A study on the prevention and treanment of feline immunodeficiency virus infection

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Nucleotide sequence analysis of feline imunodeficiency virus (FIV) env gene obtained from multiple districts in Japan showed that subtypes B and D viruses were predominant in the eastern and western parts of Japan, respectively, and subtypes A and C viruses were occasionally found in some specific areas. Molecular clones of feline CC-and CXC-chemokines, which have been identified as ligands of co-receptors for HIV, were isolated and characterized. Of these chemokines, SDF-1beta was shown to inhibit the growth of FIV in cat T-lymphoid cells. Moreover, T22, a newly synthesized compound which binds to CXC-chemokine receptor, also inhibited FIV growth.On the other hand, apoptosis induced by FIV infection is known to play an important role for the pathogenesis of immunodeficiency. Antioxidants, N-acetylcysteine and ascorbic acid, were shown to inhibit apoptosis induced by FlV infection in vitro. Furthermore, IL-12 and IL-10 were added to the in vitro apoptosis-induction system by Fly. IL-12 was shown to inhibit FIV growth and apoptosis, however, IL-lO did not have such effect. The inhibitory effect of IL-12 for virus growth and apoptosis was found to be mediated by the expression of IFN-gamma.Next, to examine the effect of these compounds for inhibition of FIV growth and apoptosis, plasma viral RNA load in FLY-infected cats was quantified with QC-PCR.As a result, the plasma viral RNA load was less than 105 copies/ml in cats in asymptomatic carrier stage but higher than 107 copies/ml in cats in AIDS stage. By using the quantification system for plasma FIV RNA, we are continueing the investigation on the kinetics of the viral RNA load and effect of anti-viral drugs in FIV-infected cats.