title: Chemotactic competence of neutrophils from neonatal calves. Functional comparison with neutrophils from adult cattle.
abstract: Neonates demonstrate an increased susceptibility to infection. Defects in locomotory functions of newborn neutrophils may play a crucial role in this context. We therefore compared the migratory response of newborn (N-PMN) and adult (A-PMN) bovine neutrophils in a microwell filter assay. Stimulation with four different endotoxins (E. coli O128B:4 and O55B:5; S. abortus equi; S. typhimurium), with zymosan-activated plasma (ZAP) and with C5a induced dose-dependent migration of A-PMNs and N-PMNs. Migration of unstimulated cells and of cells stimulated with diluted ZAP or C5a was higher (P less than 0.05) in N-PMNs. Migration of A- and N-PMNs towards C5a was inhibited (P less than 0.001) by preincubation with either a steroidal (122 microM flumethasone) or nonsteroidal (3.3 microM phenylbutazone) antiinflammatory drug. Migratory responses of N-PMNs were inhibited less by SAIDs than were responses of A-PMNs (P less than 0.05); indeed dexamethasone slightly enhanced N-PMN responses towards C5a, and 510 microM flunixin meglumine enhanced C5a-induced migration in both age groups. Endotoxins from E. coli O55:B4, S. abortus equi, and S. typhimurium induced a higher rate of migration (P less than 0.05) in N-PMNs. In contrast to the above findings, measurement of the maximal distance of migration by the leading-front method did not reveal age-related differences. Migration speed of PMNs was lower after stimulation with C5a than with ZAP, but could be restored partly by adding human vitamin D-binding protein (Gc-globulin). The demonstrated hyperirritability of bovine N-PMNs represents a major functional difference to neonatal neutrophils from other species, including man. It may additionally be related to altered PMN functions and neonatal disease susceptibility.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Veterinary Pathology, University of Bern, Switzerland.
authors.forename: R D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Zwahlen
authors.forename: D R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Roth
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging / Q000097:blood*; D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn / Q000097:blood*; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D002417:Cattle; D002464:Cell Migration Inhibition; D002634:Chemotaxis, Leukocyte / Q000187:drug effects*; D015936:Complement C5a / Q000494:pharmacology; D006403:Hematologic Tests; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000494:pharmacology; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000187:drug effects*; D010972:Platelet Activating Factor / Q000494:pharmacology; D014809:Vitamin D-Binding Protein / Q000302:isolation & purification; D015054:Zymosan / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D010972:Platelet Activating Factor; D014809:Vitamin D-Binding Protein; D015936:Complement C5a; D015054:Zymosan