Alteration of T-Cell Subsets in the Lymph Nodes from Cats Infected with Feline Immunodeficiency Virus

Abstract

ABSTRACT. Alterations of T-cell subsets in the lymph nodes from FIV-infected cats in various clinical disease stages were examined histologically. In the early stage of infection (AP stage), follicular hyperplasia accompanied by expansion of the paracortical area was observed. Follicular involution and depletion with reduced paracortical area was observed in the ARC and AIDS stage nodes. The maximum section area of the entire popliteal lymph node was expanded significantly in the AP nodes. The paracortical area expanded in the AP nodes and decreased in the ARC and AIDS stage nodes. The cell density in the paracortical area in the AP nodes did not show a significant increase, while there was a significant reduction in the ARC and AIDS stage nodes. The lymph node CD4/CD8 ratio in the AP and ARC stages significantly decreased as compared with that of uninfected control cats, but conversion of the ratio was not seen. The estimated total numbers of CD4 + and CD8 + cells in the maximum section were increased in the AP stage but significantly decreased in the ARC and AIDS stages. Our study indicated that the lymphocyte depletion in the terminal ARC and AIDS stages of FIV infection was associated with both CD4 + cells and CD8 + cells. Findings obtained in this study might provide useful information for studying the pathophysiology of FIV infection. -KEY WORDS: CD4, CD8, feline immunodeficiency virus, lymph node.

Identification of dendritic cells, B cell and T cell subsets in Tasmanian devil lymphoid tissue; evidence for poor immune cell infiltration into devil facial tumors

“…The predominant B cell subset was IgM in all tissues. In lymph nodes, T cells were more abundant in the paracortex and the average CD4:CD8 ratios of lymph node T cells were similar to the ratios reported in other eutherian mammals (Black et al, ; Endo et al, ). When we compared the CD4:CD8 ratios of DFTD‐affected and nondiseased animals, there was no significant difference in the medulla or paracortex of the lymph node.…”

Peripheral and central immune cell reservoirs in tissues from asymptomatic cats chronically infected with feline immunodeficiency virus

“…Lymph node tissue has been examined most frequently, and reports consistently indicate nodal CD4+ depletion occurs as the disease progresses. [11,33,34] This study expanded on previous reports by reporting morphologic and immunohistochemical changes in spleen and intestines as well as lymph node tissue of the FIV-progressor cats. Interestingly, some of the differences identified through immunohistochemistry were not overtly evident in hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) stained sections.…”

Quantification of viral ribonucleic acid in plasma of cats naturally infected with feline immunodeficiency virus

“…43,44 In cats in the ARC and AIDS stages, histologic examination revealed the involution or depletion of lymph nodes. 12-14 Endo et al 15 identified that a decrease in CD4 + and CD8 + ymphocytes in lymph nodes was associated with disease progression to AIDS. Although lymphocyte depletion has been detected in cats in advanced clinical stages of FIV infection, 12,14 there was not a significant correlation between total lymphocyte count and clinical stage of disease (Student t-test) or plasma viral RNA concentration (Spearman rank-order correlation).…”