from the bacteria Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M. tb)
The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is a species of Lentivirus belonging to the family of Retroviridae and is the primary infectious agent that is responsible for causing acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) [12,13]
Research has shown that dendritic cells (DCs) play an important role in mucosal immunity
Summary
Tuberculosis (TB) is a respiratory infection that originates from the bacteria Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M. tb). Africa was second to Southeast Asia with 2,450,000 incident cases. Social determinants of health, including poverty, undernutrition, lack of access to anti-retroviral therapy (ART) for HIV, and smoking, lead to a higher M. tb disease burden and, concentrate the disease in socio-economically disadvantaged countries [3]. In developing regions, such as Sub-Saharan Africa, limited access to ART increases the susceptibility to HIV and other co-infections most commonly seen with TB and HIV comorbidities [4]. Administration of ART reduces TB incidence by 67% [5], as well as mortality if ART is started early [6]
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