16 research outputs found

    DC-SIGN, a dentritic cell-specific HIV-1 receptor present in placenta that infects T cells in trans : a review

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    Dendritic cells (DC) capture micro-organisms that enter peripheral mucosal tissues and then migrate to secondary lymphoid organs, where they present 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 binds 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. The interaction of DC-SIGN with HIV gp120 may be an important target for therapeutic intervention and vaccine developmen

    A single amino acid in the cytoplasmic domain of the beta-2 integrin lymphocyte function-associated antigen-1 regulates avidity-dependent inside-out signaling

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    The leukocyte-specific beta(2) integrin lymphocyte function-associated antigen-1 (LFA-1) (alpha(L)/beta(2)) mediates activation-dependent adhesion to intercellular adhesion molecule (ICAM)-1. In leukocytes, LFA-1 requires activation by intracellular messengers to bind ICAM-1. We observed malfunctioning of LFA-1 activation in leukemic T cells and K562-transfected cells. This defective inside-out integrin activation is only restricted to beta(2) integrins, since beta(1) integrins expressed in K562 readily respond to activation signals, such as phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate. To unravel these differences in inside-out signaling between beta(1) and beta(2) integrins, we searched for amino acids in the beta(2) cytoplasmic domain that are critical in the activation of LFA-1. We provide evidence that substitution of a single amino acid (L732R) in the beta(2) cytoplasmic DLRE motif, creating the DRRE motif, is sufficient to completely restore PMA responsiveness of LFA-1 expressed in K562. In addition, an intact TTT motif in the C-terminal domain is necessary for the acquired PMA responsiveness. We observed that restoration of the PMA response altered neither LFA-1 affinity nor the phosphorylation status of LFA-1. In contrast, strong differences were observed in the capacity of LFA-1 to form clusters, which indicates that inside-out activation of LFA-1 strongly depends on cytoskeletal induced receptor reorganization that was induced by activation of the Ca(2+)-dependent protease calpain

    Rhesus macaque and chimpanzee DC-SIGN act as HIV/SIV gp120 trans-receptors, similar to human DC-SIGN.

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    Dendritic cells (DC) have been implicated in the pathogenesis of both human and simian immunodeficiency viruses (HIV and SIV, respectively). The DC-specific HIV-1 trans-receptor DC-SIGN is thought to be essential for viral dissemination by DC. Abundant expression in lymphoid tissues also implies a function for DC-SIGN in chronic HIV-1 infections, in facilitating persistent infection of T cells. We have therefore isolated the rhesus macaque and chimpanzee homologues of DC-SIGN to investigate their function in a primate model. Both rhesus macaque and chimpanzee DC-SIGN are highly similar to the human homologue. Three monoclonal antibodies against human DC-SIGN, AZN-D1, -D2 and -D3, cross-react with rhesus macaque DC-SIGN, whereas AZN-D2 does not cross-react with chimpanzee DC-SIGN. The primate homologues are abundantly expressed in lymphoid tissues such as lymph nodes, as well as in mucosal tissues involved in sexual transmission of HIV-1, and are functionally similar to human DC-SIGN. They have a high affinity for the immunological ligands of DC-SIGN: ICAM-2 and -3. Moreover, both homologues bind the HIV-1 envelope glycoprotein gp120 and therefore can act as a HIV-1 trans-receptor in the same way as human DC-SIGN. These data demonstrate that primate models are suitable to further dissect the role of DC-SIGN in the transmission and pathogenesis of infection with immunodeficiency viruses

    A Dutch family with hearing loss linked to the DFNA20/26 locus: longitudinal analysis of hearing impairment.

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    Contains fulltext : 57357.pdf (publisher's version ) (Closed access)OBJECTIVES: To perform linkage analysis and to outline hearing loss characteristics in a family exhibiting a nonsyndromic, autosomal dominant type of progressive sensorineural hearing loss. DESIGN: Genetic analysis was performed using microsatellite markers. Audiometric data were collected and analyzed longitudinally. Sigmoidal dose-response curves enabled us to perform nonlinear regression analysis per frequency and on phoneme recognition scores. Speech recognition scores were compared with those of DFNA2, DFNA5, DFNA9, and presbyacusis subjects. SUBJECTS: Affected family members of a Dutch family (W99-060). RESULTS: We revealed linkage of hearing loss to the DFNA20/26 locus (maximum logarithm of odds score, 3.1 at theta=0.04) and reduced the critical region from 12 to 9.5 centimorgans. Patients younger than 15 years already showed gently downsloping audiograms. At ages 15 to 20 and 25 to 40 years, hearing loss was profound at 8 kHz and 1 to 4 kHz, respectively. The 0.25- to 0.5-kHz thresholds showed more gradual progression by about 1.5 to 2 dB/y. From about age 40 years onward, hearing was residual. Hearing impairment took a more severe course than in a known DFNA20 family. Score recognition in DFNA20/26 subjects was better than in DFNA9 subjects at any pure-tone average (1-4 kHz) threshold. Compared with subjects having DFNA2 and DFNA5, speech recognition in those with DFNA20/26 scored better at threshold levels below 85 dB hearing level, but worse at levels above 90 dB. Compared with presbyacusis subjects, those with DFNA20/26 scored better in speech recognition at levels below 100 dB and worse at levels above 100 dB. CONCLUSIONS: Autosomal dominant hearing loss is linked to the DFNA20/26 locus in this Dutch family. The critical region is reduced from 12 to 9.5 centimorgans. Phenotypically, patients are more severely affected than those of a known DFNA20 family
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