Retroviral vector-transduced cells expressing the core polyprotein induce feline immunodeficiency virus-specific cytotoxic T-lymphocytes from infected cats.
The core polyprotein of feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) was expressed in primary feline T-lymphocytes using a retroviral vector. These cells were used as antigen-presenting stimulator cells (APSC) for the in vitro induction of cytotoxic T-lymphocytes (CTL) from feline peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC). CTL from 4 cats chronically infected with the Petaluma strain of FIV specifically lysed autologous FIV-infected targets in an MHC-restricted manner. The CD8 phenotype of more than 70% of the induced effector cells (97% for cells from one cat) was consistent with MHC class I-restricted cytotoxicity. In addition, it was possible to detect low levels of core polyprotein-specific lysis from effector cells of two of the FIV-infected cats. When observed, the level of lysis, measured as a percentage of specific 111In release, was lower for the transgenic gag-expressing targets than for FIV-infected targets. The difference in killing may reflect the low level of core CTL were not detected in either PBMC stimulated with cells transduced by a retroviral vector without the FIV gag sequence or PBMC from an uninfected cat stimulated with autologous transgenic APSC. The detection of FIV-specific CTL from infected cats following stimulation with transgenic APSC suggests a role for retroviral vectors in determining CTL specific for individual lentiviral proteins in protective immunity.
Li
J
J
Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, Texas A&M University, College Station 77843, USA.
Brown
W C
WC
Song
W
W
Carpino
M R
MR
Wolf
A M
AM
Grant
C K
CK
Elder
J H
JH
Collisson
E W
EW
D016475:3T3 Cells; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D002415:Cats; D002460:Cell Line; D017931:DNA Primers; D016181:Feline Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000276:immunology*; D015683:Gene Products, gag / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D018014:Gene Transfer Techniques; D005814:Genes, Viral; D005822:Genetic Vectors; D016089:Immunodeficiency Virus, Feline / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D051379:Mice; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010641:Phenotype; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D012190:Retroviridae / Q000235:genetics; D013602:T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / Q000276:immunology*
D017931:DNA Primers; D015683:Gene Products, gag; D011994:Recombinant Proteins