Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) fails to induce interferon in the cells that it infects, but the underlying mechanisms are not known. These authors show that the virus can in fact activate the interferon pathway in dendritic cells when the usual block to infection is bypassed. Dendritic cell activation depends on the HIV-1 capsid/cyclophilin A interaction, which is known to have a role in HIV-1 infectivity.
- Nicolas Manel
- Brandon Hogstad
- Dan R. Littman