title: Replication of equine herpesvirus type 1 in freshly isolated equine peripheral blood mononuclear cells and changes in susceptibility following mitogen stimulation.
abstract: In the present study, the outcome of an inoculation of equine peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) with equine herpesvirus type 1 (EHV-1) was studied in vitro. Cytoplasmic and plasma membrane expression of viral antigens, intra- and extracellular virus titres, and plaque formation in co-culture were determined. EHV-1 replicated in monocytes, although in a highly restricted way. Viral antigens were found at maximum levels (8.7% of the monocytes) at 12 h post-infection. The infection was productive in 0.16% of the monocytes. The virus yield was 10(0.7) TCID(50) per productive cell. In a population of resting lymphocytes, 0.9% of cells were infected and less than 0.05% produced infectious virus. After prestimulation with different mitogens, the number of infected lymphocytes increased four to twelve times. The susceptible lymphocytes were T-lymphocytes. In mitogen-stimulated lymphocytes, clear expression of viral antigens was found on the plasma membrane.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Virology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Gent, Salisburylaan 133, B-9820 Merelbeke, Belgium.
authors.forename: K M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: van Der Meulen
authors.forename: H J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Nauwynck
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Buddaert
authors.forename: M B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Pensaert
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000378:metabolism; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004861:Herpesvirus 1, Equid / Q000472:pathogenicity / Q000502:physiology*; D006736:Horses; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000821:virology*; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000821:virology; D008934:Mitogens / Q000494:pharmacology; D009000:Monocytes / Q000821:virology; D014779:Virus Replication
chemical_list: D000956:Antigens, Viral; D008934:Mitogens