title: SIV-specific CD8+ T cells are enriched in female genital mucosa of rhesus macaques and express receptors for inflammatory chemokines.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Mucosal T lymphocyte responses in the female reproductive tract, the primary site of HIV transmission in women, may be critical for initial control of virus infection. In addition, characterization of genital immune responses to HIV will be important for the development of a vaccine capable of preventing infection by this route.
  
  
  METHODS
  We analyzed lymphocytes isolated from vagina and cervix of chronically SIV-infected macaques for the frequency of SIV Gag tetramer-binding cells and expression of chemokine receptors.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We found that the frequency of SIV-specific CD8+ T cell responses was 3- to 30-fold higher in genital tissues than in peripheral blood. SIV-specific CD8+ T cells in genital tissues expressed high levels of CXCR3 and CCR5, chemokine receptors normally expressed on memory T cells that home to inflamed tissues. Cells expressing CXCR3 colocalized with its chemokine ligand CXCL9 [monokine induced by interferon gamma, MIG] in the vaginal lamina propria.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results indicate that the frequency of SIV-specific CD8+ T cells in the female genital mucosa is enriched compared with peripheral blood and provide initial information regarding the signals that direct recruitment of T cells to the female reproductive tract.
authors.affiliation: Division of Immunology, New England Primate Research Center, Harvard Medical School, Pine Hill Drive, Southborough, MA 01772, USA.
authors.forename: Mandy A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Cromwell
authors.forename: Angela
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Carville
authors.forename: Keith
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Mansfield
authors.forename: Sherry
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Klumpp
authors.forename: Susan V
authors.initials: SV
authors.lastname: Westmoreland
authors.forename: Andrew A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Lackner
authors.forename: R Paul
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Johnson
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D002584:Cervix Uteri / Q000276:immunology*; D054370:Chemokine CXCL9 / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D015683:Gene Products, gag / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D008253:Macaca mulatta; D009092:Mucous Membrane / Q000276:immunology; D054367:Receptors, CXCR3 / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D016097:Simian Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000276:immunology*; D015302:Simian Immunodeficiency Virus / Q000276:immunology*; D014621:Vagina / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D054370:Chemokine CXCL9; D015683:Gene Products, gag; D054367:Receptors, CXCR3