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SIV Infection Impairs the Central Nervous System in Chinese Rhesus Macaques
Hang Liu1, Qian-Hao Xiao1, Jin-Biao Liu1
1ABSL-III Laboratory at the Center for Animal Experiment, Wuhan University School of Basic Medical Sciences; State Key Laboratory of Virology, Wuhan University, Wuhan, People's Republic of China.
Abstract:
The central nervous system (CNS) impairment is a consequence seen in SIV infection of rhesus macaques of Indian-origin, which is more common in infected macaques with rapid disease progression than in those with conventional disease progression. Here, we investigated the CNS damages in SIVmac239-infected Chinese rhesus macaques. We demonstrated that SIV infection of Chinese macaques could cause neuropathological impairments, which was evidenced by appearance of SIV-RNA positive cells, the infiltration of activated macrophages and abundant multinucleated giant cells (MNGCs) in the different regions of the brains. The animals with high viremia and short survival time (average of 16 weeks, rapid progression, RP) had severer neuropathological changes than those with conventional progression (CP). As compared with the RP animals, CP macaques had lower viremia and much longer survival time (average of 154 weeks). These findings indicate that SIVmac239 infection of Chinese rhesus macaque can be used as a suitable animal model and alternative resource for nueroAIDS research.
Insights
Simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) infection causes central nervous system (CNS) damage in Chinese rhesus macaques. Rapidly progressing infections show more severe neuropathology, indicating a valuable model for neuroAIDS research.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Virology
- Immunology
Background:
- Central nervous system (CNS) impairment is a known consequence of simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) infection in rhesus macaques.
- Neuropathological changes are more prevalent in SIV-infected macaques exhibiting rapid disease progression (RP) compared to those with conventional progression (CP).
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate CNS damage in SIVmac239-infected Chinese rhesus macaques.
- To evaluate the suitability of this model for neuroAIDS research.
Main Methods:
- Assessment of neuropathological impairments in SIVmac239-infected Chinese rhesus macaques.
- Detection of SIV-RNA positive cells, activated macrophages, and multinucleated giant cells (MNGCs) in brain tissues.
- Correlation of neuropathological findings with viremia levels and survival times (RP vs. CP).
Main Results:
- SIV infection in Chinese macaques induces neuropathological impairments, including SIV-RNA positive cells, infiltrating macrophages, and MNGCs in the brain.
- Animals with rapid progression (RP; average survival 16 weeks) exhibited more severe neuropathological changes than those with conventional progression (CP; average survival 154 weeks).
- RP macaques presented higher viremia compared to CP macaques.
Conclusions:
- SIVmac239 infection in Chinese rhesus macaques causes significant neuropathological damage.
- The observed neuropathology severity correlates with disease progression rate and viremia.
- Chinese rhesus macaques infected with SIVmac239 serve as a suitable animal model for neuroAIDS research.
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