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Temporal patterns of feline immunodeficiency virus transcripts in peripheral blood cells during the latent stage of
K Tomonaga1, Y Inoshima, Y Ikeda
1Department of Veterinary Microbiology, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Tokyo, Japan.
Abstract:
We have investigated the in vivo state of feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) transcription in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) of chronically FIV-infected, asymptomatic cats. FIV was detected in a high percentage of PBMC but not in the plasma of these cats. By quantitative reverse transcription-PCR (RT-PCR) analysis. FIV transcriptional status in the PBMC was characterized by extremely low or undetectable levels of unspliced or singly spliced mRNAs and predominantly multiply spliced mRNAs. Upon stimulation in vitro, however, the larger mRNA species and infectious virus production were rapidly induced in the PBMC. Furthermore, we demonstrated that viral production was induced in association with differential increases in the levels of each multiply spliced mRNA coding for FIV regulatory proteins. From these results, we suggest that replication of FIV is blocked at an early stage of gene expression in vivo, as described in asymptomatic human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) -infected patients, and that FIV infection in cats may be a useful model for clinical latency of HIV infection in man. Moreover, we propose that the replication of FIV in vivo may be controlled by the differential expression of each multiply spliced mRNA.
Insights
Feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) transcription in cats is blocked early in gene expression in vivo. In vitro stimulation rapidly induces viral production, suggesting FIV is a model for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) latency.
Area of Science:
- Virology
- Immunology
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) establishes chronic infections in cats.
- Understanding FIV transcription in vivo is crucial for modeling lentiviral infections.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the in vivo transcriptional state of FIV in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) of asymptomatic cats.
- To explore the potential of FIV as a model for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) clinical latency.
Main Methods:
- Quantitative reverse transcription-PCR (RT-PCR) analysis of FIV RNA in PBMC.
- In vitro stimulation of FIV-infected PBMC to assess viral production.
- Analysis of multiply spliced and larger mRNA species.
Main Results:
- FIV was detected in PBMC but not plasma of infected cats.
- In vivo, FIV transcription was characterized by low levels of unspliced/singly spliced mRNAs and high levels of multiply spliced mRNAs.
- In vitro stimulation rapidly induced larger mRNA species, infectious virus production, and differential increases in multiply spliced mRNAs.
Conclusions:
- FIV replication in vivo is blocked at an early gene expression stage, similar to HIV latency.
- FIV infection in cats serves as a valuable model for studying HIV clinical latency.
- Differential expression of multiply spliced mRNAs may control FIV replication in vivo.