Protection of CD4-IgG2-treated rhesus macaques in a high-dose SIVmac239 challenge experiment.

Abstract

<p>To maintain serum concentrations, CD4-IgG2 (or control human polyclonal IgG) was administered subcutaneously over a two-week period by an ALZET osmotic pump. Animals were challenged intrarectally with a single high dose inoculum (3–5×10³ TCID₅₀) of SIVmac239 3-days after initiation of CD4-IgG2 administration. (<b>A</b>) Viral loads for animals treated with 200 mg of control polyclonal human IgG as a function of time following SIVmac239 challenge. All control animals became infected. (<b>B</b>) Viral loads for animals administered 20 mg CD4-IgG2 as a function of time following SIVmac239 challenge. Three out of 6 animals were fully protected and one infected animal showed delayed primary viremia. Due to a technical problem with the ALZET osmotic pump, one of the protected animals (98045) did not receive the full dose of 20 mg but this animal did not become infected. (<b>C</b>) Viral loads for animals administered 200 mg CD4-IgG2 as a function of time following SIVmac239 challenge. Five out of 7 animals were protected and showed no sign of infection at any time point. The minimum detection level was 125 SIV RNA copies/ml with a 95% confidence level. Open symbol indicates protected animal, closed symbol indicates infected animal.</p