Chronic alcohol consumption generates a vulnerable immune environment during early SIV infection in rhesus macaques.
BACKGROUND
Alcohol consumption is a common problem in HIV-infected individuals, and the effects of alcohol may alter the efficiency of the immune response, potentially aggravating the disease as well as affecting end organs, such as the brain. However, the elements of the virus-host interaction that are modulated by ethanol are poorly dissected.


METHODS
Ethanol intake was conditioned in rhesus macaques prior to SIV infection, in order to mimic this common human behavior, and allow the evaluation of aspects of the virus-immune system interactions during acute time-points, when important facets of the infection are set up and when virus reproducibly enters the brain.


RESULTS
Although ethanol had a limited effect on the acute plasma viral load, it resulted in reduced circulating memory CD4(+) T cells and increased levels of monocytes expressing the viral coreceptor CCR5. In organs, ethanol consumption impacted immune cells in the liver as well as lymphoid and other nonlymphoid tissues, where CD4(+) T cells were predominantly affected.


CONCLUSIONS
Overall, the consumption of alcohol causes immune cell alterations that can contribute to the generation of a disease susceptible environment upon SIV infection.
Marcondes
Maria Cecilia G
MC
Molecular and Integrative Neurosciences Department, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, California, USA.
Watry
Debbie
D
Zandonatti
Michelle
M
Flynn
Claudia
C
Taffe
Michael A
MA
Fox
Howard
H
D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000276:immunology*; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000276:immunology*; D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004198:Disease Susceptibility / Q000276:immunology; D007107:Immune System / Q000503:physiopathology*; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000473:pathology; D008099:Liver / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D008253:Macaca mulatta; D008992:Monkey Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology* / Q000821:virology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D016097:Simian Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D015302:Simian Immunodeficiency Virus / Q000276:immunology*; D013154:Spleen / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000473:pathology; D019562:Viral Load
D016207:Cytokines