Study of injection Chuankezhi on reducing B cell hyperactivation and dysfunction in chronic simian immunodeficiency virus infection

To investigate the mechanism and therapeutic value of injection Chuankezhi (CKZ) on reducing B cell hyperactivation and dysfunction in chronic simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) infection. 12 Chinese rhesus macaques in SIV infection were assigned randomly into a treatment group (n=6) and a control group (n=6), and received daily intramuscular injection of CKZ, and normal saline respectively for 2 consecutive months. Blood sample and lymph node biopsies were collected at the time-points as intialed. B cell and subtypes, lymphoid follicle, Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) were determined by flow cytometry, Ki-67 immunohistochemical stain and ELISA. CKZ treatment reduced B cell counts, but there was no effect on plasma viral load and CD4 counts. CKZ treatment can make more proliferative cells in follicle corresponded to better lymphoid tissue structure and control LPS level rising and reduces inflammation. We found that CKZ treatment reduced B cell activation and dysfunction and ameliorates follicle cells in lymph node through controlling LPS level in chronic SIV infected.