title: Virus infection of dendritic cells: portal for host invasion and host defense.
abstract: Dendritic cells (DCs) act as a portal for virus invasion and as the most potent antigen-presenting cells in antiviral host defense. Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-1 has served as the paradigm for virus interaction with DCs. HIV-1 infection of DCs via its primary CD4 receptor and secondary chemokine receptors leads to full virus replication (cis infection), whereas binding to C-type lectin receptors results both in cis replication, as well as transfer and replication of virus in CD4(pos) T cells (trans infection). DCs respond to this invasion by processing viral proteins through MHC class I and II pathways and undergoing a maturation that enhances their presentation of antigen to T cells for induction of adaptive antiviral immunity. HIV-1 and other viruses have evolved mechanisms to subvert this immune function. Engineering of DCs with various forms of viral immunogens and co-treatment with cytokines and chemokines is being used as an immunotherapy for HIV-1 and other viral infections.
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases and Microbiology and Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA. rinaldo@pitt.edu
authors.forename: Charles R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Rinaldo
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Piazza
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017951:Antigen Presentation; D003713:Dendritic Cells / Q000276:immunology* / Q000821:virology*; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000276:immunology / Q000472:pathogenicity / Q000502:physiology; D006518:Hepatitis Viruses / Q000276:immunology / Q000472:pathogenicity / Q000502:physiology; D006564:Herpesviridae / Q000276:immunology / Q000472:pathogenicity / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008459:Measles virus / Q000254:growth & development / Q000276:immunology / Q000472:pathogenicity; D011991:Receptors, Virus / Q000502:physiology*; D018406:Virus Physiological Phenomena; D014780:Viruses / Q000276:immunology / Q000472:pathogenicity
chemical_list: D011991:Receptors, Virus