Cytokine-induced major histocompatibility complex class II antigens on cultured bovine mammary gland epithelial cells.
The aim of this work was to establish a simple but reliable method of collecting epithelial cells from tissue lining the gland cistern of the bovine mammary gland and to investigate the ability of cultured epithelial cells to express major histocompatibility complex class II antigens. Bovine mammary gland epithelial cells were isolated and grown as monolayers on five substrates in vitro. The cells were identified as epithelial in origin by immunofluorescent staining with anticytokeratin monoclonal antibodies. Major histocompatibility complex class II antigens were induced on epithelial monolayers by incubation with supernatants from bovine peripheral blood mononuclear cells stimulated with concanavalin A or incubation with recombinant bovine interferon-gamma. These results suggest that, in bovine mammary gland epithelium, recombinant bovine interferon-gamma, acting alone, can induce class II expression. This observation permits future investigation of the putative role of bovine mammary gland epithelial cells as accessory cells in the initiation of local immune responses and their involvement in peptide transport.
Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Bristol School of Veterinary Science, Langford, England.
J L
JL
Fitzpatrick
S J
SJ
Mayer
C
C
Vilela
P W
PW
Bland
C R
CR
Stokes
D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D016207:Cytokines / Q000502:physiology*; D004848:Epithelium / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000494:pharmacology; D008321:Mammary Glands, Animal / Q000276:immunology*; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence / Q000662:veterinary; D010298:Parity; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000502:physiology
D016207:Cytokines; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D007371:Interferon-gamma