The body’s immune system is attacked by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). If left untreated, it can lead to autoimmune deficiency syndrome (AIDS).
When a foreign substance, like other viruses, enters our body, the immune system detects it as “host” and initiates an immunological response, which consists of various cells, tissues and organs that work together to recognize, fight and eradicate this foreign substance.
Dendritic cells, which are immune cells that come into contact with the outside world and patrol our body for pathogens and protect us from disease, are where the HIV virus initially enters the body.
HIV Virus capture and transmission
Dendritic cells are those responsible for processing foreign proteins, molecules or particles and passing them on to T-cells of the immune system, which act as messengers and initiate an immune response.
A critical element that helps dendritic cells recognize and bind to the virus is a group of membrane proteins that distinguish between self and foreign. One such protein, called Siglec-1, plays a key role in the early stages of HIV infection, specifically in the capture and transmission of the virus.
When HIV enters the body, it first encounters mucosal surfaces and binds to various molecules. Then, Siglec-1-expressing dendritic cells can capture and transfer the virus to other cells and initiate an immune response. But along this transport route, HIV-1 viruses can also use dendritic cells as vehicles to infect helper T-cells, also known as CD4+ cells, and further spread the infection in a process known as trans-infection. This means that while it can help initiate an immune response, it can also facilitate infection.
While previous studies, including those from IrsiCaixa, have identified Siglec-1 as a major receptor on activated dendritic cells that binds to specific HIV-1 particle molecules, the specific mechanisms of how this occurs are still unknown. Understanding the role of Siglec-1 in the immune response to HIV is critical to the development of effective treatments and therapies for people living with HIV/AIDS.
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