Changes in B cell and T cell subsets in bovine leukaemia virus-infected cattle.
Direct immunofluorescence and fluorescence-activated cell sorter techniques were used for the detection of surface immunoglobulin positive (SIg+) cells in peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL's) of bovine leukaemia virus (BLV) infected cattle with or without persistent lymphocytosis (PL+, PL-) and in BLV-free cattle. The percentage of SIg+ cells was more than twice as high in BLV+PL+ cattle than in BLV-free and BLV+PL- cattle. Bovine T cells, and T cell subsets were identified indirectly by the same techniques using three monoclonal antibodies (MAb's) specific for all T cells (IL-A43), T helper (BoT4) cells (IL-A12) and T cytotoxic (BoT8) cells (IL-A17). The major histocompatibility complex (MHC) determinants of both class II (BoT4) and class I (BoT8) as well as all T cells were significantly reduced in BLV+PL+ compared to BLV-free cattle. The actual decrease in the BoT8 cell subset or the dilution effect that would change effector:target cell ratio suggests that a resultant decrease in cytotoxic activity in BLV+PL+ cattle may play an important role in the progress of BLV infection in cattle.
Gatei
M H
MH
Department of Farm Animal Medicine and Production, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia.
Brandon
R B
RB
Naif
H M
HM
McLennan
M W
MW
Daniel
R C
RC
Lavin
M F
MF
D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D002417:Cattle; D002418:Cattle Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D003602:Cytotoxicity, Immunologic; D007938:Leukemia / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology / Q000662:veterinary*; D001909:Leukemia Virus, Bovine; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal