title: Simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV)-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes in gastrointestinal tissues of chronically SIV-infected rhesus monkeys.
abstract: Although systemic virus-specific cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) responses are of critical importance in controlling virus replication in individuals infected with human immunodeficiency virus 1 (HIV-1), little is known about this immune response in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. This study investigated the GI tract CTL response in a nonhuman primate model for HIV-1 infection, simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV)-infected rhesus monkeys. Lymphocytes from duodenal pinch biopsy specimens were obtained from 9 chronically SIVmac-infected rhesus monkeys and GI tract lymphocytes were harvested from the jejunum and ileum of 4 euthanized SIVmac-infected rhesus monkeys. Lymphocytes were also assessed in GI mucosal tissues by in situ staining in histologic specimens. SIVmac Gag-specific CTLs were assessed in the monkeys using the tetramer technology. These GI mucosal tissues of chronically SIVmac-infected rhesus monkeys contained levels of CTLs comparable to those found in the peripheral blood and lymph nodes. The present studies suggest that the CD8(+) CTL response in GI mucosal sites is comparable to that seen systemically in SIVmac-infected rhesus monkeys.
authors.affiliation: Division of Viral Pathogenesis, Department of Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA. jschmitz@caregroup.harvard.edu
authors.forename: J E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Schmitz
authors.forename: R S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Veazey
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Kuroda
authors.forename: D B
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Levy
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Seth
authors.forename: K G
authors.initials: KG
authors.lastname: Mansfield
authors.forename: C E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Nickerson
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Lifton
authors.forename: X
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Alvarez
authors.forename: A A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Lackner
authors.forename: N L
authors.initials: NL
authors.lastname: Letvin
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001706:Biopsy; D016827:CD8 Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D004064:Digestive System / Q000276:immunology*; D004386:Duodenum / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D015683:Gene Products, gag / Q000032:analysis / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D007082:Ileum / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D007583:Jejunum / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008253:Macaca mulatta; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D016097:Simian Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000276:immunology*; D015302:Simian Immunodeficiency Virus / Q000276:immunology*; D013602:T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D016827:CD8 Antigens; D015683:Gene Products, gag