Heightened cytotoxic responses and impaired biogenesis contribute to early pathogenesis in the oral mucosa of simian immunodeficiency virus-infected rhesus macaques

Simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) infection disseminated into the oropharyngeal tissues of rhesus macaques 6 weeks following intravenous inoculation. Severe local CD4(+) T-cell depletion coincided with increases in NK cell and proinflammatory biomarkers and the disruption of growth-associated gene transcription, demonstrating the rapid establishment of pathogenesis in the oral mucosa.