New Jersey Medical School, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, Newark, New Jersey, USA.
J Leukoc Biol. 2010 Apr;87(4):609-20. doi: 10.1189/jlb.0909635. Epub 2010 Feb 9.
pDC are the most potent IFN-alpha-producing cells in the body and serve as a vital link between innate and adaptive immunity. Deficiencies in pDC function were among the earliest observations of immune dysfunction in HIV-1 infection. Herein, we review the status of pDC in individuals with HIV-1 infection and the potential role of these cells in pathogenesis. We begin by reviewing the basic properties of pDC and then discuss the compromise in circulating pDC numbers and function in early and viremic HIV-1 infection and mechanisms that might account for their depletion in HIV-infected patients. In addition, we review the evidence that chronic production of IFN-alpha, probably through the chronic activation of pDC, is central to the immune activation that is so detrimental in HIV infection. Finally, we discuss the importance of balance in pDC numbers and function and the potential value of using absolute pDC counts and function as a biomarker, along with CD4(+) cell counts and VL in HIV-1-infected patients.
pDC 是体内最具效产生 IFN-α 的细胞，是固有免疫和适应性免疫之间的重要纽带。在 HIV-1 感染中，pDC 功能缺陷是最早观察到的免疫功能障碍之一。在此，我们回顾了 HIV-1 感染者中 pDC 的状况，以及这些细胞在发病机制中的潜在作用。我们首先回顾 pDC 的基本特性，然后讨论循环 pDC 数量和功能在早期和病毒血症 HIV-1 感染中的受损情况，以及可能导致 HIV 感染者中 pDC 耗竭的机制。此外，我们还回顾了慢性产生 IFN-α 的证据，这可能是通过 pDC 的慢性激活，是 HIV 感染中对免疫激活如此有害的关键。最后，我们讨论了 pDC 数量和功能平衡的重要性，以及使用绝对 pDC 计数和功能作为生物标志物的潜在价值，以及 HIV-1 感染者的 CD4(+)细胞计数和 VL。
