title: Three-colour flow cytometric detection of PrP in ovine leukocytes.
abstract: PrP(c) (cellular prion protein, CD230) expression by subpopulations of lymphoid cells has been widely investigated in a variety of species, possibly because of the possible link between transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSE) transmission and blood transfusion. However, the role of the immune cells in the transmission of the disease is still unclear. Here we describe the optimisation and standardisation of a three-colour staining procedure to detect PrP in association with phenotypic and activation markers in ovine immune cells. We demonstrate a reproducible, flexible and sensitive method and that the combination of isotype-specific antibodies and Fab fragments is feasible. To our knowledge, this is the first report of such labelling of ovine cells. Using this method, we were able to detect differences in levels of PrP expression between blood and lymph node cells of the same animal, and considerable variability between animals. Moreover, we were able to explore possible associations between PrP expression and cellular activation and to identify cell subsets with different labelling patterns. We are currently employing this approach to evaluate variations in immunological parameters during experimental infection in sheep.
authors.affiliation: Moredun Research Institute, Pentlands Science Park, Bush Loan, Penicuik, Scotland EH26 0PZ, UK.
authors.forename: Mara S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Rocchi
authors.forename: Mary-Jo
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Anderson
authors.forename: Samantha L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Eaton
authors.forename: Scott
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hamilton
authors.forename: Jeanie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Finlayson
authors.forename: Philip
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Steele
authors.forename: G Robin
authors.initials: GR
authors.lastname: Barclay
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Chianini
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D005434:Flow Cytometry / Q000379:methods; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000378:metabolism; D011328:Prions / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D012756:Sheep / Q000378:metabolism*; D013194:Staining and Labeling / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D011328:Prions