Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 3, 2026
Determination of Vaccine Immunogenicity Using Bovine Monocyte-Derived Dendritic Cells
Published on: May 19, 2023
Establishment of canine and feline cells expressing canine signaling lymphocyte activation molecule for canine
Hitoshi Nakano1, Yuki Kameo, Kiyohiko Andoh
1Laboratory of Veterinary Microbiology, Faculty of Agriculture, Yamaguchi University, 1677-1 Yoshida, Yamaguchi, 753-8515, Japan.
Abstract:
Signaling lymphocyte activation molecule (SLAM) is one of the receptors for canine distemper virus (CDV). In this study, canine and feline cells expressing canine SLAM, designated A-72/cSLAM and CRFK/cSLAM, were established for the in vitro study of canine distemper. Recent CDV isolates, KDK-1 and 246, which belong to genotypes Asia/H1 and Asia/H2, respectively, rapidly grew and produced distinct syncytia in both the SLAM-expressing cells. The virus-neutralizing (VN) test was successfully performed using these cells, and the results indicated that sera from dogs experimentally infected with KDK-1 had higher VN titers for homologous strain KDK-1 than for heterologous strain 246 and the vaccine Onderstepoort. These newly established cells expressing canine SLAM would help virological and serological analyses of canine distemper.
Insights
New cell lines expressing Signaling Lymphocyte Activation Molecule (SLAM) facilitate canine distemper virus (CDV) research. These cells aid in understanding CDV virology and serology, improving diagnostic capabilities for this disease.
Area of Science:
- Veterinary Virology
- Cell Biology
- Immunology
Background:
- Signaling Lymphocyte Activation Molecule (SLAM) is a key receptor for canine distemper virus (CDV) entry into host cells.
- Understanding CDV tropism and developing effective diagnostics requires suitable in vitro models.
- Previous studies highlighted SLAM's role, but specific cell lines for detailed analysis were lacking.
Purpose of the Study:
- To establish and characterize canine and feline cell lines expressing canine SLAM (cSLAM) for in vitro CDV studies.
- To evaluate the susceptibility of these novel cell lines to recent CDV isolates.
- To assess the utility of these cells in performing virus-neutralizing (VN) tests for CDV serology.
Main Methods:
- Generation of A-72/cSLAM and CRFK/cSLAM cell lines by introducing the canine SLAM gene.
- Inoculation of cell lines with recent CDV isolates (KDK-1, Asia/H1 genotype; 246, Asia/H2 genotype).
- Observation of viral growth and syncytia formation; performance of virus-neutralizing (VN) tests using dog sera.
Main Results:
- Both A-72/cSLAM and CRFK/cSLAM cells supported rapid growth of recent CDV isolates, producing distinct syncytia.
- Virus-neutralizing (VN) tests were successfully conducted using these cell lines.
- Sera from dogs infected with KDK-1 showed higher VN titers against the homologous strain (KDK-1) compared to the heterologous strain (246) and the Onderstepoort vaccine.
Conclusions:
- The newly established A-72/cSLAM and CRFK/cSLAM cell lines are highly susceptible to recent CDV strains.
- These SLAM-expressing cells provide a valuable platform for in vitro virological studies of CDV.
- The developed cell-based VN assay is effective for serological analysis of canine distemper, aiding in disease diagnosis and vaccine efficacy assessment.
