Prolonged experimental CD4 T-cell depletion does not cause disease progression in SIV-infected African green monkeys.

CD4 T-cell depletion is a hallmark of HIV infection, leading to impairment of cellular immunity and opportunistic infections, but its contribution to SIV/HIV-associated gut dysfunction is unknown. Chronically SIV-infected African Green Monkeys (AGMs) partially recover mucosal CD4 T-cells, maintain gut integrity and do not progress to AIDS. Here we assess the impact of prolonged, antibody-mediated CD4 + T-cell depletion on gut integrity and natural history of SIV infection in AGMs.