title: Lymphocyte blastogenic response to ovalbumin in a model for canine allergy.
abstract: Lymphocyte stimulation tests (LST) were performed in five dogs sensitised with ovalbumin (OVA) and seven healthy dogs. In addition, all five OVA-sensitised and two control dogs were tested after two in vivo provocations with OVA-containing eye drops. The isolated cells were suspended in culture media containing OVA and were cultured for up to 12 days. Proliferation was measured as reduction in 5,6-carboxylfluorescein diacetate succinimidyl ester (CFSE) intensity by flow cytometry on days 0, 3, 6, 9 and 12. A cell proliferation index (CPI) for each day and the area under the curve (AUC) of the CPI was calculated for each dog. All OVA-sensitised dogs demonstrated increased erythema after conjunctival OVA application. The presence of OVA-specific lymphocytes was demonstrated in 2/5 OVA-sensitised dogs before and 4/5 after in vivo provocation. Using the AUC, the difference between OVA-sensitised and control dogs was significant in all three LST before in vivo provocation (P<0.05) and borderline significant (P=0.053) in 2/3 LST after provocation. The most significant difference in CPI was observed after 9 days of culture (P=0.001). This pilot study indicates that the LST allows detection of rare antigen specific memory T-cells in dogs previously sensitised to, but not concurrently undergoing challenge by a specific antigen.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Veterinary Medicine, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, 3001 Bern, Switzerland.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Dévaud
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Hall
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Gaschen
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Vallan
authors.forename: M G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Doherr
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Williamson
authors.forename: J E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Peel
authors.forename: I A
authors.initials: IA
authors.lastname: Burgener
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D004285:Dogs; D004890:Erythema / Q000209:etiology / Q000662:veterinary; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology / Q000662:veterinary*; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology*; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D010047:Ovalbumin / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012016:Reference Values
chemical_list: D010047:Ovalbumin