Crosstalk between R848 and abortive HIV-1 RNA-induced signaling enhances antiviral immunity

Melissa Stunnenberg, John L. van Hamme, Esther M. Zijlstra-Willems, Sonja I. Gringhuis, Teunis B. H. Geijtenbeek*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

Abstract

Pathogens trigger multiple pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) that together dictate innate and adaptive immune responses. Understanding the crosstalk between PRRs is important to enhance vaccine efficacy. Abortive HIV-1 RNA transcripts are produced during acute and chronic HIV-1 infection and are known ligands for different PRRs, leading to antiviral and proinflammatory responses. Here, we have investigated the crosstalk between responses induced by these 58 nucleotide-long HIV-1 RNA transcripts and different TLR ligands. Costimulation of dendritic cells (DCs) with abortive HIV-1 RNA and TLR7/8 agonist R848, but not other TLR agonists, resulted in enhanced antiviral type I IFN responses as well as adaptive immune responses via the induction of DC-mediated T helper 1 (TH1) responses and IFNγ+CD8+ T cells. Our data underscore the importance of crosstalk between abortive HIV-1 RNA and R848-induced signaling for the induction of effective antiviral immunity.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)289-298
Number of pages10
JournalJournal of Leukocyte Biology
Volume112
Issue number2
Early online date2022
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Aug 2022
Externally publishedYes

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