Vet. Res. 35 (2004) 625-633
DOI: 10.1051/vetres:2004041

In vitro effect of classical swine fever virus on a porcine aortic endothelial cell line

Emilia Campos^a, Concepción Revilla^b, Sonia Chamorro^b, Belén Alvarez^b, Angel Ezquerra^b, Javier Domínguez^b and Fernando Alonso<sup>b

a</sup>  CISA-INIA, Valdeolmos, 28130 Madrid, Spain
^b  Departamento de Biotecnología, INIA, Ctra. de la Coruña km 7.5, 28040 Madrid, Spain

(Received 28 November 2003; accepted 11 May 2004)

Abstract - The effect of classical swine fever (CSF) virus on some phenotypic and functional features of an established porcine aortic endothelial cell (AOC) line was investigated. AOC cells show most of the characteristics of primary endothelial cells, avoiding the alterations and senescence that these cells undergo after a few passages in culture. AOC cells were susceptible to CSF virus infection to a high degree, reaching 90% of CSF virus positive cells after 24 h of infection; however as with other porcine susceptible cells, no cytopathic effect could be observed. In these conditions none of the surface molecules studied, including SLA-II MHC antigens, adhesion or co-stimulatory molecules, were altered by virus infection after 24 or 48 h. Functionally CSF virus infection induced a decrease in the pro-coagulant activity of the AOC cells, determined by the increase in the clot formation time shown by the lysates of these cells. This contrasts with the increase observed in the expression of mRNA corresponding to IL-1 and IL-6, two proinflammatory and pro-coagulant cytokines, in CSF virus-infected AOC cells.

Key words: classical swine fever / endothelial cells / cytokines / pro-coagulant activity

Corresponding author: Fernando Alonso falonso@inia.es

© INRA, EDP Sciences 2004