Dendritic cell immunoreceptor (DCIR) is
IntroductionIt is known that cell-free virions do not efficiently cross genital epithelial cells. Instead HIV-1 uses primarily dendritic cells (DCs) to penetrate the mucosal epithelium. 1,2 The virus is then transferred and disseminated from this entry site to T-cell zones in secondary lymphoid organs, where it can productively infect residing CD4 ϩ T cells. The infection process causes a marked depletion of CD4 ϩ T cells, 3 progressive impairment of the immune system, as well as chronic hyperactivation of both CD4 ϩ and CD8 ϩ T cells. 4 The initial attachment step of HIV-1 to DCs may occur through several complex interactions between the virus and the target cell surface (reviewed in Clapham and McKnight 5 and in Ugolini et al 6 ) such as the association between the oligosaccharides found on the external envelope glycoprotein gp120 and the mannose receptor (CD206), langerin (CD207), or 8 This will result in virus capture and transmission to CD4 ϩ T cells in an effective trans mode 9 (ie, transfer of virions bound onto DCs and/or localized in endosomes). Another lectin receptor, that is, the dendritic cell immunoreceptor (DCIR), can behave as an HIV-1 attachment factor for HIV-1 to participate actively in trans infection of CD4 ϩ T cells. 10 DCIR also contributes to cis-infection events, that is, infection of surrounding CD4 ϩ T cells by virions produced by DCs productively infected with HIV-1. 10 DCIR is a member of a recently described family of C-type lectin receptors (CLRs), which includes DCAR, dectin-2, BDCA-2, MCL, and MINCLE. These receptors carry a single carbohydrate recognition domain (CRD) at the COOH terminal and generally lack consensus signaling motifs in their cytoplasmic region. 11 Several members of the family, however, possess a positively charged residue in their transmembrane region, via which they associate with immunoreceptor tyrosine-based activation motif (ITAM)-containing adaptor molecules, such as the Fc receptor ␥ chains. Importantly, DCIR is the only family member harboring an immunoreceptor tyrosine-based inhibitory motif (ITIM), which is involved in modulation of cellular responses. 12 DCIR is expressed on the surface of most antigen-presenting cells (ie DCs, monocytes, macrophages, and B cells), as well as on granulocytes, and it is differentially expressed depending on the DC maturation status. 13 Lipopolysaccharide, IL-4, and TNF-␣ down-regulate DCIR expression on neutrophils. 14 The ITIM domain of DCIR contains the consensus sequence S/I/V/LxYxxI/V/L, including a tyrosine residue at position 7 (ie, ITYAEV). 13 Generally, when ITIM-containing receptors are engaged, they become tyrosine-phosphorylated and then transmit signals by binding and activating Src homology-2 domain (SH2)-containing tyrosine phosphatases (eg, SHP-1 and SHP-2) and/or the SH2-containing tyrosine inositol phosphate (SHIP). 15 In the case of DCIR, one study has demonstrated that, when phosphorylated, it recruits both SHP-1 and SHP-2. 16 Nevertheless, there is still no e...