D. Matteucci et al., THE FELINE LYMPHOID-CELL LINE MBM AND ITS USE FOR FELINE IMMUNODEFICIENCY VIRUS ISOLATION AND QUANTITATION, Veterinary immunology and immunopathology, 46(1-2), 1995, pp. 71-82
We report on the development of a feline T lymphoblastoid cell line ob
tained from the peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) of a specifi
c pathogen free cat and designated MBM. The cells are pan-T+, CD4(-) a
nd CD8(-) and remained interleukin-2-dependent and concanavalin A-depe
ndent throughout the period of observation. MBM cells have proved at l
east as sensitive as fresh blasts to infection with cell-free stocks o
f three feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) isolates. Upon infection,
they exhibit a lytic cytopathic effect. Repeated attempts to establish
a chronic infection have failed. Using a limiting cell dilution metho
d, it has been shown that MBM cells may be more sensitive than fresh b
lasts as substrate for isolating FIV from the PBMC of infected cats. T
hese studies have also shown that considerable individual variations e
xist in the virus loads present in the PBMC of naturally infected cats
, and that load size does not appear to correlate with cat age, clinic
al status, CD4/CD8 ratio and titer of serum neutralizing antibody.