Antigen-specific cytokine responses in vaccinated Macaca nemestrina

J Med Primatol. 1999 Aug-Oct;28(4-5):181-9. doi: 10.1111/j.1600-0684.1999.tb00268.x.

Abstract

We describe a new surrogate assay for CD8 + T lymphocyte activity that has the capability of discriminating between cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) activity and cytokine-mediated suppressive activity. We applied this approach to two groups of Macaca nemestrina vaccinated with a minimally pathogenic strain of human immunodeficiency virus type 2 [HIV-2 (HIV-2(KR))] as a model of an attenuated virus vaccine. Group 1 was then inoculated with a non-infectious stock of a pathogenic strain, HIV-2287. Both groups 1 and 2 were subsequently challenged with an infectious stock of HIV-2287. Five out of six group 1 animals were protected against CD4 decline, whereas three out of six animals in group 2 were protected. Analysis of CTL responses demonstrated strong activity against HIV-2(KR)-Gag in group 1. It was determined that strong CTL responses correlate with antigen-specific T-helper (Th) type 1 responses. This antigen-specific cytokine assay has the potential to better elucidate the functional mechanisms of CD8 + T-cell-mediated protection than traditional methods to date.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • AIDS Vaccines*
  • Animals
  • CD4 Lymphocyte Count
  • CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / immunology*
  • Cytokines / immunology
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • HIV-2 / immunology*
  • Humans
  • Macaca nemestrina / immunology
  • Simian Immunodeficiency Virus / immunology
  • Vaccination / veterinary*

Substances

  • AIDS Vaccines
  • Cytokines