Progressive immune dysfunction in cats experimentally infected with feline immunodeficiency virus.

Abstract

Within 6 months of infection with the Petaluma isolate of feline immunodeficiency virus, specific-pathogen-free domestic cats exhibited a decrease in the percentage and number of circulating CD4+ lymphocytes and in the CD4+/CD8+ T-cell ratio, along with a marginally significant depression of pokeweed mitogen-induced lymphocyte proliferation in vitro. There was no loss of responsiveness to concanavalin A during this stage, and the cats were capable of mounting a satisfactory antibody response to a T-dependent, synthetic polypeptide immunogen. The pokeweed mitogen response deficit became clearly demonstrable by 11 to 12 months postinfection. A decline in the lymphocyte proliferative response to concanavalin A and a diminished ability to mount an in vivo antibody response to the T-dependent immunogen evolved by 25 to 44 months postinfection. Virus infection did not affect the ability of cats to mount an antibody response to a T-independent synthetic polypeptide immunogen. These data indicate that feline immunodeficiency virus produces a slowly progressive deterioration of T-cell function but does not affect the ability of B cells to recognize and respond to a T-independent antigenic stimulus.

• Authors: M Torten, M Franchini, J E Barlough, J W George, E Mozes, H Lutz, N C Pedersen
• Journal: Journal of virology (J Virol) Vol. 65 Issue 5 Pg. 2225-30 (May 1991) ISSN: 0022-538X [Print] United States
• PMID: 1673159 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't, Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.)

Chemical References

• Antibodies, Viral
• Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte
• CD4 Antigens
• CD8 Antigens
• Peptides
• Pokeweed Mitogens
• Concanavalin A

Topics

• Amino Acid Sequence
• Animals
• Antibodies, Viral (biosynthesis)
• Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte
• CD4 Antigens
• CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes (immunology)
• CD8 Antigens
• Cats
• Concanavalin A (pharmacology)
• Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
• Feline Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (immunology, physiopathology)
• Immunodeficiency Virus, Feline (immunology)
• Molecular Sequence Data
• Peptides (chemical synthesis, immunology)
• Pokeweed Mitogens (pharmacology)
• Specific Pathogen-Free Organisms
• T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory (immunology)