The emerging role of leukocyte immunoglobulin-like receptors (LILRs) in HIV-1 infection.
LILRs represent a group of immunomodulatory molecules that regulate the functional properties of professional APCs and influence immune activation in a variety of disease contexts. Many members of the LILR family recognize peptide/MHC class I complexes as their physiological ligands, and increasing evidence suggests that such interactions are prominently influenced by polymorphisms in HLA class I alleles or sequence variations in the presented antigenic peptides. Emerging data show that LILRs are involved in multiple, different aspects of HIV-1 disease pathogenesis and may critically influence spontaneous HIV-1 disease progression. Here, we review recent progress in understanding the role of LILR during HIV-1 infection by focusing on the dynamic interplay between LILR and HLA class I molecules in determining HIV-1 disease progression, the effects of HIV-1 mutational escape on LILR-mediated immune recognition, the contribution of LILR to HIV-1-associated immune dysfunction, and the unique expression patterns of LILR on circulating myeloid DCs from elite controllers, a small subset of HIV-1-infected patients with natural control of HIV-1 replication. Obtaining a more complete understanding of LILR-mediated immune regulation during HIV-1 infection may ultimately allow for improved strategies to treat or prevent HIV-1-associated disease manifestations.
Infectious Disease Division, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
Mathias
M
Lichterfeld
Xu G
XG
Yu
D015658:HIV Infections / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D006680:HLA Antigens / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000821:virology*; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000502:physiology; D015728:Receptors, HIV / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D011971:Receptors, Immunologic / Q000502:physiology*
D006680:HLA Antigens; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D015728:Receptors, HIV; D011971:Receptors, Immunologic