Vpu protects HIV-infected cells from antibody-dependent cellular phagocytosis by counteracting tetherin.

Vpu prevents antibody-dependent cellular phagocytosis of HIV-infected cells by counteracting tetherin, reducing surface virion accumulation and immune recognition.

• Why it matters: Understanding how HIV evades immune responses is crucial for developing effective therapies, as tetherin plays a key role in innate immunity but is counteracted by viral proteins like Vpu.
• What they did: The study examined Vpu mutations impairing tetherin antagonism and found these mutations increased susceptibility of infected cells to ADCP, with effects dependent on tetherin presence and inducibility.
• The result: Vpu shields HIV-infected cells from ADCP by limiting virion buildup on the surface, highlighting tetherin’s amplified role in immune defense through Fc-mediated functions beyond virus release inhibition.