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

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 alpha 4 beta 7, 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.

Automated summary

PEDV can survive in blood-derived CD3(+) T cells for several hours and prefers CD4(+) T cells over CD8(+) T cells. Viral transmission is mediated by cell-to-cell contact between mesenteric lymph-node-derived CD3(+) T cells, but not in blood-derived CD3(+) T cells.