Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 Transfer Research Articles

Calcitonin gene-related peptide inhibits human immunodeficiency type 1 transmission by Langerhans cells via an autocrine/paracrine feedback mechanism.

Peripheral neurones innervating mucosal epithelia are in direct contact with resident immune cells, including Langerhans cells (LCs). Such neurones secrete the neuropeptide calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) that modulates LCs function. We recently found that CGRP strongly inhibits human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) transmission, by interfering with multiple steps of mucosal LC-mediated HIV-1 transfer, including increased expression of the LC-specific lectin langerin. Herein, we investigated the anti-HIV-1 mechanism of CGRP. In the presence of CGRP, HIV-1 transfer from LCs to CD4+ T cells was tested with viral clones using either the HIV-1 co-receptor CCR5 (R5) or CXCR4 (X4). Surface expression of CCR5, CXCR4 and langerin was evaluated by flow cytometry. CGRP secretion by LCs was measured with an enzyme immunoassay. Expression of the multimeric CGRP receptor was examined by quantitative real-time RT-PCR and immuno-fluorescent microscopy. Calcitonin gene-related peptide decreased transfer of HIV-1 R5, but increased that of X4. These opposing effects correlated with decreased CCR5 vs. increased CXCR4 surface expression in LCs. Inhibition of HIV-1 R5 transfer by CGRP involved signal transducer and activator of transcription 4 (STAT4) activation. Both αCGRP and βCGRP were similarly efficient in decreasing HIV-1 R5 transfer and increasing langerin expression. LCs secreted low basal levels of endogenous CGRP, which increased markedly following CGRP treatment. CGRP also increased expression of its cognate receptor in LCs. CGRP engages a positive feedback mechanism that would further enhance its anti-HIV-1 activity. This information might be relevant for the therapeutic use of CGRP as a prophylactic agent against HIV-1.

P2X-selective purinergic antagonists are strong inhibitors of HIV-1 fusion during both cell-to-cell and cell-free infection.

Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) infection is chronic and presently still incurable. Antiretroviral drugs effectively suppress replication; however, persistent activation of inflammatory pathways remains a key cause of morbidity. Recent studies proposed that purinergic signaling is required for HIV-1 infection. Purinergic receptors are distributed throughout a wide variety of tissue types and detect extracellular ATP as a danger signal released from dying cells. We have explored how these pathways are involved in the transmission of HIV-1 from cell to cell through virological synapses. Infection of CD4+ T lymphocytes with HIV-1 in the presence of an inhibitor of P2X receptors effectively inhibited HIV-1 infection through both cell-free and cell-to-cell contact in a dose-dependent manner. Inhibition of direct cell-to-cell infection did not affect the formation of virological synapses or the subsequent cell-to-cell transfer of HIV-1. During both cell-free and cell-to-cell CD4+ T lymphocyte infection, purinergic antagonists blocked infection at the level of viral membrane fusion. During cell-to-cell transmission, we observed CXCR4 colocalization with the newly internalized virus particles within target lymphocytes and found that the purinergic antagonists did not impair the recruitment of the coreceptor CXCR4 to the site of Gag internalization in the target cell. In a screen of a library of purinergic antagonists, we found that the most potent inhibitors of HIV-1 fusion were those that target P2X receptors, while P2Y-selective receptor antagonists or adenosine receptor antagonists were ineffective. Our results suggest that P2X receptors may provide a therapeutic target and that purinergic antagonists may have potent activity against viral infection of CD4+ T lymphocytes by both cell-free and cell-to-cell transmission. This study identifies purinergic antagonists to be potent inhibitors of HIV-1 cell-free and cell-to-cell-mediated infection and provides a stepwise determination of when these compounds inhibit HIV-1 infection. These data provide a rationale for the development of novel antiretroviral therapies that have a dual role in both direct antiviral activity and the reduction of HIV-associated inflammation. Purinergic antagonists are shown here to have equivalent efficacy in inhibiting HIV infection via cell-free and cell-to-cell infection, and it is shown that purinergic receptors could provide an attractive therapeutic anti-HIV target that might avoid resistance by targeting a host signaling pathway that potently regulates HIV infection. The high-throughput screen of HIV-1 fusion inhibitors further defines P2X-selective compounds among the purinergic compounds as being the most potent HIV entry inhibitors. Clinical studies on these drugs for other inflammatory indications suggest that they are safe, and thus, if developed for use as anti-HIV agents, they could reduce both HIV replication and HIV-related inflammation.

Broadly neutralizing antibody VRC01 prevents HIV-1 transmission from plasmacytoid dendritic cells to CD4 T lymphocytes.

Plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDC) poorly replicate human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) but efficiently transfer HIV-1 to adjacent CD4 T lymphocytes. We found that coculture with T lymphocytes downregulates SAMHD1 expression, enhances HIV-1 replication, and increases pDC maturation and alpha interferon (IFN-α) secretion. HIV-1 transfer to T lymphocytes is inhibited by broadly neutralizing antibody VRC01 with efficiency similar to that of cell-free infection of T lymphocytes. Interestingly, prevention of HIV-1 transmission by VRC01 retains IFN-α secretion. These results emphasize the multiple functions of VRC01 in protection against HIV-1 acquisition.

Prostaglandin E2 Reduces the Release and Infectivity of New Cell-Free Virions and Cell-To-Cell HIV-1 Transfer

BackgroundThe course of human immunodeficiency virus type-1 (HIV-1) infection is influenced by a complex interplay between viral and host factors. HIV infection stimulates several proinflammatory genes, such as cyclooxigense-2 (COX-2), which leads to an increase in prostaglandin (PG) levels in the plasma of HIV-1-infected patients. These genes play an indeterminate role in HIV replication and pathogenesis. The effect of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) on HIV infection is quite controversial and even contradictory, so we sought to determine the role of PGE2 and the signal transduction pathways involved in HIV infection to elucidate possible new targets for antiretrovirals.ResultsOur results suggest that PGE2 post-infection treatment acts in the late stages of the viral cycle to reduce HIV replication. Interestingly, viral protein synthesis was not affected, but a loss of progeny virus production was observed. No modulation of CD4 CXCR4 and CCR5 receptor expression, cell proliferation, or activation after PGE2 treatment was detected. Moreover, PGE2 induced an increase in intracellular cAMP (cyclic AMP) levels through the EP2/EP4 receptors. PGE2 effects were mimicked by dbcAMP and by a specific Epac (exchange protein directly activated by cyclic AMP) agonist, 8-Cpt-cAMP. Treatment with PGE2 increased Rap1 activity, decreased RhoA activity and subsequently reduced the polymerization of actin by approximately 30% compared with untreated cells. In connection with this finding, polarized viral assembly platforms enriched in Gag were disrupted, altering HIV cell-to-cell transfer and the infectivity of new virions.ConclusionsOur results demonstrate that PGE2, through Epac and Rap activation, alters the transport of newly synthesized HIV-1 components to the assembly site, reducing the release and infectivity of new cell-free virions and cell-to-cell HIV-1 transfer.

Protease inhibitors effectively block cell-to-cell spread of HIV-1 between T cells

BackgroundThe Human Immunodeficiency Virus type-1 (HIV-1) spreads by cell-free diffusion and by direct cell-to-cell transfer, the latter being a significantly more efficient mode of transmission. Recently it has been suggested that cell-to-cell spread may permit ongoing virus replication in the presence of antiretroviral therapy (ART) based on studies performed using Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors (RTIs). Protease Inhibitors (PIs) constitute an important component of ART; however whether this class of inhibitors can suppress cell-to-cell transfer of HIV-1 is unexplored. Here we have evaluated the inhibitory effect of PIs during cell-to-cell spread of HIV-1 between T lymphocytes.ResultsUsing quantitative assays in cell line and primary cell systems that directly measure the early steps of HIV-1 infection we find that the PIs Lopinavir and Darunavir are equally potent against both cell-free and cell-to-cell spread of HIV-1. We further show that a protease resistant mutant maintains its resistant phenotype during cell-to-cell spread and is transmitted more efficiently than wild-type virus in the presence of drug. By contrast we find that T cell-T cell spread of HIV-1 is 4–20 fold more resistant to inhibition by the RTIs Nevirapine, Zidovudine and Tenofovir. Notably, varying the ratio of infected and uninfected cells in co-culture impacted on the degree of inhibition, indicating that the relative efficacy of ART is dependent on the multiplicity of infection.ConclusionsWe conclude that if the variable effects of antiviral drugs on cell-to-cell virus dissemination of HIV-1 do indeed impact on viral replication and maintenance of viral reservoirs this is likely to be influenced by the antiviral drug class, since PIs appear particularly effective against both modes of HIV-1 spread.

Calcitonin gene–related peptide inhibits Langerhans cell–mediated HIV-1 transmission

Upon its mucosal entry, human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) is internalized by Langerhans cells (LCs) in stratified epithelia and transferred locally to T cells. In such epithelia, LCs are in direct contact with peripheral neurons secreting calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP). Although CGRP has immunomodulatory effects on LC functions, its potential influence on the interactions between LCs and HIV-1 is unknown. We show that CGRP acts via its receptor expressed by LCs and interferes with multiple steps of LC-mediated HIV-1 transmission. CGRP increases langerin expression, decreases selected integrins, and activates NF-κB, resulting in decreased HIV-1 intracellular content, limited formation of LC-T cell conjugates, and elevated secretion of the CCR5-binding chemokine CCL3/MIP-1α. These mechanisms cooperate to efficiently inhibit HIV-1 transfer from LCs to T cells and T cell infection. In vivo, HIV-1 infection decreases CGRP plasma levels in both vaginally SHIV-challenged macaques and HIV-1-infected individuals. CGRP plasma levels return to baseline after highly active antiretroviral therapy. Our results reveal a novel path by which a peripheral neuropeptide acts at the molecular and cellular levels to limit mucosal HIV-1 transmission and suggest that CGRP receptor agonists might be used therapeutically against HIV-1.

The Scaffolding Protein Dlg1 Is a Negative Regulator of Cell-Free Virus Infectivity but Not of Cell-to-Cell HIV-1 Transmission in T Cells

BackgroundCell-to-cell virus transmission of Human immunodeficiency virus type-1 (HIV-1) is predominantly mediated by cellular structures such as the virological synapse (VS). The VS formed between an HIV-1-infected T cell and a target T cell shares features with the immunological synapse (IS). We have previously identified the human homologue of the Drosophila Discs Large (Dlg1) protein as a new cellular partner for the HIV-1 Gag protein and a negative regulator of HIV-1 infectivity. Dlg1, a scaffolding protein plays a key role in clustering protein complexes in the plasma membrane at cellular contacts. It is implicated in IS formation and T cell signaling, but its role in HIV-1 cell-to-cell transmission was not studied before.Methodology/Principal FindingsKinetics of HIV-1 infection in Dlg1-depleted Jurkat T cells show that Dlg1 modulates the replication of HIV-1. Single-cycle infectivity tests show that this modulation does not take place during early steps of the HIV-1 life cycle. Immunofluorescence studies of Dlg1-depleted Jurkat T cells show that while Dlg1 depletion affects IS formation, it does not affect HIV-1-induced VS formation. Co-culture assays and quantitative cell-to-cell HIV-1 transfer analyses show that Dlg1 depletion does not modify transfer of HIV-1 material from infected to target T cells, or HIV-1 transmission leading to productive infection via cell contact. Dlg1 depletion results in increased virus yield and infectivity of the viral particles produced. Particles with increased infectivity present an increase in their cholesterol content and during the first hours of T cell infection these particles induce higher accumulation of total HIV-1 DNA.ConclusionDespite its role in the IS formation, Dlg1 does not affect the VS and cell-to-cell spread of HIV-1, but plays a role in HIV-1 cell-free virus transmission. We propose that the effect of Dlg1 on HIV-1 infectivity is at the stage of virus entry.

Cell-Cell Spread of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 Overcomes Tetherin/BST-2-Mediated Restriction in T cells

Direct cell-to-cell spread of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) between T cells at the virological synapse (VS) is an efficient mechanism of viral dissemination. Tetherin (BST-2/CD317) is an interferon-induced, antiretroviral restriction factor that inhibits nascent cell-free particle release. The HIV-1 Vpu protein antagonizes tetherin activity; however, whether tetherin also restricts cell-cell spread is unclear. We performed quantitative cell-to-cell transfer analysis of wild-type (WT) or Vpu-defective HIV-1 in Jurkat and primary CD4(+) T cells, both of which express endogenous levels of tetherin. We found that Vpu-defective HIV-1 appeared to disseminate more efficiently by cell-to-cell contact between Jurkat cells under conditions where tetherin restricted cell-free virion release. In T cells infected with Vpu-defective HIV-1, tetherin was enriched at the VS, and VS formation was increased compared to the WT, correlating with an accumulation of virus envelope proteins on the cell surface. Increasing tetherin expression with type I interferon had only minor effects on cell-to-cell transmission. Furthermore, small interfering RNA (siRNA)-mediated depletion of tetherin decreased VS formation and cell-to-cell transmission of both Vpu-defective and WT HIV-1. Taken together, these data demonstrate that tetherin does not restrict VS-mediated T cell-to-T cell transfer of Vpu-defective HIV-1 and suggest that under some circumstances tetherin might promote cell-to-cell transfer, either by mediating the accumulation of virions on the cell surface or by regulating integrity of the VS. If so, inhibition of tetherin activity by Vpu may balance requirements for efficient cell-free virion production and cell-to-cell transfer of HIV-1 in the face of antiviral immune responses.

Mucin 6 in seminal plasma binds DC-SIGN and potently blocks dendritic cell mediated transfer of HIV-1 to CD4+ T-lymphocytes

Many viruses transmitted via the genital or oral mucosa have the potential to interact with dendritic cell-specific intercellular adhesion molecule-3 grabbing non integrin (DC-SIGN) expressed on immature dendritic cells (iDCs) that lie below the mucosal surface. These cells have been postulated to capture and disseminate human immunodeficiency virus type-1 (HIV-1) to CD4(+) lymphocytes, potentially through breaches in the mucosal lining. We have previously described that BSSL (bile salt-stimulated lipase) in human milk can bind DC-SIGN and block transfer. Here we demonstrate that seminal plasma has similar DC-SIGN blocking properties as BSSL in human milk. Using comparative SDS-PAGE and Western blotting combined with mass spectrometry we identified mucin 6 as the DC-SIGN binding component in seminal plasma. Additionally, we demonstrate that purified mucin 6 binds DC-SIGN and successfully inhibits viral transfer. Mucin 6 in seminal plasma may therefore interfere with the sexual transmission of HIV-1 and other DC-SIGN co-opting viruses.

Extracellular ATP reduces HIV-1 transfer from immature dendritic cells to CD4+T lymphocytes

BackgroundDendritic cells (DCs) are considered as key mediators of the early events in human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) infection at mucosal sites. Previous studies have shown that surface-bound virions and/or internalized viruses found in endocytic vacuoles of DCs are efficiently transferred to CD4+ T cells. Extracellular adenosine triphosphate (ATP) either secreted or released from necrotic cells induces a distorted maturation of DCs, transiently increases their endocytic capacity and affects their migratory capacity. Knowing that high extracellular ATP concentrations are present in situations of tissue injury and inflammation, we investigated the effect of ATP on HIV-1 transmission from DCs to CD4+ T lymphocytes.ResultsIn this study, we show that extracellular ATP reduces HIV-1 transfer from immature monocyte-derived DCs (iDCs) to autologous CD4+ T cells. This observed decrease in viral replication was related to a lower proportion of infected CD4+ T cells following transfer, and was seen with both X4- and R5-tropic isolates of HIV-1. Extracellular ATP had no effect on direct CD4+ T cell infection as well as on productive HIV-1 infection of iDCs. These observations indicate that extracellular ATP affects HIV-1 infection of CD4+ T cells in trans with no effect on de novo virus production by iDCs. Additional experiments suggest that extracellular ATP might modulate the trafficking pathway of internalized virions within iDCs leading to an increased lysosomal degradation, which could be partly responsible for the decreased HIV-1 transmission.ConclusionThese results suggest that extracellular ATP can act as a factor controlling HIV-1 propagation.

Effect of Topical Microbicides on Infectious Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 Binding to Epithelial Cells

Topical microbicides (cellulose acetate 1,2 benzene dicarboxylate [CAP], PRO 2000, SPL7013, and UC781) are being investigated to reduce the sexual transmission of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1). These products were shown to prevent the transfer of infectious HIV-1 from urogenital and colorectal epithelial cell lines to peripheral blood mononuclear cells. However, it was unclear if the topical microbicides rendered the virus noninfectious and/or reduced the binding to the epithelial cells. To test this, epithelial cells were cultured with HIV-1 in the presence or absence of topical microbicides or their placebos. The cells were washed, RNA lysates were made, and real-time PCR was performed for HIV-1. PRO 2000 and SPL7013 significantly (P < 0.0001) reduced the amount of bound HIV-1 to the colorectal epithelial cell line across clades A, B, C, and CRF01-AE. While none of the products reduced the binding of HIV-1 clades A and C to the urogenital cell line, CAP, PRO 2000, and SPL7013 significantly (P </= 0.002) reduced the binding of clades B and CRF01-AE. In general, PRO 2000 and SPL7013 placebos significantly (P < 0.0001) reduced the amount of bound HIV-1 but were less than the active products. UC781, its placebo, and hydroxyethyl cellulose (placebo for CAP) minimally affected the amount of bound HIV-1. These results suggest that rendering HIV-1 noninfectious may not correlate to the amount of HIV-1 bound to epithelial cells and possible shedding into mucosal secretions. Therefore, functional virological assays in addition to measuring viral RNA should be included when clinically evaluating topical microbicide use by infected persons.

Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1-Associated CD40 Ligand Transactivates B Lymphocytes and Promotes Infection of CD4+T Cells

Abnormal activation of B lymphocytes is a feature commonly seen in human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1)-infected persons. However, the mechanism(s) responsible for this dysfunction is still poorly understood. Having recently shown that CD40L, the ligand for CD40, is inserted within emerging HIV-1 particles, we hypothesized that the contact between virus-anchored host CD40L and CD40 on the surface of B lymphocytes might result in the activation of this cell type. We report here that CD40L-bearing viruses, but not isogenic virions lacking host-derived CD40L, can induce immunoglobulin G and interleukin-6 production. Furthermore, such viral entities were found to induce B-cell homotypic adhesion. These effects were paralleled at the intracellular level by the nuclear translocation of the ubiquitous transcription factor NF-kappaB. The presence of host-derived CD40L within virions resulted in an increased virus attachment to B cells and a more-efficient B-cell-mediated transfer of HIV-1 to autologous CD4(+) T lymphocytes. All the above processes were independent of the virus-encoded envelope glycoproteins. Altogether, the data gathered from this series of investigations suggest that the incorporation of host-encoded CD40L in HIV-1 is likely to play a role in the B-cell abnormalities that are seen in infected individuals.

Galactosyl ceramide expressed on dendritic cells can mediate HIV-1 transfer from monocyte derived dendritic cells to autologous T cells

Mucosa, comprising epithelial and dendritic cells, are the major sites for Human Immunodeficiency Virus type 1 (HIV-1) transmission. There, DCs can capture incoming HIV-1 and in turn transfer virus to CD4 + T lymphocytes in a two-phase process, thereby initiating HIV-1 dissemination. We show that the glycosphingolipid Galactosyl Ceramide (GalCer), acting as mucosal epithelial receptor for HIV-1, was expressed by human monocyte derived immature DCs (iDCs), human primary DCs isolated from blood and mucosal tissue and in situ on mucosal tissue and acts as HIV-1-gp41 receptor. Blocking both GalCer and CD4 with specific mAbs results in a > 95% transfer inhibition of HIV-1 from human monocyte-derived iDCs to autologous resting T cells. GalCer interaction with HIV-1 controls the early infection-independent phase of HIV-1 transfer to T cells. Thus, GalCer appears as an initial receptor for HIV-1, common to both mucosal epithelial cells and iDCs.

Bile Salt-Stimulated Lipase from Human Milk Binds DC-SIGN and Inhibits Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 Transfer to CD4 + T Cells

A wide range of pathogens, including human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1), hepatitis C virus, Ebola virus, cytomegalovirus, dengue virus, Mycobacterium, Leishmania, and Helicobacter pylori, can interact with dendritic cell (DC)-specific ICAM3-grabbing nonintegrin (DC-SIGN), expressed on DCs and a subset of B cells. More specifically, the interaction of the gp120 envelope protein of HIV-1 with DC-SIGN can facilitate the transfer of virus to CD4+ T lymphocytes in trans and enhance infection. We have previously demonstrated that a multimeric LeX component in human milk binds to DC-SIGN, preventing HIV-1 from interacting with this receptor. Biochemical analysis reveals that the compound is heat resistant, trypsin sensitive, and larger than 100 kDa, indicating a specific glycoprotein as the inhibitory compound. By testing human milk from three different mothers, we found the levels of DC-SIGN binding and viral inhibition to vary between samples. Using sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, Western blotting, and matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization analysis, we identified bile salt-stimulated lipase (BSSL), a Lewis X (LeX)-containing glycoprotein found in human milk, to be the major variant protein between the samples. BSSL isolated from human milk bound to DC-SIGN and inhibited the transfer of HIV-1 to CD4+ T lymphocytes. Two BSSL isoforms isolated from the same human milk sample showed differences in DC-SIGN binding, illustrating that alterations in the BSSL forms explain the differences observed. These results indicate that variations in BSSL lead to alterations in LeX expression by the protein, which subsequently alters the DC-SIGN binding capacity and the inhibitory effect on HIV-1 transfer. Identifying the specific molecular interaction between the different forms may aid in the future design of antimicrobial agents.

Sugar-Binding Proteins Potently Inhibit Dendritic Cell Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 (HIV-1) Infection and Dendritic-Cell-Directed HIV-1 Transfer

Both endocytic uptake and viral fusion can lead to human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) transfer to CD4+ lymphocytes, either through directional regurgitation (infectious transfer in trans [I-IT]) or through de novo viral production in dendritic cells (DCs) resulting in a second-phase transfer to CD4+ lymphocytes (infectious second-phase transfer [I-SPT]). We have evaluated in immature monocyte-derived DCs both pathways of transfer with regard to their susceptibilities to being blocked by potential microbicidal compounds, including cyanovirin (CNV); the plant lectins Hippeastrum hybrid agglutinin, Galanthus nivalis agglutinin, Urtica dioica agglutinin, and Cymbidium hybrid agglutinin; and the glycan mannan. I-IT was a relatively inefficient means of viral transfer compared to I-SPT at both high and low levels of the viral inoculum. CNV was able to completely block I-IT at 15 microg/ml. All other compounds except mannan could inhibit I-IT by at least 90% when used at doses of 15 microg/ml. In contrast, efficient inhibition of I-SPT was remarkably harder to achieve, as 50% effective concentration levels for plant lectins and CNV to suppress this mode of HIV-1 transfer increased significantly. Thus, our findings indicate that I-SPT may be more elusive to targeting by antiviral drugs and stress the need for drugs affecting the pronounced inhibition of the infection of DCs by HIV-1.

DC‐SIGN–Mediated Transfer of HIV‐1 Is Compromised by the Ability ofLeishmania infantumto Exploit DC‐SIGN as a Ligand

DC-SIGN (dendritic cell-specific intercellular adhesion molecule 3-grabbing nonintegrin) binds human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) and facilitates transfer of virus to permissive cells. Leishmania parasites also exploit DC-SIGN as a receptor. Here, we report that transfer of HIV-1 to target cells is markedly reduced when DC-SIGN(+) cells are preincubated with Leishmania amastigotes before pulsing with virions. Moreover, binding of HIV-1 to DC-SIGN(+) cells is diminished by the presence of Leishmania amastigotes. Our findings provide novel insight into the complex interactions between HIV-1 and Leishmania parasites. The ability of both HIV-1 and Leishmania parasites to bind to the same cell-surface constituent to gain entry into dendritic cells might have an impact on the immunological and pathological events associated with HIV-1 infection.

Lentivirus-Mediated RNA Interference of DC-SIGN Expression Inhibits Human Immunodeficiency Virus Transmission from Dendritic Cells to T Cells

In the early events of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) infection, immature dendritic cells (DCs) expressing the DC-specific intercellular adhesion molecule 3-grabbing nonintegrin (DC-SIGN) receptor capture small amounts of HIV-1 on mucosal surfaces and spread viral infection to CD4(+) T cells in lymph nodes (22, 34, 45). RNA interference has emerged as a powerful tool to gain insight into gene function. For this purpose, lentiviral vectors that express short hairpin RNA (shRNA) for the delivery of small interfering RNA (siRNA) into mammalian cells represent a powerful tool to achieve stable gene silencing. In order to interfere with DC-SIGN function, we developed shRNA-expressing lentiviral vectors capable of conditionally suppressing DC-SIGN expression. Selectivity of inhibition of human DC-SIGN and L-SIGN and chimpanzee and rhesus macaque DC-SIGN was obtained by using distinct siRNAs. Suppression of DC-SIGN expression inhibited the attachment of the gp120 envelope glycoprotein of HIV-1 to DC-SIGN transfectants, as well as transfer of HIV-1 to target cells in trans. Furthermore, shRNA-expressing lentiviral vectors were capable of efficiently suppressing DC-SIGN expression in primary human DCs. DC-SIGN-negative DCs were unable to enhance transfer of HIV-1 infectivity to T cells in trans, demonstrating an essential role for the DC-SIGN receptor in transferring infectious viral particles from DCs to T cells. The present system should have broad applications for studying the function of DC-SIGN in the pathogenesis of HIV as well as other pathogens also recognized by this receptor.