title: Antibody and cytokine responses in kittens during the development of feline infectious peritonitis (FIP).
abstract: Two recombinant FIPV spike proteins were assessed for their immunogenic properties in 8-week-old kittens, which were then challenged intranasally with FIPV 79-1146. Humoral responses were assessed by ELISA and serum neutralisation test. Changes in PBMC cytokine mRNA levels were detected by a reverse transcription, semiquantitative polymerase chain reaction assay (RT-sqPCR), assessing IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, IL-12 and IFNgamma. All of the kittens developed clinical signs typical of FIP, which were confirmed on gross post mortem examination. The recombinant proteins induced little or no specific antibody response prior to challenge, and failed to alter the course of disease compared to controls. One week after virus challenge, the stimulated PBMCs showed small increases in the expression of IL-6 and IFNgamma mRNA, which correlated with a transient pyrexia. After this time expression of IL-6 mRNA remained unaltered but, as FIP developed, mRNA levels of IL-2, IL-4, IL-10, IL-12 and IFNgamma became markedly depressed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Veterinary Science, University of Bristol, Langford, UK.
authors.forename: D A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Gunn-Moore
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Caney
authors.forename: T J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Gruffydd-Jones
authors.forename: C R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Helps
authors.forename: D A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Harbour
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000032:analysis*; D000917:Antibody Formation; D002415:Cats; D016765:Coronavirus, Feline / Q000276:immunology*; D016207:Cytokines / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics; D017931:DNA Primers / Q000737:chemistry; D015342:DNA Probes / Q000737:chemistry; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / Q000662:veterinary; D016766:Feline Infectious Peritonitis / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000276:immunology*; D009500:Neutralization Tests; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000276:immunology; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000662:veterinary; D013047:Specific Pathogen-Free Organisms; D064370:Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D016207:Cytokines; D017931:DNA Primers; D015342:DNA Probes; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D064370:Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins