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

ANA CEBALLOS , MÓNICA DONALDSON , RODOLFO AGUSTÍN PASQUALINI , CLARA MARIN-BRIGGILER , MÓNICA VAZQUEZ-LEVIN , FRANCISCO CAPANI ET AL

JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE

ROCKEFELLER UNIV PRESS

Año: 2009 p. 2217 - 2233

0022-1007

Semen is the main vector for HIV-1 dissemination worldwide. It contains three majorsources of infectious virus: free virions, infected leukocytes, and spermatozoa-associatedvirions. We focused on the interaction of HIV-1 with human spermatozoa and dendriticcells (DCs). We report that heparan sulfate is expressed in spermatozoa and plays an importantrole in the capture of HIV-1. Spermatozoa-attached virus is effi ciently transmitted toDCs, macrophages, and T cells. Interaction of spermatozoa with DCs not only leads to thetransmission of HIV-1 and the internalization of the spermatozoa but also results in thephenotypic maturation of DCs and the production of IL-10 but not IL-12p70. At low valuesof extracellular pH ( 6.5 pH units), similar to those found in the vaginal mucosa aftersexual intercourse, the binding of HIV-1 to the spermatozoa and the consequent transmissionof HIV-1 to DCs were strongly enhanced. Our observations support the notion that farfrom being a passive carrier, spermatozoa acting in concert with DCs might affect the earlycourse of sexual transmission of HIV-1 infection