Distinct Chemokine Triggers and In Vivo Migratory Paths of Fluorescein Dye-Labeled T Lymphocytes in Acutely Simian Immunodeficiency Virus SIVmac251-Infected and Uninfected Macaques

To define the possible impact of T-lymphocyte trafficking parameters on simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) pathogenesis, we examined migratory profiles of carboxyfluorescein diacetate succinimidyl ester (CFSE)-labeled T lymphocytes in acutely SIV mac251 -infected and uninfected macaques within 48 h after autologous transfer. Despite significant upregulation of homeostatic chemokine CCL19/macrophage inflammatory protein 3β and proinflammatory chemokine CXCL9/monokine induced by gamma interferon in secondary lymphoid tissue in SIV infection, no differences in CFSE + T-lymphocyte frequencies or cell compartmentalization in lymph nodes were identified between animal groups. By contrast, a higher frequency of CFSE + T lymphocytes in the small intestine was detected in acute SIV infection. This result correlated with increased numbers of gut CD4 T lymphocytes expressing chemokine receptors CCR9, CCR7, and CXCR3 and high levels of their respective chemokine ligands in the small intestine. The changes in trafficking parameters in SIV-infected macaques occurred concomitantly with acute gut CD4 T-lymphocyte depletion. Here, we present the first in vivo T-lymphocyte trafficking study in SIV infection and a novel approach to delineate T-lymphocyte recruitment into tissues in the nonhuman primate animal model for AIDS. Such studies are likely to provide unique insights into T-lymphocyte sequestration in distinct tissue compartments and possible mechanisms of CD4 T-lymphocyte depletion and immune dysfunction in simian AIDS.