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Viral Reservoirs in Lymph Nodes of FIV-Infected Progressor and Long-Term Non-Progressor Cats during the Asymptomatic Phase.
- Source :
-
PloS one [PLoS One] 2016 Jan 07; Vol. 11 (1), pp. e0146285. Date of Electronic Publication: 2016 Jan 07 (Print Publication: 2016). - Publication Year :
- 2016
-
Abstract
- Background: Examination of a cohort of cats experimentally infected with feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) for 5.75 years revealed detectable proviral DNA in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) harvested during the asymptomatic phase, undetectable plasma viral RNA (FIV gag), and rarely detectable cell-associated viral RNA. Despite apparent viral latency in peripheral CD4+ T cells, circulating CD4+ T cell numbers progressively declined in progressor animals. The aim of this study was to explore this dichotomy of peripheral blood viral latency in the face of progressive immunopathology. The viral replication status, cellular immunophenotypes, and histopathologic features were compared between popliteal lymph nodes (PLNs) and peripheral blood. Also, we identified and further characterized one of the FIV-infected cats identified as a long-term non-progressor (LTNP).<br />Results: PLN-derived leukocytes from FIV-infected cats during the chronic asymptomatic phase demonstrated active viral gag transcription and FIV protein translation as determined by real-time RT-PCR, Western blot and in situ immunohistochemistry, whereas viral RNA in blood leukocytes was either undetectable or intermittently detectable and viral protein was not detected. Active transcription of viral RNA was detectable in PLN-derived CD4+ and CD21+ leukocytes. Replication competent provirus was reactivated ex vivo from PLN-derived leukocytes from three of four FIV-infected cats. Progressor cats showed a persistent and dramatically decreased proportion and absolute count of CD4+ T cells in blood, and a decreased proportion of CD4+ T cells in PLNs. A single long-term non-progressor (LTNP) cat persistently demonstrated an absolute peripheral blood CD4+ T cell count indistinguishable from uninfected animals, a lower proviral load in unfractionated blood and PLN leukocytes, and very low amounts of viral RNA in the PLN.<br />Conclusion: Collectively our data indicates that PLNs harbor important reservoirs of ongoing viral replication during the asymptomatic phase of infection, in spite of undetectable viral activity in peripheral blood. A thorough understanding of tissue-based lentiviral reservoirs is fundamental to medical interventions to eliminate virus or prolong the asymptomatic phase of FIV infection.
- Subjects :
- Animals
Asymptomatic Diseases
CD4 Lymphocyte Count
CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes immunology
CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes pathology
Cats
DNA, Viral biosynthesis
Disease Progression
Feline Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome immunology
Feline Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome pathology
Feline Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome virology
Immunophenotyping
Lymph Nodes immunology
Lymph Nodes pathology
Proviruses genetics
Proviruses metabolism
RNA, Viral biosynthesis
Transcription, Genetic
Virus Replication
CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes virology
DNA, Viral genetics
Feline Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome diagnosis
Immunodeficiency Virus, Feline immunology
Lymph Nodes virology
RNA, Viral genetics
Virus Latency
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 1932-6203
- Volume :
- 11
- Issue :
- 1
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- PloS one
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 26741651
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0146285