Researchers have discovered a new type of immune cell, known as CD11+c dendritic cells, that are located in genital tissues and play an important role in HIV infectivity. The discovery was made by scientists at The Westmead Institute for Medical Research and reported in Nature Communications.
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The researchers discovered the CD11+c dendritic cells in donated genital tissues. They were able to analyze the tissue just 30 minutes after it had been removed from the body using RNAscope technology.
CD11+c dendritic cells are found exclusively in the epithelial layer of the genitals. They act to capture incoming pathogens and deliver them to CD4 T cells in order to activate immune response. This makes them the first cells to interact with HIV.
The scientists found CD11+c dendritic cells to be more susceptible to HIV infection than other known dendritic cells and that they pass messages along to T cells more efficiently. CD11+c cells are thus key drivers of HIV infection; when they transfer HIV virus to CD4 T cells, it initiates infection of the CD4 T cells.
This discovery offers two new avenues of research. The first is to find a treatment method to block transmission of HIV through these newly discovered cells, which are often the first immune cells to encounter the virus. In situations where CD4 T cell levels are low, this could prevent the virus from spreading. The second approach could be to use the information to develop a vaccine. A vaccine with HIV fragments or inactivated virus that targets CD11+c dendritic cells could result in an immune response being mounted as soon as the virus is encountered.
Image: The image shows sampling of HIV (red) by the newly described dendritic cells (green). Image courtesy of The Westmead Institute for Medical Research.