Viral reservoir is suppressed but not eliminated by CD8 vaccine specific lymphocytes.
It has long been postulated that while CD8 lymphocytes are capable of suppressing human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-1 replication it is unlikely that the viral reservoirs once formed can be cleared. Our previous studies demonstrate that co-immunizing cynomologous macaques with a simian/human immunodeficiency virus (SHIV) DNA-based vaccines induces a strong cellular immune response that is able to suppress viral replication. We further demonstrated that interleukin (IL)-12 could significantly enhance the vaccine specific CD8 lymphocyte response. In this manuscript cynomologous macaques were vaccinated with a SHIV DNA-based vaccine co-delivered with IL-12. The macaques were then challenged with SHIV89.6p. Two years post-immunization and viral challenge we transiently depleted CD8(+) T cells. Plasma viral load increased, demonstrating the central role of CD8(+) T cells in viral suppression yet an inability to clear the viral reservoirs. Furthermore, in the data presented here, we found a higher number of IFN-gamma producing vaccine specific cells did not enhance suppression of viral replication.
Yin
Jiangmei
J
Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, 422 Curie Blvd., Philadelphia, PA 19104, United States.
Dai
Anlan
A
Shen
Anding
A
Lecureux
Jonathan
J
Lewis
Mark G
MG
Boyer
Jean D
JD
D000818:Animals; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D015683:Gene Products, gag / Q000276:immunology; D007111:Immunity, Cellular; D007156:Immunologic Memory; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000276:immunology; D018664:Interleukin-12 / Q000276:immunology*; D008251:Macaca; D018449:SAIDS Vaccines / Q000276:immunology*; D016097:Simian Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D015302:Simian Immunodeficiency Virus / Q000502:physiology; D019444:Vaccines, DNA / Q000276:immunology*; D019562:Viral Load; D014779:Virus Replication
D015683:Gene Products, gag; D018449:SAIDS Vaccines; D019444:Vaccines, DNA; D018664:Interleukin-12; D007371:Interferon-gamma