Tbh. Geijtenbeek et al., DC-SIGN, a dendritic cell-specific HIV-1-binding protein that enhances trans-infection of T cells, CELL, 100(5), 2000, pp. 587-597
Dendritic cells (DC) capture microorganisms that enter peripheral mucosal t
issues and then migrate to secondary lymphoid organs, where they present th
ese in antigenic form to resting T cells and thus initiate adaptive immune
responses. Here, we describe the properties of a DC-specific C-type lectin,
DC-SIGN, that is highly expressed on DC present in mucosal tissues and bin
ds to the HIV-1 envelope glycoprotein gp120. DC-SIGN does not function as a
receptor for viral entry into DC but instead promotes efficient infection
in trans of cells that express CD4 and chemokine receptors. We propose that
DC-SIGN efficiently captures HIV-1 in the periphery and facilitates its tr
ansport to secondary lymphoid organs rich in T cells, to enhance infection
in trans of these target cells.