Unmasking immune sensing of retroviruses: interplay between innate sensors and host effectors

Nadine van Montfoort, David Olagnier, John Hiscott

Research output: Contribution to journal/Conference contribution in journal/Contribution to newspaperReviewResearchpeer-review

40 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Retroviruses can selectively trigger an array of innate immune responses through various PRR. The identification and the characterization of the molecular basis of retroviral DNA sensing by the DNA sensors IFI16 and cGAS has been one of the most exciting developments in viral immunology in recent years. DNA sensing by these cytosolic sensors not only leads to the initiation of the type I interferon (IFN) antiviral response and the induction of the inflammatory response, but also triggers cell death mechanisms including pyroptosis and apoptosis in retrovirus-infected cells, thereby providing important insights into the pathophysiology of chronic retroviral infection. Host restriction factors such as SAMHD1 and Trex1 play important roles in regulating innate immune sensing, and have led to the idea that innate immune defense and host restriction actually converge at different levels to determine the outcome of retroviral infection. In this review, we discuss the sensing of retroviruses by cytosolic DNA sensors, the relevance of host factors during retroviral infection, and the interplay between host factors and the innate antiviral response in different cell types, within the context of two human pathogenic retroviruses - human immunodeficiency virus (HIV-1) and human T cell-leukemia virus type I (HTLV-1).

Original languageEnglish
JournalCytokine & Growth Factor Reviews
Volume25
Issue6
Pages (from-to)657-68
Number of pages12
ISSN1359-6101
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Dec 2014
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Animals
  • Exodeoxyribonucleases/genetics
  • HIV Infections/genetics
  • HIV-1/genetics
  • HTLV-I Infections/genetics
  • Human T-lymphotropic virus 1/genetics
  • Humans
  • Immunity, Innate
  • Monomeric GTP-Binding Proteins/genetics
  • Nuclear Proteins/genetics
  • Nucleotidyltransferases/genetics
  • Phosphoproteins/genetics
  • SAM Domain and HD Domain-Containing Protein 1

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