Presence of virion protein x (Vpx) of simian immunodeficiency virus SIVmac 251 in target cells in vivo

Localization of virion-associated protein x (Vpx) of SIV_mac251 was studied in lymph nodes and liver of six SIV_mac-infected monkeys. Vpx was found associated with the network of follicular dendritic cells and macrophages in lymph nodes and/or livers from five out of six animals by immunohistochemistry. Although the humoral response to Vpx occurs in only 50% of the animals, the presence of Vpx in target cell or antibodies to Vpx in all the monkeys studied, suggests that Vpx may be necessary for viral replication in vivo.