Isolation and quantification of feline tetherin/bst-2 mrna expression in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (Pbmcs) induced by interferon-alpha (ifn-α)

Enveloped virus infection, such as feline immunodeficiency virus, is one of the common infection of cats causing serious health impairments and death. This virus tends to evade immune system. Feline tetherin/BST-2 has recently been recognized as potent antiviral protein that inhibits the release of enveloped virus particles from infected host cells. Tetherin/BST-2 is widely expressed in response to IFN-α including PBMCs. This research was aimed to evaluate the expression level of feline tetherin/BST-2 mRNA in PBMCs induced by IFN-α. PBMCs obtained from venous blood of a cat were cultured into untreated (control) and treated groups. The treated groups were induced with 100 U/ml IFN-α (treated group A) and 1000 U/ml IFN-α (treated group B) for 24 hours. Expression level of mRNA feline tetherin/BST-2 was quantified by real-time Reverse Transcriptase-Polymerase Chain Reaction (real-time RT-PCR). Output data were analysed descriptively. This study showed that average of treated group’s ΔCT value was lower than untreated groups. It proves that IFN-α was able to induce feline tetherin/BST-2 mRNA expression.