Trophoblast IFN-tau differentially induces lymphopenia and neutropenia in lambs.
Type I interferons (IFN), including IFN-alpha and IFN-beta, cause severe lymphopenia, resulting from altered lymphocyte recirculation and redistribution. IFN-tau, a product of trophectoderm of ruminant conceptuses and new member of the type I IFN family has not been examined for its effect on leukocyte recirculation. Additionally, differential effects of type I IFNs on the redistribution and recirculation of subsets of T cells have not been reported. The present study determined the effects of IFN-tau on the redistribution and recirculation of ovine leukocytes and T cell subsets. Total peripheral blood leukocytes, lymphocytes, and segmented neutrophils were reduced (p < 0.05) following treatment of lambs with IFN-tau. Furthermore, administration of IFN-tau caused an acute, differential reduction in peripheral blood CD4+ T cells (p < 0.05), CD5+ cells (p < 0.05), and gammadelta TCR+ (p < 0.01) T cells but had no effect on CD8+ T cells (p > 0.05). IFN-tau reduced the percentage of gammadelta T cells by 8-fold and that of CD4+ T cells and CD5+ cells by <2-fold in peripheral blood when compared with control lambs. The reduction in leukocytes, lymphocytes, and neutrophils was observed as early as 6-12 h after administration of IFN-tau, but levels returned to control values within 48 h. These results indicate that IFN-tau, like other members of the type I IFN family, can have immediate effects on leukocyte recirculation and redistribution. The present study is the first to demonstrate that IFN-tau differentially regulates T cell recirculation with the greatest effect on gammadelta TcR+ T cells.
Center for Animal Biotechnology, Institute of Biosciences and Technology and Department of Animal Science, Texas A&M University, College Station 77843, USA.
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Tuo
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Brown
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Roger
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Zhu
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Lin
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Smith
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Bazer
D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004353:Drug Evaluation, Preclinical; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D007370:Interferon Type I / Q000633:toxicity*; D007958:Leukocyte Count / Q000187:drug effects; D016131:Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000187:drug effects; D008231:Lymphopenia / Q000139:chemically induced*; D009503:Neutropenia / Q000139:chemically induced*; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000187:drug effects; D011257:Pregnancy Proteins / Q000633:toxicity*; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000633:toxicity; D012756:Sheep; D014327:Trophoblasts / Q000378:metabolism*
D007370:Interferon Type I; D011257:Pregnancy Proteins; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; C020947:interferon tau