A dendritic cell-specific intercellular adhesion molecule 3-grabbing nonintegrin (DC-SIGN)-related protein is highly expressed on human liver sinusoidal endothelial cells and promotes HIV-1 infection

J Exp Med. 2001 Mar 19;193(6):671-8. doi: 10.1084/jem.193.6.671.

Abstract

The discovery of dendritic cell (DC)-specific intercellular adhesion molecule (ICAM)-3-grabbing nonintegrin (DC-SIGN) as a DC-specific ICAM-3 binding receptor that enhances HIV-1 infection of T cells in trans has indicated a potentially important role for adhesion molecules in AIDS pathogenesis. A related molecule called DC-SIGNR exhibits 77% amino acid sequence identity with DC-SIGN. The DC-SIGN and DC-SIGNR genes map within a 30-kb region on chromosome 19p13.2-3. Their strong homology and close physical location indicate a recent duplication of the original gene. Messenger RNA and protein expression patterns demonstrate that the DC-SIGN-related molecule is highly expressed on liver sinusoidal cells and in the lymph node but not on DCs, in contrast to DC-SIGN. Therefore, we suggest that a more appropriate name for the DC-SIGN-related molecule is L-SIGN, liver/lymph node-specific ICAM-3-grabbing nonintegrin. We show that in the liver, L-SIGN is expressed by sinusoidal endothelial cells. Functional studies indicate that L-SIGN behaves similarly to DC-SIGN in that it has a high affinity for ICAM-3, captures HIV-1 through gp120 binding, and enhances HIV-1 infection of T cells in trans. We propose that L-SIGN may play an important role in the interaction between liver sinusoidal endothelium and trafficking lymphocytes, as well as function in the pathogenesis of HIV-1.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antigens, CD*
  • Antigens, Differentiation*
  • Base Sequence
  • Cell Adhesion Molecules / metabolism*
  • Cell Line
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Chromosome Mapping
  • DNA, Complementary
  • Dendritic Cells
  • Endothelium / cytology
  • Exons
  • HIV Envelope Protein gp120 / metabolism*
  • HIV-1 / metabolism
  • HIV-1 / physiology*
  • Humans
  • Lectins / genetics
  • Lectins / metabolism
  • Lectins / physiology*
  • Lectins, C-Type*
  • Liver / metabolism*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Polymorphism, Genetic
  • Receptors, Antigen / genetics
  • Receptors, Antigen / metabolism
  • Receptors, Antigen / physiology*
  • Receptors, Cell Surface / genetics
  • Receptors, Cell Surface / metabolism
  • Receptors, HIV / genetics
  • Receptors, HIV / metabolism
  • Receptors, HIV / physiology*
  • Receptors, Virus / physiology*

Substances

  • Antigens, CD
  • Antigens, Differentiation
  • CLEC4M protein, human
  • Cell Adhesion Molecules
  • DC-specific ICAM-3 grabbing nonintegrin
  • DNA, Complementary
  • HIV Envelope Protein gp120
  • ICAM3 protein, human
  • Lectins
  • Lectins, C-Type
  • Receptors, Antigen
  • Receptors, Cell Surface
  • Receptors, HIV
  • Receptors, Virus

Associated data

  • GENBANK/AF290886
  • GENBANK/AF290887