Progressive immune dysfunction in cats experimentally infected with feline immunodeficiency virus.
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.
Torten
M
M
Department of Medicine, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis 95616.
Franchini
M
M
Barlough
J E
JE
George
J W
JW
Mozes
E
E
Lutz
H
H
Pedersen
N C
NC
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000096:biosynthesis; D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte; D015704:CD4 Antigens; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D016827:CD8 Antigens; D002415:Cats; D003208:Concanavalin A / Q000494:pharmacology; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D016181:Feline Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000276:immunology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D016089:Immunodeficiency Virus, Feline / Q000276:immunology; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010455:Peptides / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000276:immunology; D011043:Pokeweed Mitogens / Q000494:pharmacology; D013047:Specific Pathogen-Free Organisms; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000276:immunology
D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte; D015704:CD4 Antigens; D016827:CD8 Antigens; D010455:Peptides; D011043:Pokeweed Mitogens; D003208:Concanavalin A