Malaria hemozoin modulates susceptibility of immature monocyte-derived dendritic cells to HIV-1 infection by inducing a mature-like phenotype

Cell Microbiol. 2010 May 1;12(5):615-25. doi: 10.1111/j.1462-5822.2009.01420.x. Epub 2010 Jan 13.

Abstract

Together, Plasmodium falciparum (P. falciparum) and HIV-1 infections cause more than four million deaths a year. There is still limited information about the putative impact of the malaria pigment hemozoin (HZ) on the dissemination of HIV-1. As so, we propose a premise where HZ present in human dendritic cells (DCs) could modulate HIV-1 transfer to CD4(+) T cells. We report here that HZ promotes transmission of HIV-1 by immature monocyte-derived DCs (iMDDCs). Moreover, we noted that in the presence of HZ, iMDDCs were less permissive to productive HIV-1 infection. The HZ-dependent modulation of the interaction between iMDDCs and HIV-1 seems to be partly due to a decreased expression of CCR5 and also to the induction of a more mature phenotype as proven by microscopy and flow cytometry analyses. Therefore, exposure of iMDDCs to malaria pigments provokes their maturation rendering them more potent to trans-infect CD4(+) T cells with HIV-1.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / virology
  • Cell Line
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Dendritic Cells / parasitology
  • Dendritic Cells / virology*
  • Down-Regulation
  • HIV-1 / growth & development*
  • Hemeproteins / physiology*
  • Humans
  • Monocytes / parasitology
  • Monocytes / virology*
  • Plasmodium falciparum / pathogenicity*
  • Receptors, CCR5 / biosynthesis
  • Receptors, HIV / biosynthesis
  • Virulence Factors / physiology*

Substances

  • Hemeproteins
  • Receptors, CCR5
  • Receptors, HIV
  • Virulence Factors
  • hemozoin