Th17 cells in natural SIV hosts.
OBJECTIVE
To summarize our current understanding of the regulation of Th17 cells in pathogenic and nonpathogenic lentiviral infections.


RESULTS
It has been shown that Th17 cells, a recently identified T helper-cell subset deemed critical for antimicrobial mucosal immunity, are preferentially depleted in the gastrointestinal tracts of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected humans and simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV)-infected rhesus and pigtailed (PTMs) macaques. In contrast, Th17 cells are preserved at healthy levels in monkey species that are natural hosts for SIV, such as sooty mangabeys or African green monkeys (AGMs), which maintain mucosal immunity and remain AIDS free. These findings suggest that preservation of Th17 cells (or lack thereof) may be central in determining the pathogenic or nonpathogenic outcome of HIV/SIV infection.


CONCLUSIONS
A preferential depletion of mucosal Th17 cells is a feature that distinguishes pathogenic HIV infection of humans from nonprogressive SIV infection of sooty mangabeys and AGMs. The exact mechanism accounting for this different phenotype is still unclear. To understand how natural hosts for SIV preserve Th17 cells and mucosal immunity might be central to the development of therapeutic interventions aimed at improving mucosal immunity in HIV-infected individuals.
Paiardini
Mirko
M
Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, 702 Stellar Chance Laboratory, 422 Curie Blvd., PA 19104, USA. mpaiardi@mail.med.upenn.edu
D000818:Animals; D016665:Cercocebus atys; D002522:Chlorocebus aethiops; D007113:Immunity, Innate; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000276:immunology*; D008251:Macaca; D015302:Simian Immunodeficiency Virus / Q000276:immunology* / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D006377:T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / Q000276:immunology*