Lymphocyte Apoptosis during Classical Swine Fever: Implication of Activation-Induced Cell Death

摘要: Infection of pigs with classical swine fever virus (CSFV), a member the Flaviviridae family, causes severe leukopenia, particularly notable lymphocytes. The goal this study was to analyze mechanisms behind CSFV-induced lymphopenia. To end, kinetics leukocyte depletion, appearance apoptotic cells, and infection leukocytes after virulent CSFV strain Brescia were analyzed. Depletion B T lymphocytes noted as early 1 day postinfection (p.i.). Circulating viable reduced mitochondrial transmembrane potential—a particular marker for apoptosis—were also detectable p.i. When isolated peripheral blood mononuclear cells cultured 6 h, significantly more sub-G1 DNA content detected among from CSFV-infected animals, again 3 days first time found in plasma, well leukocytes, However, throughout observation week, <3% circulating no contained or viral antigen. Further analysis infected animals demonstrated an increase CD49d, major histocompatibility complex class II, Fas expression. An increased susceptibility apoptosis vitro observed, addition concanavalin A apoptosis-inducing anti-Fas antibody cultures. Taken together, these results imply that activation-induced programmed cell death mechanism lymphopenia during fever.