Recombinant Surfactant Protein D reverses expression of specific genes induced by HIV-1 in EpiVaginal Tissues: Clues for a protective response

We report the HIV-1 induced gene signature of vaginal tissues (EpiVaginalTM, MatTek Corporation, Ashland, MA) using a customised ex vivo model that mimics the vaginal transmission of HIV-1. Importantly, we demonstrate that recombinant fragment of human Surfactant Protein D (rhSP-D) (Mahajan et al., 2008) treated EpiVaginal tissues exhibited a remarkable but selective reversal of HIV-1 specific gene signature suggesting that epithelial behaviour significantly influences transmission events. Tissues were obtained in cell culture inserts and these inserts were transfered to a 12 well plate containing PBMCs.