title: Diversity of trends of viremia and T-cell markers in experimental acute feline immunodeficiency virus infection.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The early events of human immunodeficiency virus infection seem critical for progression toward disease and antiretroviral therapy initiation. We wanted to clarify some still unknown prognostic relationships between inoculum size and changes in various immunological and virological markers. Feline immunodeficiency virus infection could be a helpful model.
  
  
  METHODS
  Viremia and T-cell markers (number of CD4, CD8, CD8β(low)CD62L(neg) T-cells, CD4/CD8 ratio, and percentage of CD8β(low)CD62L(neg) cells among CD8 T-cells) were measured over 12 weeks in 102 cats infected with different feline immunodeficiency virus strains and doses. Viremia and T-cell markers trajectory groups were determined and the dose-response relationships between inoculum titres and trajectory groups investigated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Cats given the same inoculum showed different patterns of changes in viremia and T-cell markers. A statistically significant positive dose-response relationship was observed between inoculum titre and i) viremia trajectory-groups (r = 0.80, p<0.01), ii) CD8β(low)CD62L(neg) cell-fraction trajectory-groups (r = 0.56, p<0.01). Significant correlations were also found between viremia and the CD4/CD8 ratio and between seven out of ten T-cell markers.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In cats, the infectious dose determines early kinetics of viremia and initial CD8+ T-cell activation. An expansion of the CD8β(low)CD62L(neg) T-cells might be an early predictor of progression toward disease. The same might be expected in humans but needs confirmation.
authors: Service de Biostatistique, Hospices Civils de Lyon, Lyon, France. sylvain.roche02@chu-lyon.fr
authors: Sylvain
authors: S
authors: Roche
authors: Hanane
authors: H
authors: El Garch
authors: Sylvie
authors: S
authors: Brunet
authors: Hervé
authors: H
authors: Poulet
authors: Jean
authors: J
authors: Iwaz
authors: René
authors: R
authors: Ecochard
authors: Philippe
authors: P
authors: Vanhems
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D002415:Cats; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D016181:Feline Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000150:complications* / Q000276:immunology* / Q000821:virology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016089:Immunodeficiency Virus, Feline / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D013045:Species Specificity; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000378:metabolism*; D014766:Viremia / Q000150:complications*
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers