Rapid turnover of T lymphocytes in SIV-infected rhesus macaques.

Studies of lymphocyte turnover in animal models have implications for understanding the mechanism of cell killing and the extent of lymphocyte regeneration in human immunodeficiency virus infection. Quantitative analyses of the sequential changes in bromodeoxyuridine labeling of CD4 and CD8 T lymphocytes not only revealed the normal proliferation and death rates of these cell populations in uninfected macaques, but also showed a substantial increase in these rates associated with simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) infection. Faster labeling and delabeling in memory and naïve T lymphocyte subpopulations as well as in NK (natural killer) and B cells were also observed in infected macaques, suggesting a state of generalized activation induced by SIV.