Macaques with rapid disease progression and simian immunodeficiency virus encephalitis have a unique cytokine profile in peripheral lymphoid tissues.
The influence of host cytokine response on viral load, disease progression, and neurologic lesions was investigated in the simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV)-infected macaque model of AIDS. Cytokine gene expression (interleukin-1beta [IL-1beta], IL-2, IL-6, IL-10, gamma interferon [IFN-gamma], and tumor necrosis factor alpha [TNF-alpha]) and viral loads were evaluated by semiquantitative reverse transcription-PCR in lymph nodes of 5 control animals and 28 animals infected with SIVmac251 at the terminal stages of AIDS. Infected animals showed higher expression of IFN-gamma, IL-6, and IL-10 mRNAs compared with controls. Levels of all cytokines were comparable between animals with rapid (survival, <200 days) or slow/normal (survival, >200 days) disease progression. However, among rapid progressors, the eight animals with SIV encephalitis had a unique cytokine profile (increased IL-2, IL-6, and IFN-gamma) that was associated with higher viral loads. These observations provide evidence that host cytokine responses may influence SIV neuropathogenesis independent of disease progression.
Orandle
M S
MS
Division of Comparative Pathology, New England Regional Primate Research Center, Harvard Medical School, Southborough, Massachusetts 01772, USA.
Williams
K C
KC
MacLean
A G
AG
Westmoreland
S V
SV
Lackner
A A
AA
D000818:Animals; D002490:Central Nervous System / Q000473:pathology; D016207:Cytokines / Q000235:genetics*; D018450:Disease Progression; D018792:Encephalitis, Viral / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000821:virology; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D008221:Lymphoid Tissue / Q000276:immunology; D008253:Macaca mulatta; D016097:Simian Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000821:virology; D015302:Simian Immunodeficiency Virus / Q000276:immunology; D013997:Time Factors; D019562:Viral Load
D016207:Cytokines