The Role of Defensins in HIV Pathogenesis

Figure 2

Impact of defensins on HIV infection. Dendritic cells (DC) sampling mucosal surfaces deliver HIV (yellow hexagon) to mononuclear cells (L/M, lymphocytes and monocytes/macrophages). Epithelial cell injury with subsequent inflammatory responses or inflammation of other causes (i) activates epithelial cells (rectangles with solid lines) to increase the production of human defensin 5 (HD5) and β-defensins (HBDs) and (ii) recruits neutrophils (N) which deliver human neutrophil peptides (HNPs). HNPs impair the epithelial cell barrier (rectangles with dotted lines) and HD5, supported by HBDs, and enhance HIV influx which is amplified by stromal fibroblasts (F). Simultaneously, the chemotactic properties of HNP1 and HBD2 have effected an influx of susceptible mononuclear cells further aggravating the HIV infection.