Probiotic and Prebiotic Supplementation of Antiretroviral Therapy Improves Gastrointestinal Immunity in SIV-infected Macaques

ABSTRACT: HIV infection results in damage to the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, microbial translocation and immune activation, which are not completely ameliorated with suppression of viremia by antiretroviral (ARV) therapy. Furthermore, increased morbidity and mortality of ARV-treated HIV-infected individuals is associated with these dysfunctions. Thus, in order to enhance GI tract immunity, we treated SIV-infected pigtail macaques with ARVs supplemented with probiotics and prebiotics or with ARVs alone. In the colon, this synbiotic treatment resulted in increased expression of genes associated with antigen presenting cells (APCs), increased frequency and functionality of APCs, enhanced reconstitution and functionality of CD4+ T-cells and reduced fibrosis of lymphoid follicles. Thus, supplementing AR

ORGANISM(S): Macaca nemestrina

SUBMITTER: Peter Wilkinson 

PROVIDER: E-GEOD-42232 | biostudies-arrayexpress |

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-arrayexpress