HIV-1 gp120 inhibits TLR9-mediated activation and IFN-{alpha} secretion in plasmacytoid dendritic cells.

ABSTRACT: Plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs) play a central role in innate and adaptive immune responses against viral infections. pDCs secrete type I IFNs and proinflammatory cytokines upon stimulation by either TLR7 or TLR9. Throughout the course of HIV infection, the production of type-I IFNs is profoundly impaired, and total pDC cell counts in peripheral blood correlates inversely with viral load and positively with CD4(+) T cell count. The origin of these defects is unclear. pDCs express CD4, CCR5, and CXCR4, the primary receptor and coreceptors, respectively, for the HIV envelope; yet little is known concerning the effects of the viral envelope on these cells. Here, we show that exposure of pDCs to gp120 results in the suppression of activation of these cells. This suppression is specific for

SUBMITTER: Martinelli E 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC1805537 | biostudies-literature | 2007 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature