HIV-1 infection is characterized by dysregulation of the immune system and is thought to be due at least in part to the impaired function of dendritic cells (DCs). In The Journal of Immunology, Geijtenbeek and colleagues investigate the changes that occur in DCs following exposure to HIV-1 in vitro to gain insight into the systemic disruption of the immune system seen during infection. The literature is divided about whether DCs can be infected by HIV-1; however, these authors find that DCs can be readily infected with both R-tropic HIV-1 and pseudotyped HIV-1. Despite efficient infection, DCs fail to be activated and maintain an immature state with a poor ability to stimulate T cell proliferation. Moreover, HIV-1 infection suppresses DC activation that is otherwise strongly triggered by ligands of Toll-like receptors. Although the mechanism of this suppression is unclear, it is independent of the HIV-1 envelope but dependent on viral replication.

J. Immunol. (30 March 2015) doi:10.4049/jimmunol.1403016