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A cryptic sensor for HIV-1 activates antiviral innate immunity in dendritic cells

Manel, N.; Hogstad, B.; Wang, Y.; Levy, D. E.; Unutmaz, D.; Littman, D. R.

Nature

2010-09-09 / vol 467 / pages 214-7

Abstract

Dendritic cells serve a key function in host defence, linking innate detection of microbes to activation of pathogen-specific adaptive immune responses. Whether there is cell-intrinsic recognition of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) by host innate pattern-recognition receptors and subsequent coupling to antiviral T-cell responses is not yet known. Dendritic cells are largely resistant to infection with HIV-1, but facilitate infection of co-cultured T-helper cells through a process of trans-enhancement. Here we show that, when dendritic cell resistance to infection is circumvented, HIV-1 induces dendritic cell maturation, an antiviral type I interferon response and activation of T cells. This innate response is dependent on the interaction of newly synthesized HIV-1 capsid with cellular cyclophilin A (CYPA) and the subsequent activation of the transcription factor IRF3. Because the peptidylprolyl isomerase CYPA also interacts with HIV-1 capsid to promote infectivity, our results indicate that capsid conformation has evolved under opposing selective pressures for infectivity versus furtiveness. Thus, a cell-intrinsic sensor for HIV-1 exists in dendritic cells and mediates an antiviral immune response, but it is not typically engaged owing to the absence of dendritic cell infection. The virulence of HIV-1 may be related to evasion of this response, the manipulation of which may be necessary to generate an effective HIV-1 vaccine.

Read on PubMed

10.1038/nature09337 nature09337 [pii]

1476-4687 (Electronic) 0028-0836 (Linking)

Tags

Humans; Cell Line; T-Lymphocytes/immunology; *Immunity, Innate; Capsid Proteins/immunology; Cyclophilin A/immunology; Dendritic Cells/cytology/*immunology/metabolism/*virology; HIV Infections/*immunology/virology; HIV-1/*immunology/physiology; Interferon Regulatory Factor-3/genetics/metabolism; Lymphocyte Activation; Monocytes/cytology

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