EFFECT OF PORCINE CIRCOVIRUS INFECTION ON PORCINE ALVEOLAR MACROPHAGEFUNCTION

The effect of porcine circovirus (PCV) infection of porcine alveolar m acrophage cultures on some of the functional properties of these cells are reported. PCV infection of alveolar macrophages did not affect th eir ability to phagocytose and kill complement-coated yeast cells or t he expression of Fc or complement receptors. A transient increase in m ajor histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I expression in PCV-infect ed cells was observed 4 days after infection and a decrease in the num ber of cells expressing MHC class II antigens was observed 8 days afte r infection. Infection of alveolar macrophages with PCV also resulted in a transient decrease in their ability to act as accessory cells in mitogen-induced lymphocyte proliferation of monocyte-depleted porcine peripheral blood mononuclear cells.