Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 8, 2026
The Use of Fluorescent Target Arrays for Assessment of T Cell Responses In vivo
Published on: June 19, 2014
Polyclonal B-cell activation in cats infected with feline immunodeficiency virus
J N Flynn1, C A Cannon, C E Lawrence
1MRC Retrovirus Laboratory, Department of Veterinary Pathology, University of Glasgow, U.K.
Insights
Feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) infection in cats triggers a broad, polyclonal antibody response to non-viral antigens, not just the virus itself. This suggests widespread B-cell activation during FIV infection.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Virology
- Veterinary Medicine
Background:
- Feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) is an important pathogen in domestic cats.
- Understanding the immune response to FIV is crucial for managing feline health.
- The specificity of antibody production during FIV infection requires further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the specificity of the antibody response in cats infected with FIV.
- To determine if FIV infection leads to a virus-specific or a broader polyclonal antibody response.
- To analyze the temporal dynamics of antibody production against various antigens.
Main Methods:
- Assessed antibody responses to non-viral antigens (TNP, ovalbumin, beta-galactosidase, DNA, KLH) in 220 naturally FIV-infected cats and control cats.
- Utilized competition binding studies to examine epitope cross-reactivity with FIV antigens (p17, p24).
- Monitored antibody levels over 90 weeks in experimentally FIV-infected cats.
Main Results:
- FIV-infected cats exhibited higher antibody levels to non-viral antigens, particularly TNP, KLH, and beta-galactosidase, compared to controls.
- Competition binding assays ruled out cross-reacting epitopes on FIV p17/p24, indicating a polyclonal B-cell activation.
- Experimentally infected cats showed elevated antibody responses to heterologous antigens peaking at 10-20 and 40-60 weeks post-infection, with KLH, DNA, and beta-galactosidase remaining high throughout the study.
Conclusions:
- FIV infection induces a polyclonal B-cell activation, leading to antibodies against non-viral antigens.
- The immune dysregulation in FIV-infected cats extends beyond a specific antiviral response.
- This broad antibody response has implications for understanding FIV pathogenesis and immune modulation.
Abstract:
The specificity of the antibody response following natural or experimental infection of domestic cats with feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) was examined. The antibody response to a range of non-viral antigens, including trinitrophenol (TNP), ovalbumin, beta-galactosidase, deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and keyhole limpet haemocyanin (KLH), was measured in 220 cats naturally infected with FIV. Infected cats had higher antibody levels to these antigens, in particular TNP, KLH and beta-galactosidase, than non-infected control cats. Competition binding studies demonstrated that this response was not due to the presence of cross-reacting epitopes on recombinant FIV p17 or p24 antigens, suggesting that the B-cell activation associated with infection was polyclonal rather than entirely virus specific. Studies on cats experimentally infected with FIV revealed a similar pattern, with infected cats developing an antibody response to heterologous non-viral antigens at 6-8 weeks post-infection. There were two discernible peaks of antibody activity, the first occurring 10-20 weeks post-infection and the second peak 40-60 weeks post-infection. The antibody response to KLH, DNA and beta-galactosidase remained elevated throughout the 90-week study period, whereas the antibody levels to the other antigens declined to levels approaching those observed in normal cats.
More Related Videos
04:47A Method to Assess Fc-mediated Effector Functions Induced by Influenza Hemagglutinin Specific Antibodies
Published on: February 23, 2018
08:22Retroviral Overexpression of CXCR4 on Murine B-1a Cells and Adoptive Transfer for Targeted B-1a Cell Migration to the Bone Marrow and IgM Production
Published on: May 31, 2020
