Circulating cytotoxic T lymphocyte precursors in maedi-visna virus-infected sheep.
Maedi-visna virus (MVV)-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) were detected, after in vitro culture with MVV antigen and recombinant human interleukin-2, in the efferent lymph and peripheral blood of sheep chronically infected with MVV. Cytotoxicity was mediated by CD8+ lymphocytes and was specific for particular strains of MVV. These precursor CTL were detected in the blood between day 23 and day 100 after infection via the skin. In one out of seven persistently infected sheep MVV-specific cytotoxicity was seen in uncultured peripheral blood cells. Again the effector population consisted of CD8+ lymphocytes. The only other viral infections in which CTL have been detected in peripheral blood mononuclear cells prior to secondary stimulation are those caused by the simian and human immunodeficiency viruses.
Department of Veterinary Pathology, University of Edinburgh, Summerhall, U.K.
B A
BA
Blacklaws
P
P
Bird
D
D
Allen
I
I
McConnell
D000818:Animals; D016827:CD8 Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003602:Cytotoxicity, Immunologic / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000494:pharmacology; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear; D008196:Lymph / Q000166:cytology; D011021:Pneumonia, Progressive Interstitial, of Sheep / Q000276:immunology* / Q000382:microbiology; D012756:Sheep; D016097:Simian Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000276:immunology; D012867:Skin; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology; D013602:T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / Q000276:immunology*; D014790:Visna-maedi virus / Q000276:immunology*
D016827:CD8 Antigens; D007376:Interleukin-2