Rapid progression is associated with lymphoid follicle dysfunction in SIV-infected infant rhesus macaques
Open Access
- 7 May 2021
- journal article
- research article
- Published by Public Library of Science (PLoS) in PLoS Pathogens
- Vol. 17 (5), e1009575
- https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.ppat.1009575
Abstract
HIV-infected infants are at an increased risk of progressing rapidly to AIDS in the first weeks of life. Here, we evaluated immunological and virological parameters in 25 SIV-infected infant rhesus macaques to understand the factors influencing a rapid disease outcome. Infant macaques were infected with SIVmac251 and monitored for 10 to 17 weeks post-infection. SIV-infected infants were divided into either typical (TypP) or rapid (RP) progressor groups based on levels of plasma anti-SIV antibody and viral load, with RP infants having low SIV-specific antibodies and high viral loads. Following SIV infection, 11 out of 25 infant macaques exhibited an RP phenotype. Interestingly, TypP had lower levels of total CD4 T cells, similar reductions in CD4/CD8 ratios and elevated activation of CD8 T cells, as measured by the levels of HLA-DR, compared to RP. Differences between the two groups were identified in other immune cell populations, including a failure to expand activated memory (CD21-CD27+) B cells in peripheral blood in RP infant macaques, as well as reduced levels of germinal center (GC) B cells and T follicular helper (Tfh) cells in spleens (4- and 10-weeks post-SIV). Reduced B cell proliferation in splenic germinal GCs was associated with increased SIV+ cell density and follicular type 1 interferon (IFN)-induced immune activation. Further analyses determined that at 2-weeks post SIV infection TypP infants exhibited elevated levels of the GC-inducing chemokine CXCL13 in plasma, as well as significantly lower levels of viral envelope diversity compared to RP infants. Our findings provide evidence that early viral and immunologic events following SIV infection contributes to impairment of B cells, Tfh cells and germinal center formation, ultimately impeding the development of SIV-specific antibody responses in rapidly progressing infant macaques. Despite significant reductions in vertical HIV transmission, nearly 100,000 children succumb to AIDS-related illnesses each year. Indeed, infants face a disproportionately higher risk of progressing to AIDS, with roughly half of HIV+ infants exhibiting a rapid progression to AIDS-associated morbidity and mortality. Here, we evaluated immunological and virological parameters in 25 simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV)-infected infant rhesus macaques to assess the factors that influence a rapid disease outcome. Infant macaques were infected with simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) and divided into either typical (TypP) or rapid (RP) progressor groups. RP infants exhibited low levels of plasma anti-SIV antibody and high viral loads. Following SIV infection, 11 out of 25 infant macaques exhibited an RP phenotype with some exhibiting AIDS-related symptoms. This study provides evidence that the low levels of anti-SIV antibodies are associated with impairments to both B and T cells in both blood and lymphoid tissues. These changes are associated with the prolonged expression of type 1 interferons which may be impeding development of a healthy humoral immune response in these rapidly progressing SIV-infected infant macaques. These findings have implications regarding potential therapeutic approaches to prevent rapid progression in HIV infected infants.Keywords
Funding Information
- National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (DE023047)
- National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (DE026336)
- National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (DE026336)
- National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (AI133706)
- University of Washington Department of Global Health (A1750915)
This publication has 75 references indexed in Scilit:
- Follicular dendritic cells help establish follicle identity and promote B cell retention in germinal centersThe Journal of Experimental Medicine, 2011
- Generalized immune activation and innate immune responses in simian immunodeficiency virus infectionCurrent Opinion in HIV and AIDS, 2011
- The Early Interferon Alpha Subtype Response in Infant Macaques Infected Orally With SIVJAIDS Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes, 2010
- Nonpathogenesis of Simian Immunodeficiency Virus Infection Is Associated with Reduced Inflammation and Recruitment of Plasmacytoid Dendritic Cells to Lymph Nodes, Not to Lack of an Interferon Type I Response, during the Acute PhaseJournal of Virology, 2010
- HIV-1-specific antibody responses during acute and chronic HIV-1 infectionCurrent Opinion in HIV and AIDS, 2009
- Early Divergence in Lymphoid Tissue Apoptosis between Pathogenic and Nonpathogenic Simian Immunodeficiency Virus Infections of Nonhuman PrimatesJournal of Virology, 2008
- Mamu-B*08-Positive Macaques Control Simian Immunodeficiency Virus ReplicationJournal of Virology, 2007
- Unique Pathology in Simian Immunodeficiency Virus-Infected Rapid Progressor Macaques Is Consistent with a Pathogenesis Distinct from That of Classical AIDSJournal of Virology, 2007
- Plasmacytoid dendritic cells prime IL-10–producing T regulatory cells by inducible costimulator ligandThe Journal of Experimental Medicine, 2007
- Microbial translocation is a cause of systemic immune activation in chronic HIV infectionNature Medicine, 2006