A dendrite in every pie: Myeloid dendritic cells in HIV and SIV infection

Dendritic cells (DC) are a heterogeneous population of innate immune cells that are fundamental to initiating responses against invading pathogens and regulating immune responses. Myeloid DC (mDC) act as a bridge between the innate and adaptive immune response during virus infections but their role in immunity to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) remains ill-defined. This review examines aspects of the mDC response to HIV and its simian counterpart, simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV), and emphasizes areas where our knowledge of mDC biology and function is incomplete. Defining the potentially beneficial and detrimental roles mDC play during pathogenic and stable infection of humans and nonhuman primates is crucial to our overall understanding of AIDS pathogenesis.