Decline of simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV)-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes in the peripheral blood of long-term nonprogressing macaques infected with SIV mac32H-J5

Autor: Ellen G.J. Hulskotte, Carel A. van Baalen, Marlinda E. M. Dings, Geert van Amerongen, Anna Maria Geretti, Stephen Norley, Rob A. Gruters, Albert D. M. E. Osterhaus, Patrick H. M. Boers
Přispěvatelé: Virology
Rok vydání: 1999
Předmět:
Zdroj: Journal of Infectious Diseases, 180, 1133-1141. Oxford University Press
ISSN: 0022-1899
Popis: The evolution of simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV)‐specific cytotoxic T lymphocyte precursors (CTLps) and their relationship with virus replication were studied in SIV-infected macaques. After primary viremia, 3 of 8 macaques lost culturable virus and polymerase chain reaction‐detectable provirus in peripheral blood. Although proviral DNA persisted in the spleen and lymph nodes, virus loads were below or barely above detection levels. Throughout the study, the 3 macaques remained asymptomatic, with stable CD4 + cell counts. These findings were associated with the detection of CTLps directed against both structural and regulatory SIV proteins. The response peaked during the first 7 months of infection but waned subsequently. CTLps increased after rechallenge of 1 macaque, suggesting that limited antigenic stimulation contributed to their disappearance from circulation. Transient viremia with increasing CTLp frequencies and antibody titers also suggested at least partial susceptibility to reinfection. These findings bear implications for vaccination strategies aimed at inducing protective CTLs against lentiviruses. Although the role of cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) responses in the host defense against lentiviruses has not yet been firmly established, several observations indirectly support the view that CTLs are important correlates of protection against human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection and disease, as reviewed elsewhere [1]. CTLs against HIV antigens have been detected in persons exposed to infectious body fluids but lacking in evidence of infection [1], suggesting, although not proving, that virus clearance by CTLs is indeed possible. A temporal association has also been described between the development of HIV-specific CTLs and the containment of primary viremia [1]. Furthermore, during the early stage of infection, plasma RNA loads show an inverse correlation with the levels of Envspecific CTLs [2], whereas the detection of Rev-specific CTL precursors (CTLps) predicts a subsequent slow rate of disease progression [3].
Databáze: OpenAIRE