DC contact with HIV-1-infected cells leads to high levels of Env-mediated virion endocytosis coupled with enhanced HIV-1 Ag presentation.
In HIV-infected patients, DC are likely to interact with both cell-free HIV and HIV-infected cells. We were interested in investigating the mechanism of virus transmission occurring upon contact between HIV-1-infected cells and DC, as well as the consequences for HIV-1 Ag-presenting activity. By comparing mixed co-cultures with trans-well cultures, we observed that cell-to-cell contact strongly increased HIV-1 Env-mediated virion endocytosis in target DC. This endocytosis was independent of HIV-1 tropism, de novo infection, HIV-1 Env-CD4-dependent fusion, and immature DC activation/maturation. We also found that augmentation of HIV-1 endocytosis was closely correlated with strong, Env-dependent HIV-1 Ag presentation by DC. Our results provide a better understanding of the mechanisms underlying the induction of the anti-HIV adaptive immune response.
Muratori
Claudia
C
Division of Pathogenesis of Retroviruses, National AIDS Center, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy.
Bona
Roberta
R
Ruggiero
Eliana
E
D'Ettorre
Gabriella
G
Vullo
Vincenzo
V
Andreotti
Mauro
M
Federico
Maurizio
M
D017951:Antigen Presentation / Q000276:immunology*; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D018920:Coculture Techniques; D003713:Dendritic Cells / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000821:virology; D004705:Endocytosis / Q000276:immunology*; D015488:HIV Antigens / Q000276:immunology*; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000276:immunology* / Q000821:virology; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D037181:Lectins, C-Type / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D054299:env Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D000099215:DC-Specific ICAM-3 Grabbing Nonintegrin
D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules; D015488:HIV Antigens; D037181:Lectins, C-Type; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D054299:env Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus; D000099215:DC-Specific ICAM-3 Grabbing Nonintegrin