title: Natural (auto)antibodies in calves are affected by age and diet.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Natural autoantibodies (N(a)ab) were found in every species tested so far, and are likely important in maintaining homeostasis.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  (1) To determine N(a)ab in Bos taurus calves, (2) evaluate effects of diet and age on N(a)ab binding repertoires in calves, and (3) delineate bovine liver cell lysate (BLL) antigens related with variation in rumen score and body weight.
  
  
  METHODS
  Effects of age and diet on staining of BLL fragments by IgM and IgG antibodies in serum samples collected at 20 or at 26 weeks of age from bull calves either fed a restricted or ad libitum diet were analyzed using quantitative Western blotting. Correlations between fragments stained and grouping of calves were done by Principal Component Analysis (PCA). Redundancy analysis (RDA) was done to relate rumen score and body weight variation at slaughter at 27 weeks of age with stained BLL fragments.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In sera from all calves IgM and IgG antibodies binding BLL antigens were found. Corresponding fragments were stained, but quantitative differences in staining intensities were related to diet and age for both IgM and IgG. PCA revealed that age had a greater influence than diet on BLL fragment staining. RDA suggested that staining by IgM or IgG of specific BLL fragments was related with variation in rumen score and body weight.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Analyses of N(a)ab in serum could be a potential tool to estimate the health status of cattle, and be used to evaluate effects of husbandry practices.
authors: a Ministry of Agriculture , Livestock and Fisheries, Dairy Training Institute , Naivasha , Kenya.
authors: Joel O
authors: JO
authors: Khobondo
authors: Mike G B
authors: MG
authors: Nieuwland
authors: Laura E
authors: LE
authors: Webb
authors: Eddie A M
authors: EA
authors: Bokkers
authors: Henk K
authors: HK
authors: Parmentier
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000818:Animals; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000097:blood*; D015153:Blotting, Western; D001835:Body Weight; D002417:Cattle / Q000276:immunology*; D004032:Diet; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000097:blood; D008099:Liver / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D009426:Netherlands; D025341:Principal Component Analysis
chemical_list: D001323:Autoantibodies; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007075:Immunoglobulin M
keywords: BLL, Bovine Liver cell Lysate; N(a)ab, natural (auto) antibodies; Natural (auto)antibodies; PCA, Principal Component Analysis; RDA, Redundancy Analysis; Western blot; age; calves; diet