Increased cellular immune responses and CD4+ T-cell proliferation correlate with reduced plasma viral load in SIV challenged recombinant simian varicella virus - simian immunodeficiency virus (rSVV-SIV) vaccinated rhesus macaques.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

An effective AIDS vaccine remains one of the highest priorities in HIV-research. Our recent study showed that vaccination of rhesus macaques with recombinant simian varicella virus (rSVV) vector - simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) envelope and gag genes, induced neutralizing antibodies and cellular immune responses to SIV and also significantly reduced plasma viral loads following intravenous pathogenic challenge with SIVMAC251/CX1.

FINDINGS:

The purpose of this study was to define cellular immunological correlates of protection in rSVV-SIV vaccinated and SIV challenged animals. Immunofluorescent staining and multifunctional assessment of SIV-specific T-cell responses were evaluated in both Experimental and Control vaccinated animal groups. Significant increases in the proliferating CD4+ T-cell population and polyfunctional T-cell responses were observed in all Experimental-vaccinated animals compared with the Control-vaccinated animals.

CONCLUSIONS:

Increased CD4+ T-cell proliferation was significantly and inversely correlated with plasma viral load. Increased SIV-specific polyfunctional cytokine responses and increased proliferation of CD4+ T-cell may be crucial to control plasma viral loads in vaccinated and SIVMAC251/CX1 challenged macaques.

• Authors: Bapi Pahar, Wayne L Gray, Kimberly Phelps, Elizabeth S Didier, Eileen deHaro, Preston A Marx, Vicki L Traina-Dorge
• Journal: Virology journal (Virol J) Vol. 9 Pg. 160 (Aug 13 2012) ISSN: 1743-422X [Electronic] England
• PMID: 22889373 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural)

Chemical References

• Cytokines
• SAIDS Vaccines
• Vaccines, Synthetic

Topics

• Animals
• CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes (immunology)
• Cell Proliferation
• Cytokines (metabolism)
• Macaca mulatta
• Plasma (virology)
• SAIDS Vaccines (administration & dosage, genetics, immunology)
• Simian Immunodeficiency Virus (genetics, immunology)
• Vaccines, Synthetic (administration & dosage, genetics, immunology)
• Varicellovirus (genetics)
• Viral Load
• Viremia (prevention & control)