Work

Significant Depletion of CD4+T Cells Occurs in the Oral Mucosa during Simian Immunodeficiency Virus Infection with the Infected CD4+T Cell Reservoir Continuing to Persist in the Oral Mucosa during Antiretroviral Therapy

Year: 2015

Type: article

Abstract: Human and simian immunodeficiency virus (HIV and SIV) infections are characterized by manifestation of numerous opportunistic infections and inflammatory conditions in the oral mucosa. The loss of CD4(+) T cells that play a critical role in maintaining mucosal immunity likely contributes to this process. Here we show that CD4(+) T cells constitute a minor population of T cells in the oral mucosa and display a predominantly central memory phenotype mirroring other mucosal sites such as the rectal mucosa. Chronic SIV infection was associated with a near total depletion of CD4(+) T cells in the oral mucosa that appear to repopulate during antiretroviral therapy (ART). Repopulating CD4(+) T cells harbored a large fraction of Th17 cells suggesting that ART potentially reconstitutes oral mucosal immunity. However, a minor fraction of repopulating CD4(+) T cells harbored SIV DNA suggesting that the viral reservoir continues to persist in the oral mucosa during ART. Therapeutic approaches aimed at obtaining sustainable CD4(+) T cell repopulation in combination with strategies that can eradicate the latent viral reservoir in the oral mucosa are essential for better oral health and long-term outcome in HIV infected patients.

Source: Journal of Immunology Research

DOI: 10.1155/2015/673815

Authors: Jeffy George, Wendeline Wagner, Mark G. Lewis, Joseph J. Mattapallil

Institutions: Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bioqual

Language: English

Topic: HIV Research and Treatment

Subfield: Virology

Field: Immunology and Microbiology

Domain: Life Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $2,830