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Infection with feline immunodeficiency virus directly activates CD4+ CD25+ T regulatory cells

Michelle M Miller1, Jonathan E Fogle, Mary B Tompkins

  • 1Department of Population Health and Pathobiology, North Carolina State University College of Veterinary Medicine, Raleigh, North Carolina, USA.

Journal of Virology
|June 14, 2013
PubMed

Insights

Feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) directly infects and activates T regulatory (Treg) cells. This lentivirus-induced Treg activation, marked by increased immunosuppression and specific markers, may drive immune dysfunction in AIDS.

Area of Science:

  • Immunology
  • Virology
  • Cell Biology

Background:

  • Lentivirus infections, such as FIV, are known to impact immune cells.
  • T regulatory (Treg) cells play a crucial role in immune suppression.
  • The precise mechanisms by which lentiviruses affect Treg cells remain unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate whether feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) directly infects and activates Treg cells.
  • To determine the functional and molecular changes in Treg cells upon FIV infection.

Main Methods:

  • In vitro infection of feline cells with FIV.
  • Assessment of Treg cell activation through functional immunosuppressive assays.
  • Analysis of Treg cell marker expression, including GARP, FoxP3, and membrane-bound TGF-β.

Main Results:

  • FIV infection, but not UV-inactivated FIV, led to the activation of Treg cells.
  • Activated Treg cells exhibited enhanced immunosuppressive function.
  • Upregulation of GARP, FoxP3, and membrane-bound TGF-β was observed in FIV-infected Treg cells.

Conclusions:

  • Lentiviruses, specifically FIV, can directly infect and activate Treg cells.
  • This activation of Treg cells by FIV may contribute to the immune dysfunction observed in lentiviral infections like AIDS.

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