Association of DC-SIGNR Expression in Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells with DC-SIGNR Genotypes in HIV-1 Infection

Viral Immunol. 2015 Oct;28(8):472-5. doi: 10.1089/vim.2014.0148. Epub 2015 Aug 27.

Abstract

Dendritic cell-specific intracellular adhesion molecule 3 grabbing nonintegrin related molecule (DC-SIGNR) is a C-type lectin, calcium-dependent carbohydrate-binding protein, which can act as a cell-adhesion and pathogen recognition receptor. DC-SIGNR is known to be highly expressed on liver sinusoidal cells and in the lymph nodes. However, its expression in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) in HIV-1 infection has not been addressed. Therefore, this study determined the expression of DC-SIGNR in PBMCs of HIV-1-infected patients and healthy seronegative individuals by real-time polymerase chain reaction and assessed its correlation with CD4+ T cell counts and DC-SIGNR genotypes. A significantly higher expression of DC-SIGNR was observed in the PBMCs of HIV-1-infected patients compared with healthy seronegative individuals. Further, there was a negative correlation between DC-SIGNR expression and CD4+ T cell counts and positive with viral load, with higher DC-SIGNR expression in the PBMCs of HIV-1-infected patients with a CD4+ T cell count <200 cells/μL than those with >200 cells/μL. This is the first study to report the expression of DC-SIGNR in PBMCs of HIV-1-infected patients. A salient finding of this study is that the DC-SIGNR expression was higher in HIV-1-infected patients, and its positive correlation with viral load and negative with CD4+ T cells counts suggesting a potential role of DC-SIGNR in HIV-1 infection.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • CD4 Lymphocyte Count
  • Cell Adhesion Molecules / biosynthesis*
  • Cell Adhesion Molecules / genetics*
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Female
  • Gene Expression Profiling*
  • Genotype*
  • HIV Infections / immunology*
  • HIV Infections / virology
  • HIV-1 / immunology*
  • Humans
  • Lectins, C-Type / biosynthesis*
  • Lectins, C-Type / genetics*
  • Leukocytes, Mononuclear / immunology*
  • Male
  • Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Receptors, Cell Surface / biosynthesis*
  • Receptors, Cell Surface / genetics*
  • Viral Load

Substances

  • CLEC4M protein, human
  • Cell Adhesion Molecules
  • Lectins, C-Type
  • Receptors, Cell Surface