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J. Virol. doi:10.1128/JVI.01143-08
Copyright (c) 2008, American Society for Microbiology and/or the Listed Authors/Institutions. All Rights Reserved.

Anti-retroviral Therapy Prior to Acute Viral Replication Preserves CD4 T cells in the Periphery but not in Rectal Mucosa During Acute Simian Immunodeficiency Virus infection

Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD 20814; NCI, SAIC, Frederick, MD 21702; Vaccine Research Center, NIH, Bethesda, MD 20892

^* To whom correspondence should be addressed. Email: jmattapallil{at}usuhs.mil.

	Abstract

Rectal mucosa is a major site for HIV entry and CD4 T cell depletion. The early and near-total loss of these cells from the rectal mucosa severely compromises the ability of the mucosal immune system to contain, and control various opportunistic infections. Protecting these cells from infection and destruction can delay disease progression leading to better long-term outcome. Here we show that effective suppression of viral infection in memory CD4 T cells from the rectal mucosa, and peripheral blood to a very low level with anti-retroviral therapy initiated prior to the peak of infection is associated with opposite outcomes in these tissues. A near total loss of CD4 T cells in the rectal mucosa contrasted with preservation of most memory CD4 T cells in peripheral blood during the course of treatment. Interestingly, ART significantly reduced viral infection in memory CD4 T cells from both rectal mucosa and peripheral blood. Though early ART was of limited value in protecting the CD4 T cells in the rectal mucosa, the significant preservation of peripheral CD4 T cells could contribute to maintaining immune competence leading to better long-term outcome.