Plasmacytoid Dendritic Cells (pDCs) From HIV Controllers Produce Interferon-α and Differentiate Into Functional Killer pDCs Under HIV Activation

摘要

Background.Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) controllers spontaneously control viremia and CD4 T-cell depletion in contrast to viremic patients. After HIV exposure, plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs) produce high levels of interferon alpha (IFN-α) and express the apoptotic ligand TRAIL (tumor necrosis factor–related apoptosis inducing ligand). Simian models have shown that prolonged high levels of IFN-α production could be responsible for AIDS progression.