The Mechanism of PEDV-Carrying CD3+ T Cells Migrate into the Intestinal Mucosa of Neonatal Piglets

Abstract

Porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV) can cause intestinal infection in neonatal piglets through the nasal cavity. A process in which CD3+ T cells carry PEDV plays a key role. However, the modes through which PEDV bridles CD3+ T cells as a vehicle for migration to the intestinal epithelium have not been clarified. In this study, we first demonstrated that PEDV could survive in blood-derived CD3+ T cells for several hours, depending on the multiplicity of infection. In addition, PEDV preferentially survived in CD4+ T cells over CD8+ T cells. Moreover, viral transmission was mediated by cell-to-cell contact between mesenteric lymph-node-derived CD3+ T cells, but did not occur in blood-derived CD3+ T cells. Following an increase in gut-homing integrin α4β7, blood-derived CD3+ T cells carrying PEDV migrated to the intestines via blood circulation and transferred the virus to intestinal epithelial cells through cell-to-cell contact in neonatal piglets. Our findings have significant implications for understanding PEDV pathogenesis in neonatal piglets, which is essential for developing innovative therapies to prevent PEDV infection.

CCR4-NOT Complex 2—A Cofactor in Host Cell for Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea Virus Infection

“…Integrin αvβ3 enhances PEDV replication in Vero E6 and porcine intestinal epithelial cells [ 30 ]. Chen et al reported that the PEDV virus was transferred to intestinal epithelial cells via cell-to-cell contact by blood-derived CD3+ T cells in neonatal piglets via blood circulation following an increase in gut-homing integrin α4β7 [ 31 ]. The results illustrate that integrins α3 and β are involved in PEDV infection.…”

Comparison of B cells' immune response induced by PEDV virulent and attenuated strains

“…At present, the relationship between PEDV infection and T cells has been described, which is mainly characterized by poor effector cytotoxic activity (Yuan et al, 2021). The knowledge of the role of B cells has been primarily focused on antibody secretion during PEDV infection (Huang et al, 2019).…”