The role of dendritic cells in keeping HIV in check without drugs
Thursday, June 11, 2015 - 20:20
in Health & Medicine
This image shows cell intrinsic responses against HIV-1 in conventional dendritic cells from Elite Controllers. Elite controllers (EC) are a small group of HIV-infected individuals who are able to suppress the virus in the absence of antiretroviral therapy. EC demonstrate that the human immune system, in principle, is capable of rendering HIV harmless. A study published on June 11th in PLOS Pathogens shows that dendritic cells (DC) of EC are supersensitive to early signs of HIV infection, and contribute to a stronger immune response than that seen in individuals who fail to control the virus in the long term.