Equine herpesvirus-1 infection induces IFN-gamma production by equine T lymphocyte subsets.
A commercial bovine IFN-gamma-specific monoclonal antibody was used to measure antigen-specific IFN-gamma production by equine lymphocytes. Paired PBMC samples were collected from six ponies prior to and 10 days after challenge infection with equine herpesvirus-1 (EHV-1). Each sample was stimulated in vitro with EHV-1, virus-free medium, or PMA and ionomycin, and labelled with monoclonal antibodies specific for various equine lymphocyte subset markers. Following fixation, intracellular IFN-gamma was detected using a FITC-conjugated bovine IFN-gamma-specific monoclonal antibody. In vitro restimulation of PBMC with EHV-1 induced IFN-gamma production by a significantly higher percentage of total (CD5(+)) T lymphocytes, and CD4(+) and CD8(+) T lymphocyte subsets among post-EHV-1 infection PBMC samples compared to pre-infection samples. This response was associated with an increase in virus-specific CTL activity, a critical immune effector for the control of EHV-1 infection and disease. No significant increase in IFN-gamma production by B lymphocytes was observed. These data demonstrate that EHV-1 challenge infection of ponies results in increased production of IFN-gamma by virus-specific T lymphocytes, and that this response can be quantitated using flow cytometry.
Breathnach
C C
CC
Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA.
Soboll
G
G
Suresh
M
M
Lunn
D P
DP
D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000276:immunology; D005434:Flow Cytometry / Q000662:veterinary; D006566:Herpesviridae Infections / Q000276:immunology / Q000662:veterinary* / Q000821:virology; D004861:Herpesvirus 1, Equid / Q000276:immunology*; D006734:Horse Diseases / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology*; D006736:Horses; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000276:immunology; D015759:Ionomycin / Q000276:immunology; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000276:immunology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology* / Q000821:virology; D013602:T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / Q000276:immunology; D013755:Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate / Q000276:immunology
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D015759:Ionomycin; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D013755:Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate