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Analysis of Simian Immunodeficiency Virus-specific CD8+ T-cells in Rhesus Macaques by Peptide-MHC-I Tetramer Staining
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Simian immunodeficiency virus-induced meningoencephalitis: natural history and retrospective study

D J Ringler1, R D Hunt, R C Desrosiers

  • 1New England Regional Primate Research Center, Harvard Medical School, Southborough, MA 01772.

Annals of Neurology
|January 1, 1988
PubMed

Insights

Simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) causes severe immune impairment in macaques. SIV infection in macaques leads to meningoencephalitis, a brain inflammation similar to that seen in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-related encephalopathy.

Area of Science:

  • Veterinary Pathology
  • Virology
  • Neuroscience

Background:

  • Simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) is a lentivirus.
  • SIV shares similarities with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), the cause of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS).
  • SIV infection in macaques results in significant immunological impairment, marked by opportunistic infections and neoplasms.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the central nervous system (CNS) lesions in SIV-infected macaques.
  • To compare SIV-induced meningoencephalitis in macaques with HIV-related encephalopathy in humans.
  • To establish the macaque as a model for studying HIV-related CNS diseases.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective autopsy tissue examination of 27 SIV-infected macaques.
  • Histopathological analysis of brain and leptomeningeal tissues.
  • Ultrastructural examination of macrophages for lentiviral particles.

Main Results:

  • Meningoencephalitis was observed in approximately 60% of SIV-infected macaques.
  • Lesions included perivascular infiltrates of macrophages and multinucleated giant cells in the CNS.
  • Ultrastructural analysis confirmed lentiviral particles within macrophages; other findings included neuroglial nodules and endothelial hypertrophy.

Conclusions:

  • SIV-induced meningoencephalitis in macaques closely resembles CNS lesions in human AIDS patients.
  • SIV-infected macaques serve as a valuable animal model for studying the pathogenesis of HIV-related subacute encephalitis and AIDS encephalopathy.

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