HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via CrossRef Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Van de Walle, G. R. Articles by Pensaert, M. B. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Van de Walle, G. R. Articles by Pensaert, M. B. Agricola Articles by Van de Walle, G. R. Articles by Pensaert, M. B.

Transmission of pseudorabies virus from immune-masked blood monocytes to endothelial cells

¹ Laboratory of Virology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Salisburylaan 133, B-9820 Merelbeke, Belgium
² Federal Research Centre for Virus Diseases of Animals, D-17498 Insel Riems, Germany

Correspondence
Hans Nauwynck
hans.nauwynck{at}rug.ac.be

Pseudorabies virus (PRV) may cause abortion, even in the presence of vaccination-induced immunity. Blood monocytes are essential to transport the virus in these immune animals, including transport to the pregnant uterus. Infected monocytes express viral proteins on their cell surface. Specific antibodies recognize these proteins and should activate antibody-dependent cell lysis. Previous work showed that addition of PRV-specific polyclonal antibodies to PRV-infected monocytes induced internalization of viral cell surface proteins, protecting the cells from efficient antibody-dependent lysis in vitro (immune-masked monocytes). As a first step to reach the pregnant uterus, PRV has to cross the endothelial cell barrier of the maternal blood vessels. The current aim was to investigate in vitro whether immune-masked PRV-infected monocytes can transmit PRV in the presence of virus-neutralizing antibodies via adhesion and fusion of these monocytes with endothelial cells. Porcine blood monocytes, infected with a lacZ-carrying PRV strain, were incubated with PRV-specific antibodies to induce internalization. Then, cells were co-cultivated with endothelial cells for different periods of time. Only PRV-infected monocytes with internalized viral cell surface proteins adhered efficiently to endothelial cells. LacZ transmission to endothelial cells, as a measure for monocyte–endothelial cell fusion, could be detected after co-cultivation from 30 min onwards. Virus transmission was confirmed by the appearance of plaques. Adhesion of immune-masked PRV-infected monocytes to endothelial cells was mediated by cellular adhesion complex CD11b–CD18 and subsequent fusion was mediated by the virus. In conclusion, immune-masked PRV-infected monocytes can adhere and subsequently transmit virus to endothelial cells in the presence of PRV-neutralizing antibodies.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				K. Geenen, H. W. Favoreel, and H. J. Nauwynck Higher resistance of porcine trigeminal ganglion neurons towards pseudorabies virus-induced cell death compared with other porcine cell types in vitro J. Gen. Virol., May 1, 2005; 86(5): 1251 - 1260. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				H. W. Favoreel, G. R. Van de Walle, H. J. Nauwynck, T. C. Mettenleiter, and M. B. Pensaert Pseudorabies virus (PRV)-specific antibodies suppress intracellular viral protein levels in PRV-infected monocytes J. Gen. Virol., November 1, 2003; 84(11): 2969 - 2973. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]