Prolonged CD4+ lymphocytopenia and thrombocytopenia in a chimpanzee persistently infected with human immunodeficiency virus type 1.
The immunologic and virologic status of a chimpanzee inoculated with multiple isolates of the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) were assessed over 57 months to determine whether prolonged thrombocytopenia and CD4+ lymphocytopenia observed in the animal might be associated with long-term HIV infection. Although the chimpanzee showed no signs of disease, it lost both CD4+ (as low as 134 cells/microliter) and CD8+ lymphocytes approximately 30 months after initial infection, followed by thrombocytopenia that has persisted for greater than 2 years. Lymphopenia and thrombocytopenia were preceded by or coincided with the appearance of antibodies cross-reactive with histone H2B and decreased levels of complement component C4; an eightfold decrease in HIV-specific antibody titers; the inability of CD8+ lymphocytes to suppress virus replication; impaired proliferative responses to T cell mitogens; and the isolation of cell-free HIV from plasma. These data suggest that, given sufficient time, HIV-infected chimpanzees may develop disease.
Fultz
P N
PN
Yerkes Regional Primate Research Center, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia.
Siegel
R L
RL
Brodie
A
A
Mawle
A C
AC
Stricker
R B
RB
Swenson
R B
RB
Anderson
D C
DC
McClure
H M
HM
D000818:Animals; D015551:Autoimmunity; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes; D003181:Complement C4 / Q000032:analysis; D015935:Complement C4b; D003429:Cross Reactions; D015483:HIV Antibodies / Q000032:analysis; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology*; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000276:immunology; D006657:Histones / Q000276:immunology; D007111:Immunity, Cellular; D008231:Lymphopenia / Q000209:etiology*; D008297:Male; D002679:Pan troglodytes; D010446:Peptide Fragments; D013921:Thrombocytopenia / Q000209:etiology*; D013997:Time Factors
D003181:Complement C4; D015483:HIV Antibodies; D006657:Histones; D010446:Peptide Fragments; C033860:complement C4c; D015935:Complement C4b