Minimization of chronic plasma viremia in rhesus macaques immunized with synthetic HIV-1 Tat peptides and infected with a chimeric simian/human immunodeficiency virus (SHIV33).
HIV-1 Tat protein activates resting cells, rendering them permissive for viral replication. Replication of HIV-1 in vitro is enhanced by intercellular passage of Tat protein and inhibited by anti-Tat antibodies. Tat dependence of HIV-1 replication in vivo during acute, chronic asymptomatic and AIDS stages of infection was assessed by comparisons of plasma viremia in Tat-immunized or control monkeys challenged with SHIV(33) or SHIV(33A). Chronic plasma viremia became undetectable or minimized in Tat-immunized asymptomatic SHIV(33)-infected monkeys (p<0.008) while the high viral loads of acute infection or SHIV(33A)-induced simian AIDS were unaffected by Tat immunization. Active or passive immunotherapies targeting Tat provide potential approaches to controlling chronic HIV-1 viremia and preventing AIDS.
Goldstein
G
G
Thymon L.L.C., Short Hills, NJ 07078, USA. gidgold@aol.com
Manson
K
K
Tribbick
G
G
Smith
R
R
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000096:biosynthesis; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D002678:Chimera; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D015696:Gene Products, tat / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000276:immunology*; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006679:HIV Seropositivity / Q000276:immunology; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D008253:Macaca mulatta; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010455:Peptides / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000276:immunology*; D015302:Simian Immunodeficiency Virus / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology*; D019562:Viral Load; D014766:Viremia / Q000517:prevention & control*; D054322:tat Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus
D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D015696:Gene Products, tat; D010455:Peptides; D054322:tat Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus