Abstract
Background: Although the majority of drug-naïve HIV-infected patients develop acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), a small percentage remains asymptomatic without therapeutic intervention. Methods: We have utilized the simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV)-infected rhesus macaque model to gain insights into the molecular mechanisms of long-term protection against simian AIDS. Results: Chronically SIV-infected macaques with disease progression had high viral loads and CD4+ T-cell depletion in mucosal tissue and peripheral blood. These animals displayed pathologic changes in gut-associated lymphoid tissue (GALT) and mesenteric lymph node that coincided with increased expression of genes associated with interferon induction, inflammation and immune activation. In contrast, the animal with long-term asymptomatic infection suppressed viral replication and maintained CD4+ T cells in both GALT and peripheral blood while decreasing expression of genes involved in inflammation and immune activation. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that reduced immune activation and effective repair and regeneration of mucosal tissues correlate with long-term survival in SIV-infected macaques.
Original language | English (US) |
---|---|
Pages (from-to) | 261-269 |
Number of pages | 9 |
Journal | Journal of Medical Primatology |
Volume | 35 |
Issue number | 4-5 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Aug 2006 |
Keywords
- Digestion
- Expression profiling
- Inflammation
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Animal Science and Zoology
- veterinary(all)