Open AccessPerforin Expression in the Gastrointestinal Mucosa Is Limited to Acute Simian Immunodeficiency Virus Infection
Author(s) -
Máire F. Quigley,
Kristina Abel,
Bartek Zuber,
Christopher J. Miller,
Johan K. Sandberg,
Barbara L. Shacklett
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
journal of virology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.617
H-Index - 292
eISSN - 1070-6321
pISSN - 0022-538X
DOI - 10.1128/jvi.80.6.3083-3087.2006
Subject(s) - perforin , simian immunodeficiency virus , biology , virology , cd8 , immunology , virus , immunodeficiency , chronic infection , viral replication , immune system
Perforin-mediated cytotoxicity is a major effector function of virus-specific CD8 T cells. We have investigated the expression of perforin in the gut, an important site of simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) pathogenesis, during experimental SIV infection of rhesus macaques. We observed significant increases in perforin protein and mRNA expression levels in the colons of SIV-infected macaques as early as 21 days after infection. However, during chronic infection, despite ongoing viral replication, perforin expression returned to levels similar to those detected in SIV-naïve animals. These findings demonstrate the presence of a robust perforin-positive response in gastrointestinal CD8 T cells during acute, but not chronic, SIV infection.