title: Frequencies of lymphoid T-follicular helper cells obtained longitudinally by lymph node fine-needle aspiration correlate significantly with viral load in SIV-infected rhesus monkeys.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  T-follicular helper (T(FH)) cells are an important population in lymph nodes (LNs) contributing to the generation of highly specific B cells. For SIV studies in rhesus macaques (RM), analysis of LN is necessary, but restricted due to invasive sampling. We applied the minimally invasive LN fine-needle aspiration (LN-FNA) and examined dynamics of T(FH) cells during SIV infection.
  
  
  METHODS
  LN-FNA and LN resection were carried out on uninfected RM. Lymphocytes were analyzed by flow cytometry. Additionally, cells obtained by LN-FNA over time from SIV-infected RM were analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Percentages of lymphocyte subsets were similar in LN aspirates and whole LNs. Analysis of LN aspirates from SIV-infected RM demonstrated a decrease of CD4(+) T cells, while T(FH) cell frequencies increased over time and correlated significantly with plasma viral load.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  By applying LN-FNA, we showed that T(FH) cell expansion in chronic SIV infection is associated with viral load.
authors.affiliation: Unit of Infection Models, German Primate Center, Goettingen, Germany.
authors.forename: Antonina
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Klippert
authors.affiliation: Unit of Infection Models, German Primate Center, Goettingen, Germany.
authors.forename: Nicole
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Stolte-Leeb
authors.affiliation: Unit of Infection Models, German Primate Center, Goettingen, Germany.
authors.forename: Berit
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Neumann
authors.affiliation: Unit of Infection Models, German Primate Center, Goettingen, Germany.
authors.forename: Ulrike
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Sauermann
authors.affiliation: Unit of Infection Models, German Primate Center, Goettingen, Germany.
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Daskalaki
authors.affiliation: Institute of Molecular Virology, Ulm University Medical Center, Ulm, Germany.
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gawanbacht
authors.affiliation: Institute of Molecular Virology, Ulm University Medical Center, Ulm, Germany.
authors.forename: Frank
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Kirchhoff
authors.affiliation: Unit of Infection Models, German Primate Center, Goettingen, Germany.
authors.forename: Christiane
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Stahl-Hennig
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D044963:Biopsy, Fine-Needle; D005260:Female; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000276:immunology*; D016131:Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology*; D008253:Macaca mulatta; D008297:Male; D016097:Simian Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000276:immunology* / Q000821:virology; D015302:Simian Immunodeficiency Virus / Q000502:physiology*; D006377:T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / Q000276:immunology*; D019562:Viral Load
keywords: CD4 T cells; LN-FNA; lymphoid tissue; non-human primates