Delayed viral replication and CD4(+) T cell depletion in the rectosigmoid mucosa of macaques during primary rectal SIV infection.
Rectal infection of macaques by SIV is a model for rectal HIV transmission. We focus here on the digestive tract during days 7-14 of primary rectal infection by SIV in 15 rhesus macaques. Surprisingly, we did not detect productively infected cells in the rectosigmoid colon at early stages of viral dissemination. This strongly suggests that there is no massive viral amplification in the rectosigmoid colon prior to viral dissemination. As dissemination proceeds, productively infected T cells are observed in the rectosigmoid colon and small intestine, with rectosigmoid colon showing the heaviest viral load. Lymphoid follicles are infected prior to lamina propria at both sites. When viral dissemination is widespread, inflammatory infiltrates are visible in the rectosigmoid colon, but not in the small intestine. An important decrease in CD4(+) T cells is then observed in the lamina propria of the rectosigmoid colon only.
Couëdel-Courteille
Anne
A
Viral Transmission and Dissemination Group, Immunology Department, Institut Cochin, INSERM U567, CNRS UMR8104, Université Paris 5-René Descartes, 22 rue Méchain, 75014 Paris, France.
Prétet
Jean Luc
JL
Barget
Nathalie
N
Jacques
Sébastien
S
Petitprez
Karine
K
Tulliez
Micheline
M
Guillet
Jean Gérard
JG
Venet
Alain
A
Butor
Cécile
C
D000818:Animals; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D012809:Colon, Sigmoid / Q000821:virology*; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000821:virology*; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000821:virology; D008253:Macaca mulatta; D008297:Male; D012007:Rectum / Q000821:virology*; D016097:Simian Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology*; D014779:Virus Replication