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Veterinary immunology and immunopathology2000; 73(3-4); 267-285; doi: 10.1016/s0165-2427(00)00149-5

Characterization of peripheral blood and pulmonary leukocyte function in healthy foals.

Abstract: Studies in infants and foals indicate an age-dependent maturation of peripheral lymphocyte subsets. The age-dependent relationship for maturation of cellular immune responses, such as phagocytosis and lymphocyte responses of the peripheral and pulmonary-derived leukocytes, has not been characterized in foals. Lymphocyte subpopulations, mitogen stimulation response of lymphocytes, lymphokine-activated killing cell activity, phagocytosis and oxidative burst activity, and serum immunoglobulin (Ig) classes G and M concentrations were determined in developing foals. This study illustrates age-dependent changes in immunoglobulin class concentrations, lymphocyte subsets, and EqMHC Class II expression in cells of the peripheral blood and lungs of developing neonatal-to-weanling foals. The increase in peripheral blood and BAL B-lymphocytes and serum immunoglobulins in developing foals suggests expansion of immune cell populations during a time in which environmental pathogen exposure is great. General immune function, mitogenic responses, LAK cell activity, opsonized phagocytosis, and oxidative burst activity of newborns was similar to the adult horse. Total immune-cell numbers, rather than function, seemed to be the limiting factor in the development of the equine neonatal immune system. There was an age-related percent increase in the appearance of pulmonary lymphocytes, but a percent decrease in macrophages. Although development of the respiratory immune system follows changes in the peripheral blood, cellular expansion, activation, and migration may occur at a slower pace, making the respiratory environment susceptible to pathogens prior to optimal immune system maturity.
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Publication Date: 2000-03-14 PubMed ID: 10713340DOI: 10.1016/s0165-2427(00)00149-5Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Journal Article
  • Research Support
  • Non-U.S. Gov't

Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

This research focuses on understanding the development of immune functions, particularly leukocyte (white blood cell) behavior, in young foals. Age-dependent changes such as lymphocyte growth, mitogen stimulation response, immunoglobulin concentrations, and more were examined in newborn-to-weaning foals. Findings suggest that while newborn foals have similar immune function to adult horses, the total number of immune cells, not their function, may limit immune development.

Age-Dependent Maturation of Leukocytes

  • This study investigated the development of immune responses in young foals, specifically looking at potential age-dependent maturation of lymphocyte subsets, immune cells important in fighting disease. The researchers detailed cellular immune responses including phagocytosis, a process by which cells engulf harmful foreign particles, and lymphocyte responses of peripheral and pulmonary-derived leukocytes, white blood cells derived from the blood or lungs.

Key Findings on Immune Cell Population Expansion

  • The findings highlighted age-dependent changes in immunoglobulin class concentrations, lymphocyte subsets, and EqMHC Class II expression in cells of the peripheral blood and lungs in young foals. Immunoglobulins are types of proteins that function as antibodies, while EqMHC Class II refers to a set of cell surface proteins essential for the immune system to function properly.
  • It was observed that there was an increase in certain white blood cells (peripheral blood and BAL B-lymphocytes) and serum immunoglobulins in foals as they develop, which, according to the authors, indicates an expansion of the immune cell populations during a time of high exposure to environmental pathogens.

Comparison with Adult Horses

  • The study found that the immune function, mitogenic responses, opsonized phagocytosis, and oxidative burst activity of newborn foals were similar to those of the adult horse. Mitogenic responses refer to the response of lymphocytes to mitogens, substances that encourage cells to divide, while oxidative burst activity refers to a process where certain cells rapidly release reactive oxygen species to kill invading microbes.

Limitations in Immune System Development

  • Despite the similarities with adult horses, the authors concluded that the total number of immune cells might be the limiting factor in the development of the equine neonatal immune system, rather than the function of these cells.
  • The researchers also noted there was an age-related percentage increase in the number of pulmonary lymphocytes, but a percentage decrease in macrophages, which are a type of white blood cell crucial in killing pathogens.

Immune System Vulnerability to Pathogens

  • The development of the respiratory immune system was seen to follow changes in the peripheral blood. Despite this, expansion, activation, and migration of immune cells may occur at a slower pace, making the respiratory environment susceptible to pathogens prior to optimal immune system maturity, according to the authors. This information suggests that younger foals could potentially be more susceptible to respiratory infections due to their immature immune system.

Cite This Article

APA
Flaminio MJ, Rush BR, Davis EG, Hennessy K, Shuman W, Wilkerson MJ. (2000). Characterization of peripheral blood and pulmonary leukocyte function in healthy foals. Vet Immunol Immunopathol, 73(3-4), 267-285. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0165-2427(00)00149-5

Publication

Veterinary immunology and immunopathology
ISSN: 0165-2427
NlmUniqueID: 8002006
Country: Netherlands
Language: English
Volume: 73
Issue: 3-4
Pages: 267-285

Researcher Affiliations

Flaminio, M J
  • The James A. Baker Institute for Animal Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA. mbf6@cornelll.edu
Rush, B R
    Davis, E G
      Hennessy, K
        Shuman, W
          Wilkerson, M J

            MeSH Terms

            • Aging / physiology
            • Animals
            • Animals, Newborn / physiology
            • Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid / cytology
            • Female
            • Horses / immunology
            • Immunoglobulin G / analysis
            • Immunoglobulin M / analysis
            • Immunophenotyping / veterinary
            • Killer Cells, Lymphokine-Activated / physiology
            • Leukocyte Count / veterinary
            • Leukocytes / physiology
            • Lung / immunology
            • Lymphocyte Activation
            • Lymphocyte Subsets / physiology
            • Male
            • Phagocytosis / physiology
            • Respiratory Burst / physiology

            Citations

            This article has been cited 23 times.
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