Effects of PRRSV Infection on the Porcine Thymus

Gang Wang; Ying Yu; Xuehui Cai; En-Min Zhou; Jeffrey J Zimmerman

doi:10.1016/j.tim.2019.10.009

Effects of PRRSV Infection on the Porcine Thymus

Trends Microbiol. 2020 Mar;28(3):212-223. doi: 10.1016/j.tim.2019.10.009. Epub 2019 Nov 16.

Authors

Gang Wang¹, Ying Yu², Xuehui Cai³, En-Min Zhou⁴, Jeffrey J Zimmerman⁵

Affiliations

¹ State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Biotechnology, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Harbin, China; Department of Veterinary Diagnostic and Production Animal Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, USA. Electronic address: gangw@iastate.edu.
² State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Biotechnology, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Harbin, China; College of Veterinary Medicine, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, China.
³ State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Biotechnology, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Harbin, China.
⁴ Department of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, China.
⁵ Department of Veterinary Diagnostic and Production Animal Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, USA. Electronic address: jjzimm@iastate.edu.

PMID: 31744664
DOI: 10.1016/j.tim.2019.10.009

Abstract

Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) dramatically affects the thymus and its ability to carry out its normal functions. In particular, infection incapacitates PRRSV-susceptible CD14^pos antigen-presenting cells (APCs) in the thymus and throughout the body. PRRSV-induced autophagy in thymic epithelial cells modulates the development of T cells, and PRRSV-induced apoptosis in CD4^posCD8^pos thymocytes modulates cellular immunity against PRRSV and other pathogens. Pigs are less able to resist and/or eliminate secondary infectious agents due the effect of PRRSV on the thymus, and this susceptibility phenomenon is long recognized as a primary characteristic of PRRSV infection.

Keywords: PRRSV; immunomodulation; pathogenesis; thymus.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Review

MeSH terms

Animals
Autophagy / immunology*
Disease Susceptibility / veterinary
Disease Susceptibility / virology
Immunity, Cellular / immunology
Macrophages / immunology
Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome / pathology*
Porcine respiratory and reproductive syndrome virus / pathogenicity*
Swine
T-Lymphocytes / cytology*
T-Lymphocytes / immunology
Thymus Gland / cytology
Thymus Gland / pathology*
Thymus Gland / virology