Dendritic cell-mediated viral transfer to T cells is required for human immunodeficiency virus type 1 persistence in the face of rapid cell turnover.
Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1)-infected and activated CD4(+) T cells have short half-lives in vivo (<2 days). We have established an in vitro culture system in which infected T cells are turned over frequently to provide a model system that examines this important facet of in vivo HIV-1 replication. We observed that virus replication in T cells under rapid-turnover conditions was possible only when immature dendritic cells or DC-SIGN-expressing cells mediated HIV-1 transmission to T cells. Virus replication was initiated more rapidly in T cells infected with the cell-associated form of virus compared to infection by the cell-free route. This accelerated transfer of virus required adhesion molecule-mediated interactions between the virus-presenting cell and T cell, but surprisingly, HIV-1 transfer could occur independently of DC-SIGN (DC-specific intracellular adhesion molecule 3 [ICAM-3]-grabbing nonintegrin)in the dendritic-cell-T-cell cocultures. These results suggest that dendritic cell-mediated transmission of HIV-1 enables virus replication under conditions of rapid cell turnover in vivo.
D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules / Q000378:metabolism; D002450:Cell Communication; D018920:Coculture Techniques; D003713:Dendritic Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000821:virology*; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007700:Kinetics; D037181:Lectins, C-Type / Q000378:metabolism; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000378:metabolism; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000821:virology*; D000099215:DC-Specific ICAM-3 Grabbing Nonintegrin
D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules; D037181:Lectins, C-Type; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D000099215:DC-Specific ICAM-3 Grabbing Nonintegrin