T cell populations and cytokine expression in milk derived from normal and bacteria-infected bovine mammary glands.
This study investigated the effect of naturally acquired bacterial infection of the bovine mammary gland on subpopulations of T lymphocytes and cytokine expression in milk. Twenty-nine lactating cows with mastitis were compared to 12 normal animals. CD4+ lymphocytes represented a significantly greater percentage of the milk-derived lymphocytes in infected mammary glands compared to normal controls. Cytokine mRNA expression by cells derived from milk was investigated using reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). No IL-2 or IL-4 mRNA was detected in any samples, while IFN-gamma mRNA was detected in all milk samples. IL-10 mRNA was detected in cells from the milk of 2 mastitic cows and 1 normal cow, and IL-12 mRNA was detected in 2 cows with mastitis. While TNF-alpha mRNA was not detected in this study, IL-6 mRNA was identified in cells from the milk of all animals, with levels being greater in mastitic animals.
Taylor
B C
BC
Department of Pathology, Microbiology, and Immunology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis 95616, USA. bctaylor@mail.uwlax.edu
Keefe
R G
RG
Dellinger
J D
JD
Nakamura
Y
Y
Cullor
J S
JS
Stott
J L
JL
D000818:Animals; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000662:veterinary*; D001483:Base Sequence; D016516:CD4-CD8 Ratio; D002417:Cattle; D016207:Cytokines / Q000235:genetics*; D017931:DNA Primers / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression; D007774:Lactation / Q000276:immunology; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008414:Mastitis, Bovine / Q000276:immunology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D008892:Milk / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology*
D016207:Cytokines; D017931:DNA Primers; D012333:RNA, Messenger