Glycodendrimers prevent HIV transmission via DC-SIGN on dendritic cells

Int Immunol. 2013 Apr;25(4):221-33. doi: 10.1093/intimm/dxs115. Epub 2013 Jan 4.

Abstract

Dendritic cells (DCs) are antigen-presenting cells efficient in capturing pathogens, and processing their antigenic determinants for presentation to antigen-specific T cells to induce robust immune responses. Their location at peripheral tissues and the expression of pattern-recognition receptors, among them DC-specific intercellular adhesion molecule-3-grabbing non-integrin (DC-SIGN), facilitates the capture of pathogens before spreading. However, some pathogens have developed strategies to escape the immune system. One of the most successful is HIV-1, which targets DC-SIGN for transport to the lymph node where the virus infects CD4(+) T cells. Contact of HIV-1 with DC-SIGN is thus the first event in the pathogenic cascade and, therefore, it is the primary target point for therapies aimed at HIV infection prevention. DC-SIGN recognizes specific glycans on HIV-1 and this interaction can be blocked by competitive inhibition through glycans. Although the affinity of glycans is relatively low, multivalency may increase avidity and the strength to compete with HIV-1 virions. We have designed multivalent dendrimeric compounds based on Lewis-type antigens that bind DC-SIGN with high selectivity and avidity and that effectively block gp120 binding to DC-SIGN and, consequently, HIV transmission to CD4(+) T cells. Binding to DC-SIGN and gp120 inhibition was higher on glycodendrimers with larger molecular diameter, indicating that the geometry of the compounds is an important factor determining their functionality. Our compounds elicited DC-SIGN internalization, a property of the receptor upon triggering, but did not affect the maturation status of DCs. Thus, Le(X) glycodendrimers could be incorporated into topic prophylactic approaches for the prevention of HIV-1 transmission.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Binding, Competitive
  • Cell Adhesion Molecules / agonists
  • Cell Adhesion Molecules / immunology*
  • Cell Differentiation / drug effects
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Dendrimers / chemistry*
  • Dendritic Cells / drug effects
  • Dendritic Cells / immunology*
  • Dendritic Cells / virology
  • HIV Envelope Protein gp120 / metabolism
  • HIV Infections / prevention & control*
  • HIV Infections / transmission*
  • HIV-1 / immunology*
  • Humans
  • Immune Evasion
  • Lectins, C-Type / agonists
  • Lectins, C-Type / immunology*
  • Lewis Blood Group Antigens / chemistry*
  • Molecular Targeted Therapy
  • Polysaccharides / agonists
  • Polysaccharides / chemical synthesis
  • Polysaccharides / pharmacology*
  • Receptors, Cell Surface / agonists
  • Receptors, Cell Surface / immunology*
  • Structure-Activity Relationship
  • Virus Internalization / drug effects

Substances

  • Cell Adhesion Molecules
  • DC-specific ICAM-3 grabbing nonintegrin
  • Dendrimers
  • HIV Envelope Protein gp120
  • Lectins, C-Type
  • Lewis Blood Group Antigens
  • Polysaccharides
  • Receptors, Cell Surface