[HTML][HTML] Nonpathogenic SIV infection of African green monkeys induces a strong but rapidly controlled type I IFN response

B Jacquelin, V Mayau, B Targat… - The Journal of …, 2009 - Am Soc Clin Investig
B Jacquelin, V Mayau, B Targat, AS Liovat, D Kunkel, G Petitjean, MA Dillies, P Roques
The Journal of clinical investigation, 2009Am Soc Clin Investig
African green monkeys (AGMs) infected with the AGM type of SIV (SIVagm) do not develop
chronic immune activation and AIDS, despite viral loads similar to those detected in humans
infected with HIV-1 and rhesus macaques (RMs) infected with the RM type of SIV (SIVmac).
Because chronic immune activation drives progressive CD4+ T cell depletion and immune
cell dysfunctions, factors that characterize disease progression, we sought to understand the
molecular basis of this AGM phenotype. To this end, we longitudinally assessed the gene …
African green monkeys (AGMs) infected with the AGM type of SIV (SIVagm) do not develop chronic immune activation and AIDS, despite viral loads similar to those detected in humans infected with HIV-1 and rhesus macaques (RMs) infected with the RM type of SIV (SIVmac). Because chronic immune activation drives progressive CD4+ T cell depletion and immune cell dysfunctions, factors that characterize disease progression, we sought to understand the molecular basis of this AGM phenotype. To this end, we longitudinally assessed the gene expression profiles of blood- and lymph node–derived CD4+ cells from AGMs and RMs in response to SIVagm and SIVmac infection, respectively, using a genomic microarray platform. The molecular signature of acute infection was characterized, in both species, by strong upregulation of type I IFN–stimulated genes (ISGs). ISG expression returned to basal levels after postinfection day 28 in AGMs but was sustained in RMs, especially in the lymph node–derived cells. We also found that SIVagm induced IFN-α production by AGM cells in vitro and that low IFN-α levels were sufficient to induce strong ISG responses. In conclusion, SIV infection triggered a rapid and strong IFN-α response in vivo in both AGMs and RMs, with this response being efficiently controlled only in AGMs, possibly as a result of active regulatory mechanisms.
The Journal of Clinical Investigation