Improving FIV detection in peripheral blood mononuclear cells using dendritic cells

Abstract

Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV) replicates in T-lymphocytes, more specifically in the peripheral CD134+ subset, resulting in a diminished general resistance against common pathogens. Dendritic cells (dc’s) are antigen presenting cells collecting antigen at various places in the body and offering this antigen selectively to naive T-cells in lymph nodes. This research examined possible enhancement of T-lymphocyte infection using dendritic cells resulting in a more rapid detection of FIV antigen in an attempt to speed up the diagnostic process. Thymocytes and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC's) were combined and cultured with FIV and/or dc's. A semi quantitative p24 ELISA was used to measure the degree of infection. Thymocytic cell infection appears to be enhanced by dc's whereas the influence of dc's on FIV infection in PBMC's did not show a clear effect. Concanavalin A appears to result in an enhancement of the production of FIV in PBMC's.