[Dendritic cells as carriers of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)]

In two papers in Cell researchers of the University Medical Center St. Radboud in Nijmegen (in collaboration with Utrecht and US researchers) have published the results of studies dealing with dendritic cells and their role in the pathogenesis of HIV-1 infection. First, they identified a dendritic cell receptor, DC-SIGN, that mediates adhesion with T cells. Second, they described another property of DC-SIGN, i.e. binding to the HIV-1 envelope protein gp120. Through this binding dendritic cells can transport HIV-1 to the CD4+ cells in lymphoid organs. Interestingly, it appeared that dendritic cells themselves are not infected by HIV-1, but only act as carriers for HIV-1. These findings may have important consequences for the design of new options for intervention in HIV-1 infection.