Pathogenicity of simian-human immunodeficiency virus SHIV-89.6P and SIVmac is attenuated in cynomolgus macaques and associated with early T-lymphocyte responses.
Because most studies of AIDS pathogenesis in nonhuman primates have been performed in Indian-origin rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta), little is known about lentiviral pathogenicity and control of virus replication following infection of alternative macaque species. Here, we report the consequences of simian-human immunodeficiency virus SHIV-89.6P and SIVmac251 infection in cynomolgus (Macaca fascicularis) and rhesus macaques of Chinese origin. Compared to the pathogenicity of the same viruses in Indian rhesus macaques, both cynomolgus and Chinese rhesus macaques showed lower levels of plasma virus. By 9 to 10 months after infection, both viruses became undetectable in plasma more frequently in cynomolgus than in either Chinese or Indian rhesus macaques. Furthermore, after SHIV-89.6P infection, CD4+ T-cell numbers declined less and survival was longer in cynomolgus and Chinese rhesus macaques than in Indian rhesus macaques. This attenuated pathogenicity was associated with gamma interferon ELISPOT responses to Gag and Env that were generated earlier and of higher frequency in cynomolgus than in Indian rhesus macaques. Cynomolgus macaques also developed higher titer neutralizing antibodies against SHIV-89.6 at 10 and 20 weeks postinoculation than Indian rhesus macaques. These studies demonstrate that the pathogenicity of nonhuman primate lentiviruses varies markedly based on the species or geographic origin of the macaques infected and suggest that the cellular immune responses may contribute to the control of pathogenicity in cynomolgus macaques. While cynomolgus and Chinese rhesus macaques provide alternative animal models of lentiviral infection, the lower levels of viremia in cynomolgus macaques limit the usefulness of infection of this species for vaccine trials that utilize viral load as an experimental endpoint.
Division of Viral Pathogenesis, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, 330 Brookline Avenue, Boston, MA 02215, USA. kreimann@bidmc.harvard.edu
Keith A
KA
Reimann
Robert A
RA
Parker
Michael S
MS
Seaman
Kristin
K
Beaudry
Margaret
M
Beddall
Lauren
L
Peterson
Kenneth C
KC
Williams
Ronald S
RS
Veazey
David C
DC
Montefiori
John R
JR
Mascola
Gary J
GJ
Nabel
Norman L
NL
Letvin
D000818:Animals; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D006678:HIV / Q000276:immunology / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D015483:HIV Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D008252:Macaca fascicularis / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology*; D008253:Macaca mulatta / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology*; D015302:Simian Immunodeficiency Virus / Q000276:immunology / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D013045:Species Specificity; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D019562:Viral Load; D014766:Viremia / Q000821:virology
D015483:HIV Antibodies