Compromised gastrointestinal integrity in pigtail macaques is associated with increased microbial translocation, immune activation, and IL-17 production in the absence of SIV infection

N. R. Klatt, L. D. Harris, C. L. Vinton, H. Sung, J. A. Briant, B. Tabb, D. Morcock, J. W. McGinty, J. D. Lifson, B. A. Lafont, M. A. Martin, A. D. Levine, J. D. Estes, J. M. Brenchley

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

117 Scopus citations

Abstract

Pigtail macaques (PTMs) rapidly progress to AIDS after simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) infection. Given the strong association between human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and SIV disease progression and microbial translocation and immune activation, we assessed whether high basal levels of immune activation and microbial translocation exist in PTMs. We found that before SIV infection, PTMs had high levels of microbial translocation that correlated with significant damage to the structural barrier of the gastrointestinal tract. Moreover, this increased microbial translocation correlated with high levels of immune activation and was associated with high frequencies of interleukin-17-producing T cells. These data highlight the relationship among mucosal damage, microbial translocation and systemic immune activation in the absence of SIV replication, and underscore the importance of microbial translocation in the rapid course of disease progression in SIV-infected PTMs. Furthermore, these data suggest that PTM may be an ideal model to study therapeutic interventions aimed at decreasing microbial translocation-induced immune activation.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)387-398
Number of pages12
JournalMucosal Immunology
Volume3
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - Jul 2010
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Immunology and Allergy
  • Immunology

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