T Cell Dynamics In SIV-infected Macaques

虽然在HIV疾病进展和治疗(HAART)过程中T细胞的动态--CD4和CD8细胞的代表的变化--已经发表了很多工作，但对T细胞功能亚群的变化知之甚少。事实上，对粘膜T细胞的变化几乎一无所知--这些细胞驻留在肠道或其他外周部位(但可以通过血液运输，在那里被发现的频率很低)。我们正在研究粘膜免疫系统和中枢免疫系统之间的相互关系，使用我们独特的17色流式细胞仪技术从每种动物身上获得尽可能多的信息。我们正在评估SIV疾病和后续治疗方案中血液、淋巴器官和粘膜部位数十个独特T细胞亚群的功能状态。我们还在比较接受疫苗治疗的动物的这些参数，以了解疫苗是否改变了对病毒的特异性免疫反应，以及这种变化对临床结果的影响。

While much work has been published on the dynamics of T cells-changes in representation of CD4 and CD8 cells-during HIV disease progression and treatment (HAART), much less is known about the changes in the functional subsets of T cells. Indeed, virtually nothing is known about the changes in the mucosal T cells-those cells residing in the gut or other peripheral sites (but can traffic via the blood and are found at low frequencies there). We are investigating the interrelationship of the mucosal and central immune systems, using our unique 17-color flow cytometric technology to derive as much information as possible from each animal. We are evaluating the functional status of the dozens of unique T cell subsets in blood, lymphoid organs, and mucosal sites during SIV disease and subsequent therapeutic regimens. We are also comparing these parameters in animals that have undergone vaccine regimens, to understand whether or not the vaccines have altered the specific immune response to the virus and the impact of such changes on clinical outcome.