In stark contrast to HIV infection in humans, natural SIV infections of African non-human primates are typically nonpathogenic despite similarly high virus replication. While the mechanisms underlying this strikingly different outcome are still largely unknown, a consistent feature of natural SIV infections is the lack of chronic immune activation. In HIV-infected humans, loss of mucosal immunity and microbial translocation from the intestinal lumen to the systemic circulation contribute to chronic immune activation and disease progression. In a series of recent studies, we have shown that pathogenic HIV and SIV infections of humans and rhesus macaques (RMs) are associated with preferential depletion of mucosal CD4+ Th17 cells, a T helper cell population deemed critical for the maintenance of mucosal barrier integrity and the production of anti-microbial molecules. Remarkably, this depletion of mucosal Th17 cells is not observed during natural, nonpathogenic SIV infection of sooty mangabeys (SMs), a natural host species. The overarching Aim of this project is to identify the mechanism(s) responsible for the different regulation of mucosal Th17 cells in pathogenic and nonpathogenic lentiviral infections. We will test the following non-mutually exclusive hypotheses to explain why Th17 cells are preserved in SIV-infected SMs but not in HIV-infected humans or SIV-infected RMs: (i) Th17 cells are more resistant to direct virus infection [Aim 1];(ii) Th17 cell renewal and/or differentiation are more effective in maintaining Th17 homeostasis [Aim 2];(iii) Th17 cell homing to mucosal tissues is better preserved [Aim 3]. Elucidation of the mechanisms underlying the preservation of Th17 cells in SIV-infected SMs may provide fundamental insights on how these animals have evolved to preserve mucosal immunity upon infection and thus become AIDS resistant. We believe that this information will be relevant to the design of an AIDS vaccine that will confer protection from the HIV-associated mucosal immune dysfunction. We recently showed that pathogenic HIV/SIV infections of humans and rhesus macaques are associated with preferential depletion of mucosal CD4+ Th17, a cell population deemed critical for mucosal immunity, whose severity correlates with the levels of chronic immune activation and disease progression. Remarkably, Th17 cells are preserved at a healthy frequency during nonpathogenic SIV infection of sooty mangabeys. The overarching Aim of this project is to identify the mechanism(s) responsible for the different regulation of mucosal Th17 cells in pathogenic and nonpathogenic lentiviral infections. The elucidation of these mechanisms may provide fundamental insights on the pathogenesis of the HIV/SIV-associated mucosal immune dysfunction. We believe that this information will ultimately inform the design of an AIDS vaccine that will confer protection from HIV transmission and disease progression.

Public Health Relevance

We recently showed that pathogenic HIV/SIV infections of humans and rhesus macaques are associated with preferential depletion of mucosal CD4+ Th17, a cell population deemed critical for mucosal immunity, whose severity correlates with the levels of chronic immune activation and disease progression. Remarkably, Th17 cells are preserved at a healthy frequency during nonpathogenic SIV infection of sooty mangabeys. The overarching Aim of this project is to identify the mechanism(s) responsible for the different regulation of mucosal Th17 cells in pathogenic and nonpathogenic lentiviral infections. The elucidation of these mechanisms may provide fundamental insights on the pathogenesis of the HIV/SIV-associated mucosal immune dysfunction. We believe that this information will ultimately inform the design of an AIDS vaccine that will confer protection from HIV transmission and disease progression.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
1R01AI084836-01
Application #
7761621
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZAI1-SV-A (M2))
Program Officer
Embry, Alan C
Project Start
2009-09-25
Project End
2010-05-31
Budget Start
2009-09-25
Budget End
2010-05-31
Support Year
1
Fiscal Year
2009
Total Cost
$551,253
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Pennsylvania
Department
Pathology
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
042250712
City
Philadelphia
State
PA
Country
United States
Zip Code
19104
Ryan, Emily S; Micci, Luca; Fromentin, Rémi et al. (2016) Loss of Function of Intestinal IL-17 and IL-22 Producing Cells Contributes to Inflammation and Viral Persistence in SIV-Infected Rhesus Macaques. PLoS Pathog 12:e1005412
d'Ettorre, Gabriella; Baroncelli, Silvia; Micci, Luca et al. (2014) Reconstitution of intestinal CD4 and Th17 T cells in antiretroviral therapy suppressed HIV-infected subjects: implication for residual immune activation from the results of a clinical trial. PLoS One 9:e109791
Micci, Luca; Alvarez, Xavier; Iriele, Robin I et al. (2014) CD4 depletion in SIV-infected macaques results in macrophage and microglia infection with rapid turnover of infected cells. PLoS Pathog 10:e1004467
McGary, Colleen S; Cervasi, Barbara; Chahroudi, Ann et al. (2014) Increased stability and limited proliferation of CD4+ central memory T cells differentiate nonprogressive simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) infection of sooty mangabeys from progressive SIV infection of rhesus macaques. J Virol 88:4533-42
Pallikkuth, Suresh; Micci, Luca; Ende, Zachary S et al. (2013) Maintenance of intestinal Th17 cells and reduced microbial translocation in SIV-infected rhesus macaques treated with interleukin (IL)-21. PLoS Pathog 9:e1003471
Paiardini, Mirko; Müller-Trutwin, Michaela (2013) HIV-associated chronic immune activation. Immunol Rev 254:78-101
Klatt, N R; Estes, J D; Sun, X et al. (2012) Loss of mucosal CD103+ DCs and IL-17+ and IL-22+ lymphocytes is associated with mucosal damage in SIV infection. Mucosal Immunol 5:646-57
Chahroudi, Ann; Bosinger, Steven E; Vanderford, Thomas H et al. (2012) Natural SIV hosts: showing AIDS the door. Science 335:1188-93
Brenchley, Jason M; Paiardini, Mirko (2011) Immunodeficiency lentiviral infections in natural and non-natural hosts. Blood 118:847-54
Paiardini, Mirko; Cervasi, Barbara; Reyes-Aviles, Elane et al. (2011) Low levels of SIV infection in sooty mangabey central memory CD?? T cells are associated with limited CCR5 expression. Nat Med 17:830-6

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