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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
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Identification of HIV transmitting CD11c+ human epidermal dendritic cells
Kirstie M Bertram1,2, Rachel A Botting1,2,3, Heeva Baharlou1,2
1Centre for Virus Research, The Westmead Institute for Medical Research, 176 Hawkesbury Road, Westmead, New South Wales, 2145, Australia.
Nature Communications
|June 23, 2019
Summary
Epidermal dendritic cells (DCs), not just Langerhans cells (LCs), are present in the skin. These CD11c+ DCs in anogenital skin are key players in HIV transmission to CD4 T cells.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Virology
- Dermatology
Background:
- Langerhans cells (LCs) were considered the sole mononuclear phagocyte population in the epidermis.
- Their role in pathogen detection and immune response initiation is established.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify and characterize other mononuclear phagocyte populations in the epidermis.
- To investigate the role of these cells in HIV interaction and sexual transmission.
Main Methods:
- Transcriptional profiling of epidermal cell populations.
- Antigen-presenting cell efficiency assays.
- HIV interaction, uptake, replication, and transmission studies.
- Flow cytometry and cell sorting.
Main Results:
- Identified a CD11c+ dendritic cell (DC) population in the epidermis, transcriptionally similar to dermal cDC2.
- These epidermal CD11c+ DCs are more efficient antigen-presenting cells than LCs.
- Epidermal CD11c+ DCs are enriched in anogenital tissues, interact more with HIV, express higher CCR5, and are more efficient at HIV uptake, replication, and transmission to CD4 T cells.
- A CD33low cell population, similar to LCs, was identified but did not function as antigen-presenting cells or HIV targets.
Conclusions:
- Epidermal CD11c+ DCs, particularly in anogenital tissues, are critical for HIV sexual transmission.
- These cells represent a significant target for interventions aimed at preventing HIV transmission.
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