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SIV-associated Lymphomas in Rhesus Monkeys (Macaca mulatta) in Comparison with HIV-associated Lymphomas

German Primate Center, Göttingen, Germany

A retrospective study was performed to characterize malignant lymphomas of 16 Simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV)-infected rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta), 2–9 years of age, on the basis of clinical data, histologic and immunophenotypic results, and cell death indices compiled with the TdT-mediated X-duTP nick end labeling method. We particularly focused on providing immunohistochemical evidence of expression products of EBNA2, Bcl2, c-Myc, P21, P53, and Bc16. Results were compared with data from the literature on human HIV-associated lymphomas. According to the updated Kiel classification, the lymphomas were classified as 11 centroblastic lymphomas, three immunoblastic lymphomas, one Burkitt-like lymphoma, and one immunocytoma. Using antibodies to CD20, the B-cell origin of tumor cells was demonstrated. SIV antigen was not demonstrated in the tumor cells. Infection with rhesus lymphocryptovirus was present in 94% of the monkeys. Lymphomas revealed expression of Bc12 in 15/16 (94%), c-Myc in 14/16 (88%), P21 in 10/16 (63%), P53 in 12/16 (75%), and Bc16 in 1/16 (6%) monkeys. This study provided evidence that the expression of these gene products, which are thought to play an important role in cell proliferation and apoptosis in HIV- and non-HIV-associated lymphomas, are also involved in the pathogenesis of lymphomas in SIV-infected rhesus monkeys. A tentative relationship between the described gene products and the cell death indices was established for the expression of Bc12. The present primate model represents a suitable animal model for studying the pathogenesis of AIDS-associated lymphomas.

Key words: Bc12; Bc16; c-Myc; immunohistochemistry; in situ nick end labeling; lymphoma; P21; P53; rhesus monkeys; SIV.

Request reprints from Dr. F.-J. Kaup, German Primate Center, Department of Primate Veterinary Medicine and Primate Husbandry, Kellnerweg 4, 37077 Göttingen (Germany). E-mail: fkaup{at}gwdg.de.