Nonspecific Cell-Mediated Cytotoxicity in the Cat

Using a chromium-51-release microcytotoxicity assay, naturally occurring cytotoxic cells were demonstrated in peripheral blood and spleens of domestic cats. Lymphocytes from blood and spleen were purified over Ficoll-Hypaque and added to uninfected, vaccinia-infected, or herpes-infected adherent feline origin target cells and to a lymphoid tumor cell line, FL74, which grows in suspension. Natural cytotoxic (NC) cells, which lyse adherent targets, were found in both the peripheral blood and spleen of normal, nonimmune cats. These cells were partially characterized as nonadherent and consisted of two phenotypically different subpopulations, one FCR-positive and the other FCR-negative. Functionally, NC cells require a 16-hour assay to express target cell lysis and preferentially lyse virus-infected targets. Several allogeneic, virus-infected cell lines were lysed by NC cells as were both uninfected and virus-infected xenogeneic targets. Uninfected feline cell lines were not susceptible to NC lysis. Natural killer (NK) cells, which lyse lymphoid tumor suspension cells, were found in the spleen but not the peripheral blood of normal cats. These cells were nonadherent and required a 16-hour assay to express target cell (FL74) lysis. Immunization with vaccinia virus did not increase the activity of NC cells in either the peripheral blood or the spleen. NK function was enhanced by immunization with cytotoxic activity against FL74 cells peaking 6 days postinfection.

Name thesis:degree_name

Ph.D.

Level thesis:degree_level

Dissertation

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Veterinary Medical Science

Grantor

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Year dc:date

2014

Author dc:creator

• Tompkins, Mary Barclay

• Health Sciences, Immunology

Identifier

(UMI)AAI8502322

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:www.ideals.illinois.edu:2142/71319