collection-isolation-flow-cytometric-analysis-human-endocervical

Collection, Isolation, and Flow Cytometric Analysis of Human Endocervical Samples

Despite the public health importance of mucosal pathogens (including HIV), relatively little is known about mucosal immunity, particularly at the female ...

University of Manitoba

Whether or not HIV gp120-elicited signal transduction through the coreceptors CCR5 and CXCR4 is required for productive viral replication has long been a subject of controversy. The complexity and diversity of G protein signal transduction initiated by chemokine receptor activation has hindered efforts to understand the contributions of these pathways to the HIV life cycle. Several recent studies have demonstrated an important role for G proteins in mediating signaling events through both CCR5 and CXCR4 that are necessary for productive HIV infection. In addition to gp120-mediated G protein activation, there is still much to learn about the impact of G protein signaling during HIV infection, including the role of T-cell receptor/CXCR4 cross-talk, regulation of G protein expression during infection and the contribution of G protein subunit genetic polymorphisms to disease progression. This review will describe the effects of G protein signaling in immune cells, summarize the current understanding of CCR5 and CXCR4-initiated signal transduction in HIV replication, and discuss important gaps that still remain in our understanding of G protein signaling and its contribution to HIV pathogenesis.

Clarifying the role of G protein signaling in HIV infection: new approaches to an old question.

Natural killer T cells (NKT cells) represent a subset of T lymphocytes that express natural killer (NK) cell surface markers. A subset of NKT cells, termed invariant NKT cells (iNKT), express a highly restricted T cell receptor (TCR) and respond to CD1d-restricted lipid ligands. iNKT cells are now appreciated to play an important role in linking innate and adaptive immune responses and have been implicated in infectious disease, allergy, asthma, autoimmunity, and tumor surveillance. Advances in iNKT identification and purification have allowed for the detailed study of iNKT activity in both humans and mice during a variety of chronic and acute infections. Comparison of iNKT function between non-pathogenic simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) infection models and chronic HIV-infected patients implies a role for iNKT activity in controlling immune activation. In vitro studies of influenza infection have revealed novel effector functions of iNKT cells including IL-22 production and modulation of myeloid-derived suppressor cells, but ex vivo characterization of human iNKT cells during influenza infection are lacking. Similarly, as recent evidence suggests iNKT involvement in dengue virus pathogenesis, iNKT cells may modulate responses to a number of emerging pathogens. This Review will summarize current knowledge of iNKT involvement in responses to viral infections in both human and mouse models and will identify critical gaps in knowledge and opportunities for future study. We will also highlight recent efforts to harness iNKT ligands as vaccine adjuvants capable of improving vaccination-induced cellular immune responses.

Invariant NKT cells: regulation and function during viral infection.

Men who have sex with men (MSM) are at high risk of HIV-1 acquisition and transmission, yet there remains limited data in the African context, and for men who sell sex to men (MSM SW) in particular.

Article	Year
Clarifying the role of G protein signaling in HIV infection: new approaches to an old question. AIDS reviews\| PubMed ID: 20842205	2010
Invariant NKT cells: regulation and function during viral infection. PLoS pathogens\| PubMed ID: 22916008	2012
High HIV risk in a cohort of male sex workers from Nairobi, Kenya. Sexually transmitted infections\| PubMed ID: 24337729	2014

Jennifer A. Juno

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