Functional impairment of simian immunodeficiency virus-specific CD8+ T cells during the chronic phase of infection

J Virol. 2001 Mar;75(5):2458-61. doi: 10.1128/JVI.75.5.2458-2461.2001.

Abstract

In an attempt to determine why high frequencies of circulating virus-specific CD8+ T cells are unable to control human immunodeficiency virus and simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) replication, we assessed the functional nature of SIV-specific CD8+ lymphocytes. After vaccination and early after infection, nearly all tetramer-staining CD8+ cells produced gamma interferon in response to their specific stimulus. However, by 4 months postinfection with pathogenic SIVmac239, signs of functional impairment in the CD8+ T-cell compartment were detected which might prevent these T cells from efficiently controlling the infection during the chronic phase.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / immunology*
  • Chronic Disease
  • Humans
  • Interferon-gamma / biosynthesis*
  • Macaca mulatta
  • SAIDS Vaccines / administration & dosage
  • SAIDS Vaccines / immunology
  • Simian Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / immunology*
  • Simian Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / physiopathology
  • Simian Immunodeficiency Virus / immunology*

Substances

  • SAIDS Vaccines
  • Interferon-gamma