AIDSWEEKLY Plus; Monday, October 3, 2005
Staff Medical Writers

According to recent research from the United States, "Antigen presentation and T-cell activation are dynamic processes involving signaling molecules present in both APCs and T cells. Effective APC function and T-cell activation can be compromised by viral immune evasion strategies, including those of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1).

"In this study, we determined the effects of HIV-1 Vpr on one of the initial target of the virus, dendritic cells (DC), by investigating DC maturation, cytokine profiling, and CD8-specific T-cell stimulation function followed by a second signal."

"Vpr impaired the expression of CD80, CD83, and CD86 at the transcriptional level without altering normal cellular transcription. Cytokine profiling indicated that the presence of Vpr inhibited production of interleukin 12 (IL-12) and upregulated IL-10, whereas IL-6 and IL-1beta were unaltered.

"Furthermore," wrote B. Majumder and colleagues at the University of Pittsburgh, "DC infected with HIV-1 Vpr+ significantly reduced the activation of antigen-specific memory and recall cytotoxic-T-lymphocyte responses."

The authors concluded, "Taken together, these results indicate that HIV-1 Vpr may in part be responsible for HIV-1 immune evasion by inhibiting the maturation of costimulatory molecules and cytokines essential for immune activation."

Majumder and colleagues published their study in the Journal of Virology (Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 Vpr Impairs Dendritic Cell Maturation and T-cell Activation: Implications for Viral Immune Escape. J Virol. 2005 Jul;79(13):7990-8003.

For additional information, contact B. Majumder, University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health, Dept. of Infectious Diseases and Microbiology, 130 Desoto Street, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15261, USA.

Publisher contact information for the Journal of Virology is: American Society Microbiology, 1752 N St. NW, Washington, DC 20036-2904, USA.

Keywords: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States, HIV/AIDS, Dendritic Cells, HIV-1 Vpr, T Cell Activation, Immune Evasion.

This article was prepared by AIDS Weekly editors from staff and other reports.

Reference

Majumder B, Janket ML, Schafer EA, et al. Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 Vpr impairs dendritic cell maturation and T-cell activation: implications for viral immune escape, J Virol. 2005 Jul;79(13):7990-8003.

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