Persistent expression of Ia antigen and viral genome in visna-maedi virus-induced inflammatory cells. Possible role of lentivirus-induced interferon

Kennedy, P. G. E., Narayan, O., Ghotbi, Z., Hopkins, J., Gendelman, H. E. and Clements, J. E. (1985) Persistent expression of Ia antigen and viral genome in visna-maedi virus-induced inflammatory cells. Possible role of lentivirus-induced interferon. Journal of Experimental Medicine, 162(6), pp. 1970-1982. (doi: 10.1084/jem.162.6.1970)

Abstract

In this study we investigated the pathogenesis of the lymphoproliferative response in the chronic-active visna maedi virus-induced inflammatory lesions. Viral RNA expression was confined to macrophages, but only in tissues showing inflammatory lesions. A persistent and high level of Ia antigen expression was seen in macrophage-like cells in the inflammatory lesions, and the amounts of viral RNA and Ia expression were closely correlated. A small subpopulation of macrophages contained both viral RNA and Ia antigen, and these were found in greatest number in the lung. In vitro experiments showed that a lentivirus-induced interferon (LV-IFN) could induce Ia antigens in normal sheep spleen and lymph node cells as well as in a transformed sheep macrophage cell line. Ia antigen expression in macrophages was transient in the absence of a continuing IFN stimulus and persisted for at least 2 wk in the presence of LV-IFN. LV-IFN also restricted viral replication in macrophages. It is suggested that LV-IFN induced by the inflammatory cells in visna-maedi lesions may induce Ia antigen expression in macrophages, thereby indirectly causing the lymphoproliferative response and restricted virus replication.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Kennedy, Professor Peter
• Authors: Kennedy, P. G. E., Narayan, O., Ghotbi, Z., Hopkins, J., Gendelman, H. E., and Clements, J. E.
• College/School: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Infection & Immunity
• Journal Name: Journal of Experimental Medicine
• Publisher: Rockefeller University Press
• ISSN: 0022-1007
• ISSN (Online): 1540-9538