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Clinical and Vaccine Immunology, March 2008, p. 452-459, Vol. 15, No. 3
1071-412X/08/$08.00+0     doi:10.1128/CVI.00421-07
Copyright © 2008, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

Evaluation of Feline Monocyte-Derived Dendritic Cells Loaded with Internally Inactivated Virus as a Vaccine against Feline Immunodeficiency Virus

Giulia Freer,^* Donatella Matteucci, Paola Mazzetti, Francesca Tarabella, Valentina Catalucci, Enrica Ricci, Antonio Merico, Leonia Bozzacco, Mauro Pistello, and Mauro Bendinelli

Retrovirus Center and Virology Section, Department of Experimental Pathology, University of Pisa,Via del Brennero 2, I-56127 Pisa, Italy

Received 22 October 2007/ Returned for modification 14 December 2007/ Accepted 11 January 2008

Dendritic cells are the only antigen-presenting cells that can present exogenous antigens to both helper and cytolytic T cells and prime Th1-type or Th2-type cellular immune responses. Given their unique immune functions, dendritic cells are considered attractive "live adjuvants" for vaccination and immunotherapy against cancer and infectious diseases. The present study was carried out to assess whether the reinjection of autologous monocyte-derived dendritic cells loaded with an aldithriol-2-inactivated primary isolate of feline immune deficiency virus (FIV) was able to elicit protective immune responses against the homologous virus in naive cats. Vaccine efficacy was assessed by monitoring immune responses and, finally, by challenge with the homologous virus of vaccinated, mock-vaccinated, and healthy cats. The outcome of challenge was followed by measuring cellular and antibody responses and viral and proviral loads and quantitating FIV by isolation and a count of CD4⁺/CD8⁺ T cells in blood. Vaccinated animals exhibited clearly evident FIV-specific peripheral blood mononuclear cell proliferation and antibody titers in response to immunization; however, they became infected with the challenge virus at rates comparable to those of control animals.

Published ahead of print on 23 January 2008.

G.F. and D.M. contributed equally to this work.