biostudies-literatureAllam ANIAID NIH HHS10443https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC4451806biostudies-literatureUnknown5CD4(+) T follicular helper cells (TFH) in germinal centers are required for maturation of B-cells. While the role of TFH-cells has been studied in blood and lymph nodes of HIV-1 infected individuals, its role in the mucosal tissues has not been investigated. We show that the gut and female reproductive tract (FRT) of humanized DRAG mice have a high level of human lymphocytes and a high frequency of TFH (CXCR5(+)PD-1(++)) and precursor-TFH (CXCR5(+)PD-1(+)) cells. The majority of TFH-cells expressed CCR5 and CXCR3 and are the most permissive to HIV-1 infection. A single low-dose intravaginal HIV-1 challenge of humanized DRAG mice results in 100% infectivity with accumulation of TFH-cells mainly in the Peyer's patches and FRT. The novel finding of TFH-cells in the FRT may contribute to the high susceptibility of DRAG mice to HIV-1 infection. This mouse model thus provides new opportunities to study TFH-cells and to evaluate HIV-1 vaccines.Scientific reportsTFH cells accumulate in mucosal tissues of humanized-DRAG mice and are highly permissive to HIV-1.PMC4451806AI102725R01 AI102725Jagodzinski LCasares SMajji SPeachman KKim JAllam AAlving CRMerbah MWijayalath WRatto-Kim SKim JHMichael NLRao MfalseTFH cells accumulate in mucosal tissues of humanized-DRAG mice and are highly permissive to HIV-1.CD4(+) T follicular helper cells (TFH) in germinal centers are required for maturation of B-cells. While the role of TFH-cells has been studied in blood and lymph nodes of HIV-1 infected individuals, its role in the mucosal tissues has not been investigated. We show that the gut and female reproductive tract (FRT) of humanized DRAG mice have a high level of human lymphocytes and a high frequency of TFH (CXCR5(+)PD-1(++)) and precursor-TFH (CXCR5(+)PD-1(+)) cells. The majority of TFH-cells expressed CCR5 and CXCR3 and are the most permissive to HIV-1 infection. A single low-dose intravaginal HIV-1 challenge of humanized DRAG mice results in 100% infectivity with accumulation of TFH-cells mainly in the Peyer's patches and FRT. The novel finding of TFH-cells in the FRT may contribute to the high susceptibility of DRAG mice to HIV-1 infection. This mouse model thus provides new opportunities to study TFH-cells and to evaluate HIV-1 vaccines.2015-01-01T00:00:00Z2015 Jun2025-04-26T08:00:29.522Z2019-03-27T01:52:35ZS-EPMC44518062603490510.1038/srep10443