Abstract
Human and simian immunodeficiency virus (HIV and SIV) replicate optimally in activated memory CD4(+) T cells, a cell type that is abundant in the intestine. SIV infection of rhesus monkeys resulted in profound and selective depletion of CD4+ T cells in the intestine within days of infection, before any such changes in peripheral lymphoid tissues. The loss of CD4+ T cells in the intestine occurred coincident with productive infection of large numbers of mononuclear cells at this site. The intestine appears to be a major target for SIV replication and the major site of CD4+ T cell loss in early SIV infection.
Publication types
- Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
- Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.
MeSH terms
- Animals
- CD4 Lymphocyte Count
- CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / immunology*
- CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / virology
- Colon / immunology*
- Colon / virology
- Immunity, Mucosal
- Immunologic Memory
- Intestinal Mucosa / immunology
- Intestinal Mucosa / virology
- Intestine, Small / immunology*
- Intestine, Small / virology
- Lymphocyte Activation
- Lymphocytes / immunology
- Lymphocytes / virology
- Lymphoid Tissue / immunology
- Lymphoid Tissue / virology
- Macaca mulatta
- Macrophages / virology
- Male
- Receptors, Interleukin-2 / analysis
- Simian Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / immunology*
- Simian Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / virology*
- Simian Immunodeficiency Virus / immunology
- Simian Immunodeficiency Virus / pathogenicity
- Simian Immunodeficiency Virus / physiology*
- Viral Load
- Virulence
- Virus Replication