I. Begara et al., A STUDY ON LYMPHOCYTE-ACTIVATION IN MAEDI-VISNA VIRUS-INDUCED PNEUMONIA, Veterinary immunology and immunopathology, 45(3-4), 1995, pp. 197-210
The stage of activation of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) lymphoc
ytes and peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) from maedi-visna virus (MV
V) infected (n=7) and control (n=7) sheep was investigated by assessin
g four parameters of lymphocyte activation; lymphocyte size and comple
xity, loss of CD5(+) T cells, expression of cell surface interleukin-2
receptor (IL-2R) and expression of DR and DQ MHC Class II molecules.
BALF lymphocytes from MVV-infected animals had a significant loss of C
D5(+) lymphocytes (P < 0.05) and upregulation of DR and DQ MHC Class I
I molecules compared with controls, consistent with BALF lymphocyte ac
tivation. No changes in cell size and complexity or expression of IL-2
R were observed. No evidence of PBL activation was detected. These fin
dings suggest an impaired BALF lymphocyte activation during MVV infect
ion.