Regulatory T-Cell Markers, Indoleamine 2,3-Dioxygenase, and Virus Levels in Spleen and Gut during Progressive Simian Immunodeficiency Virus Infection

Abstract

ABSTRACT High levels of viral replication occur in gut-associated lymphoid tissue (GALT) and other lymphoid tissues (LT) since the early phase of human/simian immunodeficiency virus (HIV/SIV) infection. Regulatory T cells (T reg ), a subset of immunosuppressive T cells expressing CTLA-4 and the FoxP3 transcription factor, accumulate in LT during HIV/SIV infection. Here we show that FoxP3 and CTLA-4 mRNA are increased in leukocytes from the spleens, lymph nodes (LN), and mucosal sites of chronically SIV-infected macaques with high viremia (SIV HI ) compared to animals with low viremia (SIV LO ). FoxP3 and CTLA-4 correlated with SIV RNA levels in tissues; SIV virus levels in the spleen, inguinal LN, mesenteric LN, colon, and jejunum directly correlated with the plasma virus level. Importantly, CTLA-4 and FoxP3 mRNA were predominantly increased in the CD25 − subpopulation of leukocytes from SIV HI , further challenging the classical definition of T reg as CD4 + CD25 + T cells. Similar to CTLA-4 and FoxP3, expression of indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO), an immunosuppressive enzyme induced by T reg in antigen-presenting cells, was increased in the spleens, mesenteric LN, colons, and jejuna from SIV HI compared to SIV LO and directly correlated to SIV RNA in the same tissues. Accordingly, plasma kynurenine/tryptophan, a marker for IDO enzymatic activity, was significantly higher in SIV HI compared to SIV LO and correlated with plasma viral levels. Increased T reg and IDO in LT of SIV-infected macaques may be the consequence of increased tissue inflammation and/or may favor virus replication during the chronic phase of SIV infection.