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Mucosal dendritic cells and immunodeficiency viruses

M Pope1

  • 1Laboratory of Cellular Physiology and Immunology, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY 10021, USA. popem@rockvax.rockefeller.edu

The Journal of Infectious Diseases
|April 1, 1999
PubMed

Insights

Dendritic cells (DCs) and T cells support human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) replication in skin and mucosal tissues. This DC-T cell interaction is crucial for virus growth, regardless of viral subtype or tropism.

Area of Science:

  • Immunology
  • Virology
  • Cell Biology

Background:

  • Dendritic cells (DCs) play a role in human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) pathogenesis.
  • Skin and mucosal tissues are key sites for HIV-1 infection and transmission.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role of dendritic cells (DCs) and T cells in HIV-1 replication.
  • To determine if DC-T cell interactions support virus growth in a skin-mucosal model.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized skin explants as a model for mucosal tissues.
  • Co-cultured dendritic cells (DCs) and T cells from human and macaque sources.
  • Assessed HIV-1 and simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) replication in these co-cultures.

Main Results:

  • HIV-1 replicated efficiently in the DC-T cell milieu of skin explants, forming syncytia.
  • Virus replication occurred irrespective of HIV-1 subtype, syncytium-inducing capacity, or tropism.
  • Similar DC-T cell interactions supported simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) replication in macaques.
  • Active virus replication in both human and monkey systems required the presence of both DCs and T cells.

Conclusions:

  • Dendritic cells (DCs) and T cells are essential for HIV-1 replication in skin and mucosal tissues.
  • DC-T cell syncytia are a site of active HIV-1 replication.
  • Further research using the macaque model will explore DC roles in HIV transmission and spread.

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