title: Impaired mitogen-driven proliferation and cytokine transcription of lymphocytes from macaques early after simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) infection.
abstract: Altered cytokine transcription might play an important role in the pathogenesis of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection in humans. The infection of rhesus macaques with simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) provides a relevant animal model for HIV infection. Therefore, we evaluated the cyokine transcription of phytohemagglutinin (PHA)-stimulated lymphocytes in the early phase after infection of four rhesus macaques with pathogenic SIV-mac239. To determine transcription of interleukin (IL)-2, interferon (IFN)-gamma, IL-4, IL-6, and IL-10 we established a semiquantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). After inoculation with SIV, all monkeys became productively infected and developed an acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) like disease. Infection was associated with a proliferation dysfunction of monkey lymphocytes in response to PHA. In addition, a decreasing overall cytokine transcription could be observed during the course of SIV infection. These findings demonstrate that an impairment of the lymphocyte function is associated with a reduced cytokine transcription in the early phase of an immunodeficiency virus infection. The observed differences of cytokine expression might contribute to the impaired immune response of SIV-infected monkeys and HIV-infected humans.
authors.affiliation: Department of Virology and Immunology, German Primate Centre, Göttingen, Germany.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Spring
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Bodemer
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Stahl-Hennig
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nisslein
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Hunsmann
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Dittmer
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016207:Cytokines / Q000235:genetics*; D018450:Disease Progression; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics*; D008253:Macaca mulatta; D008934:Mitogens / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010835:Phytohemagglutinins / Q000494:pharmacology; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D012194:RNA-Directed DNA Polymerase; D016097:Simian Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D015302:Simian Immunodeficiency Virus; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D014158:Transcription, Genetic / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D008934:Mitogens; D010835:Phytohemagglutinins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D012194:RNA-Directed DNA Polymerase