title: SIVagm infection of its natural African green monkey host.
abstract: Possible reasons for the apathogenicity of simian immunodeficiency virus (SIVagm) in its natural African green monkey (AGM) host were investigated. In most respects, the SIVagm/AGM system was shown to resemble human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) infection of humans. AGMs were shown to respond to infection with immune responses similar to those seen in HIV-1-infected humans, with no obvious controlling mechanism observed. The rate of SIVagm in vivo variability was likewise shown to be consistent with that described for HIV-1. Similarly, the level of infection in the peripheral blood was reminiscent of the level in asymptomatic HIV-1-infected patients, although never reaching the levels associated with AIDS. Some potentially important differences were, however, observed. Like humans, AGM CD8+ cells secrete a factor able to suppress SIVagm (and HIV-1) replication but unlike humans, AGMs have a very high percentage of CD8+ lymphocytes in circulation. Also, unlike humans during the asymptomatic stages of infection, AGM lymph nodes do not seem to act as a reservoir for SIVagm and the lymph node structure is not affected. Whether these phenomena are causative or incidental to the state of apathogenicity is the subject of further investigations.
authors.affiliation: Paul-Ehrlich-Institut, Langen, Germany.
authors.forename: S G
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Norley
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002522:Chlorocebus aethiops; D007113:Immunity, Innate; D016097:Simian Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000276:immunology*; D015302:Simian Immunodeficiency Virus / Q000276:immunology*