Blocking Type I Interferon Production: A New Therapeutic Option to Reduce the HIV-1-Induced Immune Activation

Figure 2

Vicious circle of type I interferon (IFN) induction in HIV-1 infection. The IFN-alpha induction is no longer balanced in HIV-1 infection. In the lymphatic tissue, plasmacytoid dendritic cells (PDC) are activated through direct cell-to-cell contact with HIV-1-infected cells, which creates an interferon-rich environment, promotes the apoptosis of uninfected T cells, inhibits T-cell functions, and destroys the lymph node architecture. In the periphery, reduced PDC counts and function result in an impaired innate immune response to bacterial and viral stimuli. Decreased natural killer (NK) cell functions may enhance the susceptibility to opportunistic infections and virus-induced tumor growth. The occurrence of pathogens in the periphery further causes PDC activation and depletion into lymphatic tissues.