Topic:B cells
B cells are a type of white blood cell found in horses that are integral to the adaptive immune system. They originate from the bone marrow and are responsible for producing antibodies, which are proteins that bind to specific antigens to neutralize pathogens such as bacteria and viruses. B cells also play a role in antigen presentation and the activation of other immune cells. In equine health, the study of B cells includes understanding their development, function, and response to infections and vaccinations. This page compiles peer-reviewed research studies and scholarly articles that explore the biology, regulation, and clinical implications of B cells in horses, contributing to a deeper understanding of equine immunology.
Immune cell analysis in equine penile papilloma, in situ squamous cell carcinoma and invasive squamous cell carcinoma: FoxP3+ T regulatory lymphocytes differ according to equine papillomavirus 2 status. Equine penile tumors are common in horses and are often related to infection with equine papillomavirus type 2 (EcPV2). This study investigated the immune cell infiltrate (ICI) of these tumors in horses, focusing on the role of EcPV2. Using multiplex immunohistochemistry (mIHC) for CD3, CD20, and IBA-1 and immunohistochemistry (IHC) for FoxP3, 27 horses with papillomas (5/27), in situ carcinomas (CISs) (3/27), and squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs) (19/27) were evaluated. Eighteen cases tested positive for EcPV2 by either or both in situ hybridization (ISH) and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) (18...
Immunological Responses to Tetanus and Influenza Vaccination in Donkeys. Donkeys are routinely vaccinated with protocols developed for horses, yet species-specific data on their immune responses are limited. Objective: We hypothesized that donkeys exhibit robust T-cell-mediated immunity and regulatory adaptation after vaccination, comparable to horses. Methods: Thirty-six healthy, seronegative donkeys (34 mares, 2 stallions), aged 0.5-23 years (median 8 years), from two farms with similar housing and management conditions. Methods: Prospective study. Animals were selected based on clinical health assessment and confirmed seronegativity for tetanus and equine in...
Exploration of the Differential Expression Patterns of Immunoglobulin Heavy Chain Genes in Horses and Donkeys. This study investigated the immunoglobulins (IG) gene locus structure and expression diversity in local Chinese horse and donkey breeds, including Ningqiang, Guanzhong horses, and varieties such as Guanzhong, Jiami, and Northern Shaanxi donkey using genome alignment and high-throughput sequencing. The aim was to expand understanding of IG expression patterns in horses, donkeys, and their different breeds. The results revealed that the donkey IGH locus contains 117 VH genes (23 functional), 44 DH genes, and 8 JH genes, arranged in a VH-DH-JH sequence on chromosome 7, spanning approximately 1189...
Clinical and morphological features of corneal lymphoma in 26 horses (27 eyes). Little information describing the biologic behaviour and therapies for corneal lymphoma exist. Objective: To characterise histologically confirmed equine corneal lymphoma considering breed, age or sex predisposition, histologic and immunologic features, therapies and outcomes. Methods: Retrospective case series. Methods: A multicentre retrospective medical record review was used to identify horses that presented with corneal disease confirmed morphologically as corneal lymphoma from 2012 to 2022. Results: Mean age at diagnosis was 10.5 years. Males represented 18/26 cases. Warmblood (14) and...
Oral T-cell-rich large B-cell lymphoma in a horse. Lymphoma is the most common tumor of hematopoietic origin in horses. The course of the disease and clinical signs vary greatly, depending on tumor location and extent. The aim of this report is to describe the occurrence of T-cell-rich oral large B-cell lymphoma with marked local infiltration in a 25-year-old Crioula mare. The mare showed an increase in volume on the right side of its face, dyspnea, anorexia, and progressive weight loss. The clinical assessment showed that the lesion was located in the rostral and caudal sinuses and was markedly invasive to adjacent structures. The autopsy rev...
The systemic cellular immune response against allogeneic mesenchymal stem cells is influenced by inflammation, differentiation and MHC compatibility: in vivo study in the horse. The effectiveness and safety of allogeneic mesenchymal stem/stromal cells (MSCs) can be affected by patient's immune recognition. Thus, MSC immunogenicity and their immunomodulatory properties are crucial aspects for therapy. Immune responses after allogeneic MSC administration have been reported in different species, including equine. Interactions of allogenic MSCs with the recipient's immune system can be influenced by factors like matching or mismatching for the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) between donor-recipient, and by the levels of MHC expression in MSCs. The latter can vary u...
A multicentric intermediate-size B-cell lymphoma with epitheliotropism in a Freiberger mare. This report describes a multicentric intermediate-size B-cell lymphoma with epitheliotropism in a Freiberger mare affecting multiple mucous membranes, skin and internal organs. The clonal neoplastic B-cell population was accompanied by numerous reactive polyclonal small T cells. Differential diagnoses for these unusual findings are discussed. 本报告描述了一种多中心性中等大小B细胞淋巴瘤, 其在弗雷伯格母马中具有驱上皮性, 影响多处粘膜、皮肤和内脏。克隆性肿瘤B细胞群伴有大量反应性多克隆小T细胞。就这些异常发现对鉴别诊...
The Horse with Recurrent Fevers and Infections: Approach to Common Variable Immunodeficiency. Equine common variable immunodeficiency (CVID) is a rare, late-onset, nonfamilial humoral deficiency characterized by B-cell depletion and/or dysfunction resulting in inadequate antibody production and predisposition to recurrent infections. Serum immunoglobulin concentration and peripheral blood lymphocyte immunophenotyping are required to diagnose and characterize CVID in horses. Early recognition of the disease by the equine practitioner is paramount to managing the quality of life for these patients, for whom specific treatment is not yet available and long-term prognosis remains poor. An ...
Monoclonal antibody development advances immunological research in horses. Host immune analyses require specific reagents to identify cellular and soluble components of the immune system. These immune reagents are often species-specific. For horses, various immunological tools have been developed and tested by different initiatives during the past decades. This article summarizes the development of well characterized monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) for equine immune cells, immunoglobulin isotypes, cytokines, and chemokines.
Supplementation of Foals with a Saccharomyces cerevisiae Fermentation Product Alters the Early Response to Vaccination. Feed supplements supporting animal welfare and performance are becoming increasingly important. Immunomodulatory effects of such products have been observed in many species. The aim of this study was to analyze whether food supplementation with a fermentation product (SCFP) affects the occurrence of foal diarrhea in early life, and whether the SCFP feeding has an impact on the immediate response to a parenteral vaccination at the age of 6-9 months. Eleven foals received the SCFP (OLI) and eleven foals were fed a placebo (PLA) for 29 days. Growth, diarrhea, and diarrhea severity were observed ...
Equine common variable immunodeficiency: lessons from 100 clinical cases. The clinical manifestation of recurrent fevers and infections alerts the clinician to the possibility of an underlying immunodeficiency. Common variable immunodeficiency (CVID) in the horse is a rare late-onset, non-familial immunologic disorder of B cell depletion and/or dysfunction with resultant inadequate antibody production. The most common clinical presentations in horses with CVID are recurrent upper and/or lower respiratory infections, meningitis and/or ataxia, cholangiohepatitis, infectious colitis, infectious dermatitis, and severe gastrointestinal parasitism. Immune-mediated and lym...
Single-cell profiling of bronchoalveolar cells reveals a Th17 signature in neutrophilic severe equine asthma. Severe equine asthma (SEA) is a complex respiratory condition characterized by chronic airway inflammation. It shares many clinical and pathological features with human neutrophilic asthma, making it a valuable model for studying this condition. However, the immune mechanisms driving SEA have remained elusive. Although SEA has been primarily associated with a Th2 response, there have also been reports of Th1, Th17, or mixed-mediated responses. To uncover the elusive immune mechanisms driving SEA, we performed single-cell mRNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) on cryopreserved bronchoalveolar cells from 1...
Flow cytometric detection and identification of different leukocyte subpopulations in stallion semen. To improve accuracy in evaluating stallion ejaculates, an antibody-based, flow cytometric assay for the detection and identification of leukocyte subpopulations (CD4-, CD8-, CD21-, CD172a-positive cells) in stallion semen (n = 12) was established. For establishment of the assay, native semen was supplemented with blood leukocytes (control: 20% leukocytes, 80% sperm cells) and analysed by flow cytometry. Adding antioxidants (ascorbic acid and butylated hydroxytoluol) to semen immediately after collection inhibited rapid death of lymphoid cells in sperm leukocyte mixtures. In control set-ups...
B- and T-cell lymphocytes and other immune cell infiltration in the duodenal and rectal mucosa of severe asthmatic horses. The objectives of this study were to quantify lymphocytes and eosinophils in the mucosa of the duodenum and rectum in asthmatic horses. Asthmatic horses were evaluated in a symptomatic (after 6 weeks of exposure to moldy hay) and asymptomatic status (3 and 7 months after being fed alfalfa pellets [n = 4] or treated with inhaled fluticasone [6]). Duodenal and rectal biopsies were endoscopically (n = 4 to 6) taken in each horse. Eosinophils were counted on slides stained with hematoxylin, eosin, phloxine, and saffron, and immunohistochemistry was used to evaluate T and B lymphocytes using CD3 an...
Concurrent chronic lymphocytic leukemia and primary hyperparathyroidism in a mule. A 26-year-old mule gelding was evaluated for chronic weight loss and decreased appetite. The mule had been losing weight and intermittently hypophagic for approximately 7 months. Laboratory analysis of whole blood and plasma identified severe total hypercalcemia, marked hypophosphatemia, markedly increased parathyroid hormone concentration, and marked lymphocytosis. A sestimibi scan intended to identify parathyroid gland tissue was nondiagnostic. Results of flow cytometry and PCR for antigen receptor rearrangement (PARR) were consistent with a B cell lymphoproliferative disorder, likely chro...
An Unusual Cause of Femoral Nerve Paresis in a Horse: Disseminated B Cell Lymphoma With Plasmacytoid Differentiation and Direct Neuronal Invasion. A 21-year-old Quarter Horse mare presented with a chronic, progressively worsening left pelvic limb lameness of 3 weeks duration. The initial examination identified a consistent lameness at a walk. Neurological examination showed sensory and gait abnormalities consistent with left femoral nerve dysfunction. The horse minimally advanced the leg cranially and had a shortened stride length at the walk. During the stance phase, the heels of the left hind foot did not contact the ground and the horse quickly took weight off of the limb. Diagnostic imaging (ultrasound and nuclear scintigraphy) exami...
T-cell-rich, large B-cell lymphoma in the brain of a horse. T-cell-rich, large B-cell lymphoma (TCRLBCL) is the most commonly diagnosed type of lymphoma in horses. Here we describe the clinical signs, neuropathology, immunohistochemistry (IHC), and PCR for antigen receptor rearrangement (PARR) analysis results of a TCRLBCL in the brain of an 8-y-old male Quarter Horse that was euthanized after acute anorexia, tremors, head pressing, falling, blindness, incoordination, and seizures. Autopsy revealed a firm, smooth, pale-yellow mass that expanded both lateral ventricles and the adjacent subcortical white matter. Histologically, the mass consisted of a de...
Evaluation of a mimotope of the Rickettsia outer membrane protein A (OmpA) as an antigen in enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay to detect rickettsiosis in capybaras (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris), horses (Equus caballus), and opossums (Didelphis sp.). Rickettsia rickettsii is the etiological agent of Rocky Mountain spotted fever, which is an important tick-borne zoonosis and, in Brazil, it causes Brazilian spotted fever, which has high lethality rate. This study aimed to evaluate a synthetic peptide corresponding to a segment of the outer membrane protein A (OmpA) as an antigen in a serological test for the diagnosis of rickettsial infections. The amino acid sequence of the peptide was selected by predicting B cell epitopes using B Cell Epitope Prediction (Immune Epitope Database and Analysis Resource) and Epitopia and OmpA sequences of Ric...
IgE+ plasmablasts predict the onset of clinical allergy. IgE+ plasmablasts develop following allergen exposure and B cell activation. They secrete IgE and therefore are directly linked to maintain the mechanisms of IgE-mediated allergies. Here, we show that the presence of IgE+ plasmablasts in peripheral blood not only coincides with clinical allergy, but also predicts the upcoming development of clinical disease. Using an equine model of naturally occurring allergy, we compared the timing of allergen exposure, arrival of IgE+ plasmablasts in peripheral blood, and onset of clinical disease. We found that IgE+ plasmablasts predict the development of ...
Secrets behind Protein Sequences: Unveiling the Potential Reasons for Varying Allergenicity Caused by Caseins from Cows, Goats, Camels, and Mares Based on Bioinformatics Analyses. This study systematically investigated the differences in allergenicity of casein in cow milk (CM), goat milk (GM), camel milk (CAM), and mare milk (MM) from protein structures using bioinformatics. Primary structure sequence analysis reveals high sequence similarity between the -casein of CM and GM, while all allergenic subtypes are likely to have good hydrophilicity and thermal stability. By analyzing linear B-cell epitope, T-cell epitope, and allergenic peptides, the strongest casein allergenicity is observed for CM, followed by GM, and the casein of MM has the weakest allergenicity. Meanwh...
The impact of Escherichia coli contamination products present in recombinant African horse sickness virus serotype 4 proteins on the innate and humoral immune responses. Transcriptome analysis was used to characterise the in vitro primary and secondary immune responses induced in horse peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) stimulated for 24 h with the individual recombinant proteins of a virulent AHSV serotype 4 (AHSV4) field isolate (rAHSV4 proteins) that were previously expressed in Escherichia coli (E. coli). The results showed that the E. coli contamination products greatly affected the innate and humoral immune response transcripts. Hence, the impact of E. coli contamination products present in the individual rAHSV4 proteins on the translational immu...
The major role of junctional diversity in the horse antibody repertoire. The antibody repertoire (Rep-seq) sequencing revolutionized the diversity of antigen B cell receptor studies, allowing deep and quantitative analysis to decipher the role of adaptive immunity in health and disease. Particularly, horse (Equus caballus) polyclonal antibodies have been produced and used since the century XIX to treat and prophylaxis diphtheria, tuberculosis, tetanus, pneumonia, and, more recently, COVID-19. However, our knowledge about the horse B cell receptors repertories is minimal. We present a deep horse antibody heavy chain repertoire (IGH) characterization of non-infected ...
Single-cell gene expression analysis of cryopreserved equine bronchoalveolar cells. The transcriptomic profile of a cell population can now be studied at the cellular level using single-cell mRNA sequencing (scRNA-seq). This novel technique provides the unprecedented opportunity to explore the cellular composition of the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) of the horse, a species for which cell type markers are poorly described. Here, scRNA-seq technology was applied to cryopreserved equine BALF cells. Analysis of 4,631 cells isolated from three asthmatic horses in remission identified 16 cell clusters belonging to six major cell types: monocytes/macrophages, T cells, B/plasm...
Equine Mesenchymal Stem Cells Influence the Proliferative Response of Lymphocytes: Effect of Inflammation, Differentiation and MHC-Compatibility. Immunomodulation and immunogenicity are pivotal aspects for the therapeutic use of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). Since the horse is highly valuable as both a patient and translational model, further knowledge on equine MSC immune properties is required. This study analysed how inflammation, chondrogenic differentiation and compatibility for the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) influence the MSC immunomodulatory-immunogenicity balance. Equine MSCs in basal conditions, pro-inflammatory primed (MSC-primed) or chondrogenically differentiated (MSC-chondro) were co-cultured with either autolo...
Immune response to allogeneic equine mesenchymal stromal cells. Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) are believed to be hypoimmunogeneic with potential use for allogeneic administration. Bone marrow was harvested from Connemara (n = 1), Standardbred (n = 6), and Thoroughbred (n = 3) horses. MSCs were grouped by their level of expression of major histocompatibility factor II (MHC II). MSCs were then sub-grouped by those MSCs derived from universal blood donor horses. MSCs were isolated and cultured using media containing fetal bovine serum until adequate numbers were acquired. The MSCs were cultured in xenogen-free media for 48 h prior to use and d...
Simple and effective bacterial-based intratumoral cancer immunotherapy. We describe intratumoral injection of a slow-release emulsion of killed mycobacteria (complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA)) in three preclinical species and in human cancer patients. Efficacy and safety were tested in mammary tumors in mice, in mastocytomas in mice and dogs, and in equine melanomas. In mice, survival, tumor growth, and tumor infiltration by six immune cell subsets (by flow cytometry) were investigated and analyzed using Cox proportional hazards, a random slopes model, and a full factorial model, respectively. Tumor growth and histology were investigated in dogs and horses, as well...
Equine cervical remodeling during placentitis and the prepartum period: a transcriptomic approach. Cervical remodeling is a critical component in both term and preterm labor in eutherian mammals. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying cervical remodeling remain poorly understood in the mare. The current study compared the transcriptome of the equine cervix (cervical mucosa (CM) and stroma (CS)) during placentitis (placentitis group, n = 5) and normal prepartum mares (prepartum group, n = 3) to normal pregnant mares (control group, n = 4). Transcriptome analysis identified differentially expressed genes (DEGs) during placentitis (5310 in CM and 907 in CS) and during the normal prepartu...
Single-cell resolution landscape of equine peripheral blood mononuclear cells reveals diverse cell types including T-bet+ B cells. Traditional laboratory model organisms represent a small fraction of the diversity of multicellular life, and findings in any given experimental model often do not translate to other species. Immunology research in non-traditional model organisms can be advantageous or even necessary, such as when studying host-pathogen interactions. However, such research presents multiple challenges, many stemming from an incomplete understanding of potentially species-specific immune cell types, frequencies, and phenotypes. Identifying and characterizing immune cells in such organisms is frequently limited ...
Humoral and cell-mediated immune responses to plant-produced African horse sickness virus VP7 quasi-crystals. African horse sickness (AHS) is a devastating viral disease affecting equines and has resulted in many disastrous epizootics. To date, no successful therapeutic treatment exists for AHS, and commercially used live-attenuated vaccines have various undesirable side effects. Previous studies have shown that mice inoculated with insoluble African horse sickness virus (AHSV) VP7 crystals are protected from live challenge with a lethal dose of AHSV. This study investigates the humoral and cell-mediated immune responses in guinea-pigs to a safer monovalent vaccine alternative based on AHSV-5 VP7 quas...
Safety Profile of a Virus-Like Particle-Based Vaccine Targeting Self-Protein Interleukin-5 in Horses. ： Insect bite hypersensitivity (IBH) is an eosinophilic allergic dermatitis of horses caused by type I/IVb reactions against mainly bites. The vaccination of IBH-affected horses with equine IL-5 coupled to the Cucumber mosaic virus-like particle (eIL-5-CuMV) induces IL-5-specific auto-antibodies, resulting in a significant reduction in eosinophil levels in blood and clinical signs. the preclinical and clinical safety of the eIL-5-CuMV vaccine. The B cell responses were assessed by longitudinal measurement of IL-5- and CuMV-specific IgG in the serum and plasma of vaccinated and unvaccinate...