Phenotypic maturation of porcine NK- and T-cell subsets.
Detailed information concerning the development of the immune system in young pigs is still rudimental. In the present study, we analyzed changes in phenotype and absolute numbers of natural killer cells, γδ T cells, T helper cells, regulatory T cells and cytolytic T cells in the blood of pigs from birth to six months of age. For each lymphocyte subpopulation, a combination of lineage and differentiation markers was investigated by six-color flow cytometry. Major findings were: (i) absolute numbers of γδ T cells strongly increased from birth until 19-25 weeks of age, indicating an important role for these cells during adolescence; (ii) phenotype of T helper cells changed over time from CD8α(-)SLA-DR(-)CD27(+) towards CD8α(+)SLA-DR(+)CD27(-) but CD45RC(-) T helper cells were found immediately after birth, therefore questioning the role of this marker for the identification of T-helper memory cells; (iii) for cytolytic T cells, putative phenotypes for early effector (CD3(+)CD8αβ(+)perforin(+)CD27(dim)) and late effector or memory cells (CD3(+)CD8αβ(+)perforin(+)CD27(-)) could be identified.
Institute of Immunology, Department of Pathobiology, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Austria.
Stephanie C
SC
Talker
Tobias
T
Käser
Katharina
K
Reutner
Corinna
C
Sedlak
Kerstin H
KH
Mair
Hanna
H
Koinig
Robert
R
Graage
Miriam
M
Viehmann
Eva
E
Klingler
Andrea
A
Ladinig
Mathias
M
Ritzmann
Armin
A
Saalmüller
Wilhelm
W
Gerner
D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D007156:Immunologic Memory; D016130:Immunophenotyping; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology*; D016692:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, gamma-delta / Q000378:metabolism; D013552:Swine / Q000276:immunology*; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology*; D013602:T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / Q000276:immunology*; D006377:T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / Q000276:immunology*; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000276:immunology*
D016692:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, gamma-delta