HIV-1感染导致机体免疫系统被破坏不能有效抵御其它病原微生物的入侵。病原微生物的侵染已被认为是机体免疫激活的重要标志，而机体的免疫激活可能更进一步增强HIV-1的复制和传播。但机会性病原体如何加速免疫系统的破坏尚不明确。
树突状细胞（DC）是机体重要的抗原递呈细胞，在免疫防御中起到重要作用。但在HIV-1感染中，DC却起到了双刃剑作用。DC能被病毒调控以抑制机体的抗病毒免疫反应，也能够被HIV-1利用增加病毒的传播。因此，研究DC-HIV-1的相互作用对于病毒致病机理的阐述非常重要。
中科院上海巴斯德研究所病毒免疫学研究组博士生秦琰在导师王建华研究员的指导下，从艾滋病人皮损组织中分离出隐球菌。隐球菌是一种艾滋病常见的机会性真菌病原体。研究发现，隐球菌能够促进DC的成熟从而增加HIV-1至T细胞的传播，并能加速静息T细胞的活化而增加对HIV-1的易感性。研究结果在一定程度上解释了机会性病原体如何加速病毒复制和增加病毒载量的机制，揭示了病毒的致病机理。
研究结果于2012年6月发表于学术期刊Biochem Biophys Res Commun。该项研究与昆明医学院第一附属医院合作，并得到了来自中科院、国家基金委及上海市等项目资助。（生物谷Bioon.com）
doi:10.1016/j.bbrc.2012.06.020
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Stimulation of Cryptococcus neoformans isolated from skin lesion of AIDS patient matures dendritic cells and promotes HIV-1 trans-infection
Yan Qinb, c, 1, Yu-Ye Lia, 1, Ai-ping Jiangb, c, Jin-Feng Jiangb, Jian-Hua Wangb, ,
Dendritic cells (DCs) play a pivotal role in host defense against invaded pathogens including fungi, while DCs are targeted by fungi for deleterious regulation of the host immune response. A few studies have reported fungal modulation of DC function in these immunocompromised AIDS patients. Cryptococcus neoformans (C. neoformans) is referred as one of the opportunistic fungi of AIDS. Here, we isolated native C. neoformans from an AIDS patient and investigated its effects on DC activation and function. Stimulation of C. neoformans matured DCs, and enhanced DC-mediated HIV-1 trans-infection; moreover, C. neoformans-stimulated DCs promoted the activation of resting T cells and provided more susceptible targets for HIV-1 infection. Microbial translocation has been proposed as the cause of systemic immune activation in chronic HIV-1 infection. Understanding the potential effects of pathogens on HIV-1-DC interactions could help elucidate viral pathogenesis and provide a new insight for against the spread of HIV.
