Antimicrobial Peptide LL-37 Produced by HSV-2-Infected Keratinocytes Enhances HIV Infection of Langerhans Cells

SummaryHerpes simplex virus (HSV)-2 shedding is associated with increased risk for sexually acquiring HIV. Because Langerhans cells (LCs), the mucosal epithelium resident dendritic cells, are suspected to be one of the initial target cell types infected by HIV following sexual exposure, we examined whether and how HSV-2 affects HIV infection of LCs. Although relatively few HSV-2/HIV-coinfected LCs were detected, HSV-2 dramatically enhanced the HIV susceptibility of LCs within skin explants. HSV-2 stimulated epithelial cell production of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), including human β defensins and LL-37. LL-37 strongly upregulated the expression of HIV receptors in monocyte-derived LCs (mLCs), thereby enhancing their HIV susceptibility. Culture supernatants of epithelial cells infected with HSV-2 enhanced HIV susceptibility in mLCs, and this effect was abrogated by blocking LL-37 production. These data suggest that HSV-2 enhances sexual transmission of HIV by increasing HIV susceptibility of LCs via epithelial cell production of LL-37.

► HSV-2 enhances HIV susceptibility of epithelial tissue resident Langerhans cells ► HSV-2 stimulates production of antimicrobial peptides by epithelial cells ► LL-37, but not other AMPs, enhances HIV infection of LCs ► LL-37 upregulates LC surface expression of the HIV receptors CD4 and CCR5