Spermatozoa capture HIV-1 through heparan sulfate and efficiently transmit the virus to dendritic cells

CEBALLOS, A.; SABATE, J.; RODRIGUEZ-RODRIGUES, C.; REMES LENICOV, F.; CABRINI, M.; JANEIE, C.; RAIDEN, S.; DONALSON, S.; PASQUALINI (H), R.A.; MARIN-BRIGGILER, C.M.; VAZQUEZ-LEVIN, M.H.; CAPANI, F.; AMIGORENA, S.; GEFFNER, J.

JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE

Rockefeller University Press

Lugar: United States; Año: 2009 vol. 20 p. 2717 - 2733

0022-1007

J Exp Med. 2009 Nov 23;206(12):2717-33. Epub 2009 Oct 26. 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.