Differential expression of type I interferon genes in plasmacytoid dendritic cells from HIV-infected patientss

Background: Plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs) are the most potent producers of type I interferons (IFN). Human genome contains thirteen IFN alpha genes and one IFN beta gene. Research in mice suggests that different IFNs are induced by different stimuli, but whether this is true in human cells is unknown. Patients with HIV-1 infection show chronic interferon response in peripheral T cells, which caused us to analyze the induction of the IFN alpha genes in their dendritic cells. Methods: Uninfected, acutely infected and long-term non-progressive donors were leukopheresed, following which pDCs were isolated by negative depletion. The dendritic cells were then treated for with one of the following: influenza virus, sendai virus, HIV virus, CpG DNA, imiquimod, or media alone, and the cells’ RNA was analysed by real time qPCR for changes in the RNA levels of four IFN alpha genes: α1, α2, α7, α8, as well as IFN beta. Results: Final results were not available at the time of abstract deposition