Antigen-presenting cells represent targets for R5 HIV-1 infection in the first trimester pregnancy uterine mucosa.
BACKGROUND
During the first trimester of pregnancy, HIV-1 mother-to-child transmission is relatively rare despite the permissivity of placental cells to cell-to-cell HIV-1 infection. The placenta interacts directly with maternal uterine cells (decidual cells) but the physiological role of the decidua in the control of HIV-1 transmission and whether decidua could be a source of infected cells is unknown.


RESULTS
To answer to this question, decidual mononuclear cells were exposed to HIV-1 in vitro. Decidual cells were shown to be more susceptible to infection by an R5 HIV-1, as compared to an X4 HIV-1. Infected cells were identified by flow cytometry analysis. The results showed that CD14(+) cells were the main targets of HIV-1 infection in the decidua. These infected CD14(+) cells expressed DC-SIGN, CD11b, CD11c, the Fc gamma receptor CD16, CD32 and CD64, classical MHC class-I and class-II and maturation and activation molecules CD83, CD80 and CD86. The permissivity of decidual tissue was also evaluated by histoculture. Decidual tissue was not infected by X4 HIV-1 but was permissive to R5 HIV-1. Different profiles of infection were observed depending on tissue localization.


CONCLUSIONS
The presence of HIV-1 target cells in the decidua in vitro and the low rate of in utero mother-to-child transmission during the first trimester of pregnancy suggest that a natural control occurs in vivo limiting cell-to-cell infection of the placenta and consequently infection of the fetus.
Marlin
Romain
R
Institut Pasteur, Regulation of Retroviral Infection Unit, Department of Virology, Paris, France.
Nugeyre
Marie-Thérèse
MT
de Truchis
Claire
C
Berkane
Nadia
N
Gervaise
Amélie
A
Barré-Sinoussi
Françoise
F
Menu
Elisabeth
E
D000938:Antigen-Presenting Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D003656:Decidua / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry / Q000379:methods; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000276:immunology* / Q000635:transmission / Q000821:virology; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D018445:Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical; D018950:Lipopolysaccharide Receptors / Q000096:biosynthesis; D009092:Mucous Membrane / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000821:virology; D010641:Phenotype; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000821:virology*; D011261:Pregnancy Trimester, First; D014599:Uterus / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000821:virology
D018950:Lipopolysaccharide Receptors