title: Human and simian immunodeficiency virus-infected chimpanzees do not have increased intracellular levels of beta-chemokines in contrast to infected humans.
abstract: This study was undertaken to explain why chimpanzees infected with HIV-1 (human immunodeficiency virus type 1) or SIV(cpz) (simian immunodeficiency virus of chimpanzee) are relatively resistant to AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome). The numbers of beta-chemokine-positive cells were compared between uninfected and infected humans and chimpanzees using three-color cytofluorometry. In humans, the percentage of beta-chemokine-positive cells was significantly higher in CD8(+) T and natural killer (NK) cells than in CD4(+) T cells in both uninfected and HIV-1-infected individuals. In the presence of HIV-1 infection, however, both CD8(+) and CD4(+) T cell subsets contained significantly more beta-chemokine-positive cells than in the absence of infection. Interestingly, in chimpanzees two important differences were noted. First, their percentage of beta-chemokine-positive CD8(+) T and NK cells was significantly higher than in uninfected humans. Second, in contrast to humans, infection with either HIV-1 or with SIV(cpz) was not associated with increased numbers of beta-chemokine-positive cells. These results indicate that: constitutive high levels of intracellular beta-chemokines in chimpanzees' CD8 lymphocytes and NK cells do not necessarily correspond to lower levels of virus replication during the chronic phase of infection; and increased percentages of beta-chemokine-positive cells in HIV-infection are not a correlate of disease resistance. The data suggest that neither pre-nor post-exposure levels of intracellular beta-chemokines are correlated with the subsequent control of disease progression.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium.
authors.forename: Pascale
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ondoa
authors.forename: Chris
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Vereecken
authors.forename: Katrien
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Fransen
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Colebunders
authors.forename: Guido
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: van der Groen
authors.forename: Jonathan L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Heeney
authors.forename: Luc
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Kestens
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D019742:Chemokines, CC / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000276:immunology* / Q000821:virology; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology; D002679:Pan troglodytes; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000097:blood; D016097:Simian Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000276:immunology* / Q000821:virology; D015302:Simian Immunodeficiency Virus / Q000276:immunology*; D019562:Viral Load
chemical_list: D019742:Chemokines, CC; D012367:RNA, Viral