Determination of simian immunodeficiency virus production by infected activated and resting cells

AIDS. 2007 Jan 11;21(2):163-8. doi: 10.1097/QAD.0b013e328012565b.

Abstract

Objective: To determine the relative amount of virus produced by activated and resting CD4+ T cells.

Design: The total quantity of virus produced by an activated cell relative to a resting cell in vivo was estimated from 'snap-shots' of virus production by infected cells at one time point.

Methods: Bayesian statistical methods were used to determine a credible interval for the desired ratio.

Results: The posterior mean of the ratio of virus produced by a typical activated cell to a typical resting cell is 0.82 to 4.28, depending on the half-lives of the resting infected cells. Simian immunodeficiency virus-infected resting cells could accordingly be responsible for 70 to 93% of peak virus production in the acute stage of infection.

Conclusions: Whereas in 'snap-shots' the infected resting cells apparently produce much less virus than infected activated CD4+ T cells, the coincidence of peak SIV production with predominant infection of resting cells along with longer half-lives for productively infected resting cells point to a major contribution to virus production in early infection.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / immunology
  • CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / virology*
  • Lymphocyte Activation
  • Macaca mulatta
  • Models, Biological
  • Simian Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / immunology*
  • Simian Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / virology
  • Simian Immunodeficiency Virus / physiology*
  • Virion / physiology
  • Virus Replication