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. 2008 Mar;9(3):301-9.
doi: 10.1038/ni1566. Epub 2008 Feb 10.

HIV-1 envelope protein binds to and signals through integrin alpha4beta7, the gut mucosal homing receptor for peripheral T cells

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HIV-1 envelope protein binds to and signals through integrin alpha4beta7, the gut mucosal homing receptor for peripheral T cells

James Arthos et al. Nat Immunol. 2008 Mar.

Abstract

Infection with human immunodeficiency virus 1 (HIV-1) results in the dissemination of virus to gut-associated lymphoid tissue. Subsequently, HIV-1 mediates massive depletion of gut CD4+ T cells, which contributes to HIV-1-induced immune dysfunction. The migration of lymphocytes to gut-associated lymphoid tissue is mediated by integrin alpha4beta7. We demonstrate here that the HIV-1 envelope protein gp120 bound to an activated form of alpha4beta7. This interaction was mediated by a tripeptide in the V2 loop of gp120, a peptide motif that mimics structures presented by the natural ligands of alpha4beta7. On CD4+ T cells, engagement of alpha4beta7 by gp120 resulted in rapid activation of LFA-1, the central integrin involved in the establishment of virological synapses, which facilitate efficient cell-to-cell spreading of HIV-1.

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Comment in

  • HIV's gut feeling.
    Sattentau Q. Sattentau Q. Nat Immunol. 2008 Mar;9(3):225-7. doi: 10.1038/ni0308-225. Nat Immunol. 2008. PMID: 18285769 No abstract available.

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