title: Intramuscular administration of a synthetic CpG-oligodeoxynucleotide modulates functional responses of neutrophils of neonatal foals.
abstract: Neutrophils play an important role in protecting against infection. Foals have age-dependent deficiencies in neutrophil function that may contribute to their predisposition to infection. Thus, we investigated the ability of a CpG-ODN formulated with Emulsigen to modulate functional responses of neutrophils in neonatal foals. Eighteen foals were randomly assigned to receive either a CpG-ODN with Emulsigen (N = 9) or saline intramuscularly at ages 1 and 7 days. At ages 1, 3, 9, 14, and 28, blood was collected and neutrophils were isolated from each foal. Neutrophils were assessed for basal and Rhodococcus equi-stimulated mRNA expression of the cytokines interferon-γ (IFN-γ), interleukin (IL)-4, IL-6, and IL-8 using real-time PCR, degranulation by quantifying the amount of β-D glucuronidase activity, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation using flow cytometry. In vivo administration of the CpG-ODN formulation on days 1 and 7 resulted in significantly (P<0.05) increased IFN-γ mRNA expression by foal neutrophils on days 3, 9, and 14. Degranulation was significantly (P<0.05) lower for foals in the CpG-ODN-treated group than the control group at days 3 and 14, but not at other days. No effect of treatment on ROS generation was detected. These results indicate that CpG-ODN administration to foals might improve innate and adaptive immune responses that could protect foals against infectious diseases and possibly improve responses to vaccination.
authors.affiliation: Equine Infectious Disease Laboratory, Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, United States of America.
authors.forename: Noah D
authors.initials: ND
authors.lastname: Cohen
authors.affiliation: Equine Infectious Disease Laboratory, Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, United States of America.
authors.forename: Jessica R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Bourquin
authors.affiliation: Equine Infectious Disease Laboratory, Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, United States of America.
authors.forename: Angela I
authors.initials: AI
authors.lastname: Bordin
authors.affiliation: Equine Infectious Disease Laboratory, Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, United States of America.
authors.forename: Kyle R
authors.initials: KR
authors.lastname: Kuskie
authors.affiliation: Equine Infectious Disease Laboratory, Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, United States of America.
authors.forename: Courtney N
authors.initials: CN
authors.lastname: Brake
authors.affiliation: Equine Infectious Disease Laboratory, Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, United States of America.
authors.forename: Kaytee B
authors.initials: KB
authors.lastname: Weaver
authors.affiliation: Equine Infectious Disease Laboratory, Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, United States of America.
authors.forename: Mei
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, United States of America.
authors.forename: M Julia B
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Felippe
authors.affiliation: Food and Feed Safety Research, Agricultural Research Service, Southern Plains Agricultural Research Center, USDA, College Station, Texas, United States of America.
authors.forename: Michael H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Kogut
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D016207:Cytokines / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects*; D006736:Horses; D007273:Injections, Intramuscular; D008297:Male; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D009838:Oligodeoxyribonucleotides / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: C408982:CPG-oligonucleotide; D016207:Cytokines; D009838:Oligodeoxyribonucleotides; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species