Stimulation of a cell-mediated cytotoxic response to FeLV-induced T cell lymphomas in the cat.

Nonspecific cell-mediated cytotoxicity was examined in the peripheral blood and spleens of normal and vaccinia virus-infected adult domestic cats. Natural cytotoxic (NC)-like cells, as measured by lysis of vaccinia- or HSV-infected, adherent cat tongue cells, were found in both the spleen and peripheral blood of normal, nonimmune cats. Cytotoxicity was expressed in a 16-hr assay but not in a 4-hr assay. Natural killer (NK)-like cells, as measured by lysis of an FeLV-induced lymphoid tumor cell line (FL-74) growing in suspension, were found in the spleen but not PBL, and required a 16-hr assay for expression. Infection with vaccinia virus did not increase the activity of feline NC-like cells in either the peripheral blood or the spleen. NK-like function, however, was increased. Cytotoxicity peaked 6 days post-infection and required a 16-hr assay for maximal expression of cell lysis. Furthermore, a cell with cytotoxic characteristics of the spleen NK-like cell appeared at low levels in the circulation at 6 days post-vaccinia infection. NK-like cells from vaccinia-infected cats showed some cytotoxicity for FL74 targets in a 4-hr assay. The cat thus possesses at least two functionally different populations of naturally cytotoxic cells. NC-like cells are found in the spleen and peripheral blood, lyse virus-infected monolayer targets, and are not activated by infection. NK-like cells are found in the spleen, lyse-lymphoid tumor targets, and can be activated by infection, with their peak activity occurring 6 days after infection.