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Assessing the Innate Sensing of HIV-1 Infected CD4+ T Cells by Plasmacytoid Dendritic Cells Using an Ex vivo Co-culture System.
Published on: September 1, 2015
HIV gp120 receptors on human dendritic cells
S G Turville1, J Arthos, K M Donald
1Center for Virus Research, Westmead Millennium Institute, Sydney, Australia.
Blood
|October 6, 2001
Summary
C-type lectin receptors (CLRs) are the primary binding sites for HIV gp120 on monocyte-derived dendritic cells (MDDCs), not CD4. However, blood dendritic cells (DCs) primarily use CD4 to bind HIV gp120.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Virology
- Cell Biology
Background:
- Dendritic cells (DCs) play crucial roles in HIV transmission, immune competence, and vaccine development.
- Understanding how HIV envelope protein gp120 binds to DCs is vital for both transmission and vaccine strategies.
- Previous studies suggested DC-SIGN, a C-type lectin receptor (CLR), is the main HIV gp120 receptor on monocyte-derived DCs (MDDCs), rather than CD4.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the predominant receptors (CLRs or CD4) for HIV gp120 on MDDCs and ex vivo blood DCs.
- To identify specific CLRs involved in gp120 binding to MDDCs.
- To compare gp120 binding mechanisms between different DC subsets.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a novel biotinylated gp120 assay.
- Assessed gp120 binding to monocyte-derived dendritic cells (MDDCs).
- Evaluated gp120 binding to freshly isolated and cultured ex vivo blood DCs (CD11c+ve and CD11c-ve).
Main Results:
- CLR binding accounted for over 80% of gp120 interaction with MDDCs, with CD4 responsible for residual binding.
- HIV gp120 binding was observed with at least three CLRs on MDDCs: DC-SIGN, mannose receptor, and other trypsin-resistant CLRs.
- In stark contrast, freshly isolated and cultured blood DCs (both CD11c+ve and CD11c-ve) exclusively bound gp120 via CD4.
Conclusions:
- CLRs are confirmed as the major receptors for HIV gp120 on MDDCs.
- Significant differences exist in HIV gp120 binding mechanisms between MDDCs and blood DCs.
- Future research must consider these distinct DC phenotypes when studying HIV capture, T cell transfer, and antigenic processing.

