Associated changes in the transcription levels of IL-17A and tight junction-associated genes in the duodenal mucosa of rhesus macaques repeatedly exposed to simian/human immunodeficiency virus.

Abstract Background Mucosal barrier dysfunction might play a key role in HIV/AIDS, yet the early effects of HIV-1 on intestinal mucosal barrier, especially tight junctions (TJ) have not been well addressed. Aims To investigate the effects of acute HIV-1 infection on the expression of intestinal IL-17A and TJ-associated genes using an NHP-AIDS model. Methods TaqMan probe real-time RT-PCR methods were established and claudin-1, claudin-3, occludin and zonula occluden-1 (ZO-1) mRNA levels in the duodenal biopsies of rhesus macaques collected before and after rectal exposures to SHIV-SF162P4 were examined and compared with that of IL-17A, IL-6, TGF-β, RORγt, T-bet, Foxp-3 and GATA-3. Results The mRNA levels of TJ-associated genes were statistically significantly reduced soon after viral exposures and the mRNA levels of claudin-1, occludin and ZO-1 in viral positive tissues (from Group I) were lower than that in viral negative tissues (from Group II) after viral exposure. IL-17A mRNA levels were also decreased and positively correlated with the mRNA levels of the TJ-associated genes after viral exposure or infection, although the levels of IL-6, TGF-β and RORγt mRNA showed no statistical difference. The levels of GATA-3 mRNA in tissues collected before viral exposure were statistically different between Group I and Group II animals. The balance between T-bet and GATA-3 mRNA levels in Group II was markedly altered and statistically significantly different from that in Group I. Conclusions Acute SHIV, and by extension HIV infection could affect the expression of TJ-associated genes, probably through IL-17A and other immune alterations.