Chimpanzee DC-SIGN alleles predict the existence of A and B isoforms, but do not support a role for resistance to HIV infection.
We report here the gene sequence for DC-SIGN (CD209) from chimpanzees. DC-SIGN is a C-type lectin expressed by dendritic cells. It is involved in DC-T cell interactions as well as in HIV-1 and SIV transmission. We have cloned two new alleles for chimpanzee DC-SIGN. The coding sequences are highly homologous to the two previously described chimpanzee alleles. We confirm the existence of a polymorphism within the repeat region of DC-SIGN. In humans polymorphisms in the repeat region have been associated with resistance to HIV infection. However, we have not been able to correlate the number of repeats with susceptibility of chimpanzees to HIV infection. The actual impact of DC-SIGN variability in HIV infection therefore remains to be determined.
Santos
Patrícia R
PR
Département d'Immunologie, Institut Cochin, INSERM U567, CNRS UMR8104, Université Paris V-René Descartes, 75014 Paris, France. ribeiro@cochin.inserm.fr
Michel-Salzat
Alice
A
Butor
Cécile
C
D000483:Alleles; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules / Q000235:genetics*; D003713:Dendritic Cells / Q000378:metabolism*; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000276:immunology* / Q000821:virology; D015497:HIV-1; D007113:Immunity, Innate; D037181:Lectins, C-Type / Q000235:genetics*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D002679:Pan troglodytes / Q000235:genetics*; D020033:Protein Isoforms / Q000235:genetics; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000235:genetics*; D016415:Sequence Alignment; D000099215:DC-Specific ICAM-3 Grabbing Nonintegrin
D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules; D037181:Lectins, C-Type; D020033:Protein Isoforms; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D000099215:DC-Specific ICAM-3 Grabbing Nonintegrin