The role of the Dendritic Cell in the immunobiology of Feline Infectious Peritonitis

Abstract

Feline Infectious Peritonitis (FIP) is a fatal disease in cats caused by a Coronavirus. During FIPv infection the T-cell population is depleted. This is seen in many other diseases, such as measles and AIDS. In these two diseases, the Dendritic Cell (DC) has been shown to play a role in T-cell depletion. This study endeavours to prove if such a mechanism exists in FIP. In order to investigate permissiveness of DCs for FIPv, a growth curve was produced. This growth curve showed prolonged viral reproduction to intermediate titres. As T-cell depletion during FIPv infection occurs at least partly through apoptosis, a TUNEL assay was used to evaluate this. FACS analysis of infected and non-infected co-cultures of DCs with Thymocytes revealed no difference in apoptosis levels. These data suggest that T-cell depletion during FIPv infection does not occur through apoptosis initiated by FIPv-infected DCs.