title: Pathogens target DC-SIGN to influence their fate DC-SIGN functions as a pathogen receptor with broad specificity.
abstract: Dendritic cells (DC) are vital in the defense against pathogens. To sense pathogens DC express pathogen recognition receptors such as toll-like receptors (TLR) and C-type lectins that recognize different fragments of pathogens, and subsequently activate or present pathogen fragments to T cells. It is now becoming evident that some pathogens subvert DC functions to escape immune surveillance. HIV-1 targets the DC-specific C-type lectin DC-SIGN to hijack DC for viral dissemination. HIV-1 binding to DC-SIGN protects HIV-1 from antigen processing and facilitates its transport to lymphoid tissues, where DC-SIGN promotes HIV-1 infection of T cells. Recent studies demonstrate that DC-SIGN is a more universal pathogen receptor that also recognizes Ebola, cytomegalovirus and mycobacteria. Mycobacterium tuberculosis targets DC-SIGN by a mechanism that is distinct from that of HIV-1, leading to inhibition of the immunostimulatory function of DC and pathogen survival. Thus, a better understanding of DC-SIGN-pathogen interactions and their effects on DC function is necessary to combat infections.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Cell Biology, Vrije Universiteit Medical Center Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Teunis B H
authors.initials: TB
authors.lastname: Geijtenbeek
authors.forename: Yvette
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: van Kooyk
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002448:Cell Adhesion / Q000276:immunology; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules / Q000276:immunology*; D003587:Cytomegalovirus / Q000276:immunology; D003713:Dendritic Cells / Q000276:immunology* / Q000821:virology; D029043:Ebolavirus / Q000276:immunology; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D037181:Lectins, C-Type / Q000276:immunology*; D008958:Models, Molecular; D009169:Mycobacterium tuberculosis / Q000276:immunology; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000276:immunology*; D015728:Receptors, HIV / Q000276:immunology; D000099215:DC-Specific ICAM-3 Grabbing Nonintegrin
chemical_list: D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules; D037181:Lectins, C-Type; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D015728:Receptors, HIV; D000099215:DC-Specific ICAM-3 Grabbing Nonintegrin