Decreased number of CD4{sup +} and CD8{sup +} T cells that express the interleukin-7 receptor in blood and tissues of SIV-infected macaques

Journal Article · Wed Dec 20 04:00:00 EST 2006 · Virology

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.virol.2006.07.031· OSTI ID:20850583

Moniuszko, Marcin ^[1]; Edghill-Smith, Yvette ^[1]; Venzon, David ^[2]; Stevceva, Liljana ^[1]; Nacsa, Janos ^[1]; Tryniszewska, Elzbieta ^[1]; Tsai, Wen-Po ^[1]; Franchini, Genoveffa ^[1]

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1. Animal Models and Retroviral Vaccines Section, National Cancer Institute, NCI, 41/D804, Bethesda, MD 20892-5065 (United States)
2. Biostatistics and Data Management Section, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD 20892 (United States)

Acute HIV/SIV (human/simian immunodeficiency virus) infection results in severe CD4{sup +} T cell depletion in lymphoid compartments. During the chronic phase of infection, CD4{sup +} T cell numbers rebound in blood but remain low in the gut-associated lymphoid tissue (GALT), even when viral replication is suppressed by antiretroviral therapy (ART). Thus, strategies to repopulate lymphoid compartments may ameliorate the clinical outcome of HIV/SIV infection. Interleukin (IL)-7 is a key cytokine for the maintenance of homeostatic proliferation of T cells. In HIV/SIV infection, IL-7 expression is increased, likely to compensate for T cell loss, suggesting that supraphysiological administration of IL-7 could provide additional benefit. However, the ability of T cells to respond to IL-7 is dependent on the level of expression of the IL-7 receptor (IL-7R) in T cells in various body compartments. In here, we investigated the proportion of IL-7R{sup +} T cells in blood, spleen, gut, and genitourinary tract of healthy and SIV-infected macaques with various degrees of CD4{sup +} T cell depletion. We found that the percentage of T cells expressing IL-7R was significantly lower in both CD4{sup +} and CD8{sup +} T cell subsets in SIV-infected macaques than in healthy animals and this decrease directly correlated with the CD4{sup +} T cell number. Importantly, the proportion of CD4{sup +} and CD8{sup +} T cells expressing IL-7R in blood paralleled that found in tissues. IL-7R{sup +} T cells within the SIV-specific CD8{sup +} T cells varied and were lowest in most tissues of viremic macaques, likely reflecting continuous antigen stimulation of effector cells.

• OSTI ID: 20850583
• Journal Information: Virology, Journal Name: Virology Journal Issue: 1-2 Vol. 356; ISSN VIRLAX; ISSN 0042-6822
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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