Genital-associated lymphoid tissue in female non-human primates

Adv Exp Med Biol. 1995:371A:357-65. doi: 10.1007/978-1-4615-1941-6_75.

Abstract

We investigated genital-associated lymphoid tissue (GENALT) in non-human primates (macaques), by augmenting vaginal with oral immunization. The vaccine was a recombinant particulate SIV antigen (p27:Ty-VLP), linked to CT-B, and administered into the vagina by a paediatric naso-gastric tube and into the stomach by a gastric tube. Oro-vaginal or vagino-oral sequence of immunization elicited specific CD4+ T cell proliferative responses to p27 antigen in the genital lymph nodes and the spleen but not in unrelated lymph nodes. CD4+ T cells reconstituted with B cells and macrophages from the genital lymph nodes induced specific IgA and to a lesser extent IgG anti-p27 antibodies. However, the corresponding splenic cells induced greater IgG than IgA antibody synthesis. Intramuscular immunization primed splenic but not genital lymph node cells, and induced CD4+ T cell proliferative responses and predominantly B cell IgG antibody synthesis. Finding primed B and T cells in the genital lymph nodes after augmenting vaginal by oral immunization provides experimental evidence for GENALT in non-human primates. This primate model of vaginal immunization suggests 3 levels of specific immunity: (1) secretory IgA (and IgG) in the cervico-vaginal mucosal epithelium; (2) primed CD4+ T cells and B cells in the genital lymph nodes and the spleen; and (3) circulating CD4+ T cells, B cells and IgG and IgA antibodies specific to the immunizing antigen.

MeSH terms

  • Administration, Intravaginal
  • Administration, Oral
  • Animals
  • Antibody Formation
  • Antibody Specificity
  • Cervix Uteri / immunology*
  • Cholera Toxin / administration & dosage
  • Cholera Toxin / genetics
  • Cholera Toxin / immunology
  • Female
  • Gene Products, gag / administration & dosage
  • Gene Products, gag / genetics
  • Gene Products, gag / immunology*
  • Immunoglobulin A / biosynthesis
  • Immunoglobulin G / biosynthesis
  • Lymph Nodes / immunology
  • Lymphocyte Cooperation
  • Lymphocyte Subsets / immunology*
  • Lymphoid Tissue / immunology*
  • Macaca fascicularis / immunology*
  • Macaca mulatta / immunology*
  • Macrophages / immunology
  • Retroelements / genetics
  • Simian Immunodeficiency Virus / genetics
  • Simian Immunodeficiency Virus / immunology*
  • Spleen / immunology
  • Vaccination / methods*
  • Vaccines, Synthetic / administration & dosage*
  • Vaccines, Synthetic / immunology
  • Vagina / immunology*
  • Vibrio cholerae / immunology
  • Viral Vaccines / administration & dosage*
  • Viral Vaccines / immunology

Substances

  • Gag protein p27, Simian immunodeficiency virus
  • Gene Products, gag
  • Immunoglobulin A
  • Immunoglobulin G
  • Retroelements
  • Vaccines, Synthetic
  • Viral Vaccines
  • Cholera Toxin