IBYME   02675
INSTITUTO DE BIOLOGIA Y MEDICINA EXPERIMENTAL
Unidad Ejecutora - UE
artículos
Título:
Spermatozoa capture HIV-1 through heparan sulfate and efficiently transmit the virus to dendritic cells
Autor/es:
CEBALLOS, A; REMES LENICOV, F; SABATTE, J; RODRIGUEZ RODRIGUES, C; CABRINI, M; JANCIC, C; RAIDEN, S; DONALDSON, M; PASQUALINI, AR; MARIN BRIGGILER, CI; VAZQUEZ-LEVIN, M; CAPANI, F; AMIGORENA, S; GEFFNER, J
Revista:
JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE
Editorial:
ROCKEFELLER UNIV PRESS
Referencias:
Año: 2009 vol. 206 p. 2717 - 2733
ISSN:
0022-1007
Resumen:
Semen is the main vector for HIV-1 dissemination worldwide. It contains three major sources of infectious virus: free virions, infected leukocytes, and spermatozoaassociated virions. In the present study we focused on the interaction of HIV-1 with human spermatozoa and dendritic cells (DCs). We here report that heparan sulfate is expressed in spermatozoa and plays an important role in the capture of HIV-1. Spermatozoa attached-virus are efficiently transmitted to DCs, macrophages and T CD4+ cells. Interaction of spermatozoa with DCs not only leads to the transmission of HIV-1 and the internalisation of the spermatozoa, but also results in the phenotypic maturation of DCs and the production of IL-10 but not IL-12p70. At low values of extracellular pH (around 6.5 pH units), close similar to those found in the vaginal mucosa after sexual intercourse, the binding of HIV-1 to the spermatozoa and the consequent transmission of HIV-1 to DCs were strongly enhanced. Our observations support the notion that far from being a passive carrier, spermatozoa acting in concert with DCs might affect the early course of sexual transmission of HIV-1 infection.