Cellular immune responses in rhesus macaques infected rectally with low dose simian immunodeficiency virus

Monkeys infected rectally with low dose simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) were resistant to high dose challenge with SIV. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from two of four challenged monkeys were unable to support SIV replication in vitro unless cultures were depleted of CD8+ lymphocytes. Monkeys that had survived high dose rectal infection with SIV also suppressed virus replication in cultured PBMC. PBMC from uninfected monkeys supported virus replication in both unfractionated and CD8-depleted cultures. Virus-suppressive activity of PBMC may be an important correlate of protective immunity in AIDS.