title: Evaluation of feline monocyte-derived dendritic cells loaded with internally inactivated virus as a vaccine against feline immunodeficiency virus.
abstract: Dendritic cells are the only antigen-presenting cells that can present exogenous antigens to both helper and cytolytic T cells and prime Th1-type or Th2-type cellular immune responses. Given their unique immune functions, dendritic cells are considered attractive "live adjuvants" for vaccination and immunotherapy against cancer and infectious diseases. The present study was carried out to assess whether the reinjection of autologous monocyte-derived dendritic cells loaded with an aldithriol-2-inactivated primary isolate of feline immune deficiency virus (FIV) was able to elicit protective immune responses against the homologous virus in naive cats. Vaccine efficacy was assessed by monitoring immune responses and, finally, by challenge with the homologous virus of vaccinated, mock-vaccinated, and healthy cats. The outcome of challenge was followed by measuring cellular and antibody responses and viral and proviral loads and quantitating FIV by isolation and a count of CD4(+)/CD8(+) T cells in blood. Vaccinated animals exhibited clearly evident FIV-specific peripheral blood mononuclear cell proliferation and antibody titers in response to immunization; however, they became infected with the challenge virus at rates comparable to those of control animals.
authors.affiliation: Retrovirus Center and Virology Section, Department of Experimental Pathology, University of Pisa,Via del Brennero 2, I-56127 Pisa, Italy. freer@biomed.unipi.it
authors.forename: Giulia
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Freer
authors.forename: Donatella
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Matteucci
authors.forename: Paola
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mazzetti
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Tarabella
authors.forename: Valentina
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Catalucci
authors.forename: Enrica
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ricci
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Merico
authors.forename: Leonia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bozzacco
authors.forename: Mauro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pistello
authors.forename: Mauro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bendinelli
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood; D002415:Cats; D003713:Dendritic Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology* / Q000821:virology*; D016181:Feline Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000821:virology; D005260:Female; D016089:Immunodeficiency Virus, Feline / Q000276:immunology* / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000472:pathogenicity; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000276:immunology; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D009000:Monocytes / Q000166:cytology; D013047:Specific Pathogen-Free Organisms; D015164:Vaccines, Inactivated / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000276:immunology; D014765:Viral Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D015164:Vaccines, Inactivated; D014765:Viral Vaccines