Adoptive transfer of natural antibodies to non-immunized chickens affects subsequent antigen-specific humoral and cellular immune responses.
To determine a regulatory function of natural antibodies in the immune response of chickens, pooled plasma obtained from non-immunized (naïve) 15 months old hens was subjected to keyhole limpet hemocyanin (KLH) antigen-affinity chromatography. Purified KLH-binding antibodies were adoptively transferred intravenously to 5 weeks-old cocks that were subsequently immunized subcutaneously 24 h later with KLH. Control groups consisted of birds that were either adoptively transferred with KLH-binding antibodies purified from plasma of KLH-immunized chickens, or PBS, or a salt precipitated total immunoglobulin fraction obtained from the corresponding pooled nai;ve chicken plasma, respectively.Total, IgM and IgY antibody titers to KLH in the plasma of recipients adoptively transferred with KLH-NAb, but not in the plasma of the groups transferred with salt precipitate or KLH-binding specific antibodies, were significantly enhanced as compared to the non-treated, KLH immunized group. Titers of IgA antibodies binding KLH were decreased in the plasma of the group that received specific KLH-binding antibodies, but not in the plasma of the other groups. Proliferation from peripheral blood leucocytes in whole blood from the KLH-NAb treated group, the group treated with KLH-binding specific antibodies and the group treated with salt precipitate, respectively, to both concanavalin A and KLH were significantly decreased as compared to the group receiving PBS. Our data show that antigen-specific antibodies can be isolated from plasma obtained from non-immunized chickens. Such antibodies that resemble natural antibodies as described in mammals may perform an important role in the enhancement of subsequent antigen-specific antibody responses or the maturation of the immune system, which may differ from the role of specific antibodies.
Lammers
Aart
A
Adaptation Physiology Group, Department of Animal Sciences, Wageningen Institute of Animal Sciences, Wageningen University, Marijkeweg 40, PG 6709, Wageningen, The Netherlands.
Klomp
Marcel E V
ME
Nieuwland
Mike G B
MG
Savelkoul
Huub F J
HF
Parmentier
Henk K
HK
D000818:Animals; D000906:Antibodies / Q000097:blood*; D000917:Antibody Formation; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002645:Chickens / Q000276:immunology*; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D005260:Female; D006433:Hemocyanins / Q000378:metabolism; D007111:Immunity, Cellular; D007116:Immunization, Passive; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000097:blood; D007136:Immunoglobulins / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D013997:Time Factors
D000906:Antibodies; C016512:IgY; D007075:Immunoglobulin M; D007136:Immunoglobulins; D006433:Hemocyanins; C032808:keyhole-limpet hemocyanin