Apoptosis in peripheral CD4+T cells and thymocytes by Marek's disease virus-infection.
Histological study revealed that Marek's disease virus (MDV) can cause apoptosis in peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) in latently infected chickens. Analysis of DNA fragmentation indicated that CD4+T cells but not CD8+T cells underwent apoptosis. These apoptotic changes were also observed in the thymus during the acute phase of the infection. Flow cytometry analysis showed the drastic decrease of CD4+CD8+ thymocytes, indicating that MDV can induce apoptosis in CD4+CD8+ immature thymocytes in acutely infected chickens. These changes might be involved in the immuno-suppression induced by MDV.
Morimura
T
T
Department of Disease Control, Graduate School of Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan.
Ohashi
K
K
Kon
Y
Y
Hattori
M
M
Sugimoto
C
C
Onuma
M
M
D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D002645:Chickens; D053938:DNA Fragmentation; D008381:Herpesvirus 2, Gallid; D008380:Marek Disease / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*; D013950:Thymus Gland / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology