Polyclonal Antibody to DC-SIGN (human) (CT)

Dendritic cells (DCs) that control immune responses were recently found to capture and transport HIV from the mucosal area to remote lymph nodes [1], where DCs hand over HIV to CD4⁺ T lymphocytes. DCs also amplify the amount of virus and extend the duration of viral infectivity. Multiple strains of HIV-1, HIV-2 and SIV bind to DCs via DCSIGN [2]. ICAM-3 is the natural ligand for DC-SIGN [3]. A DC-SIGN homologue (termed DC-SIGNR, L-SIGN, and DCSIGN2) was identified recently [4-8]. DC-SIGN forms a novel gene family with DC-SIGNR and many alternatively spliced isoforms of DC-SIGN and DC-SIGNR [8]. The expression of DC-SIGN was found in mucosal tissues including placenta, small intestine, and rectum.