Mucosal stromal fibroblasts markedly enhance HIV infection of CD4+ T cells

PLoS Pathog. 2017 Feb 16;13(2):e1006163. doi: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1006163. eCollection 2017 Feb.

Abstract

Understanding early events of HIV transmission within mucosal tissues is vital for developing effective prevention strategies. Here, we report that primary stromal fibroblasts isolated from endometrium, cervix, foreskin, male urethra, and intestines significantly increase HIV infection of CD4+ T cells-by up to 37-fold for R5-tropic HIV and 100-fold for X4-tropic HIV-without themselves becoming infected. Fibroblasts were more efficient than dendritic cells at trans-infection and mediate this response in the absence of the DC-SIGN and Siglec-1 receptors. In comparison, mucosal epithelial cells secrete antivirals and inhibit HIV infection. These data suggest that breaches in the epithelium allow external or luminal HIV to escape an antiviral environment to access the infection-favorable environment of the stromal fibroblasts, and suggest that resident fibroblasts have a central, but previously unrecognized, role in HIV acquisition at mucosal sites. Inhibiting fibroblast-mediated enhancement of HIV infection should be considered as a novel prevention strategy.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / virology*
  • Coculture Techniques
  • Endometrium / cytology
  • Endometrium / virology
  • Female
  • Fibroblasts / cytology*
  • Flow Cytometry
  • Foreskin / cytology
  • Foreskin / virology
  • HIV Infections / transmission*
  • HIV-1 / pathogenicity*
  • Humans
  • Intestinal Mucosa / cytology
  • Intestinal Mucosa / virology
  • Male
  • Mucous Membrane / cytology
  • Mucous Membrane / virology*
  • Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis
  • Urethra / cytology
  • Urethra / virology