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IL-21 Reduces Inflammation and Virus
Persistence in ART-Treated SIV-Infected Macaques
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Reported by Jules Levin
CROI 2015 Feb 23-26, Seattle, WA
WEBCAST:
http://www.croiwebcasts.org/console/player/25831?mediaType=slideVideo&
Background: Residual inflammation persists and critically contributes to non-AIDS-related morbidity/mortality in ART-treated, HIV-infected subjects. Furthermore, inflammation may contribute to HIV persistence during ART. Interleukin (IL)-21 regulates the differentiation and maintenance of IL-17- and IL-22- producing CD4 T cells, which depletion critically contributes to chronic immune activation and disease progression in HIV and SIV infection. In this study, we investigated the effects of Interleukin (IL)-21 administration in chronic, ART-treated SIV-infected rhesus macaques (RMs) on mucosal integrity, residual inflammation, and virus persistence.
Methods: Sixteen RMs were infected with SIVmac239 i.v. and, starting at day 60 post-infection, treated for seven months with PMPA, FTC, Raltegravir, Darunavir and Ritonavir. Eight RMs received IL-21-Fc (100 mg/kg, s.c., weekly for six weeks) at the beginning and the end of ART, with the other eight serving as ART- treated controls. Blood, lymph nodes and rectum were longitudinally collected, and the effects of IL-21 on inflammation, T cell subset levels, and viral persistence assessed. The Mann-Whitney test was used for statistical analyses.
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