Experimental infection of neonatal foals with Rhodococcus equi triggers adult-like gamma interferon induction.
Abstract: Rhodococcus equi is a facultative intracellular pathogen that causes pneumonia in young foals but does not induce disease in immunocompetent adult horses. Clearance of R. equi depends mainly on gamma interferon (IFN-gamma) production by T lymphocytes, whereas the predominance of interleukin 4 (IL-4) is detrimental. Young foals, like neonates of many other species, are generally deficient in the ability to produce IFN-gamma. The objective of this study was to compare the cytokine profiles, as well as cell-mediated and antibody responses, of young foals to those of adult horses following intrabronchial challenge with R. equi. The lymphoproliferative responses of bronchial lymph node (BLN) cells to concanavalin A were significantly higher in foals than in adult horses. In contrast, adult horses had significantly higher lymphoproliferative responses to R. equi antigens than did foals. Infected foals had significantly lower IL-4 mRNA expression but significantly higher IFN-gamma expression and IFN-gamma/IL-4 ratio in R. equi-stimulated BLN lymphocytes than did infected adults. Infection with R. equi in foals resulted in a significant increase in the percentage of T lymphocytes and CD4(+) T lymphocytes in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid in association with a significant decrease in the percentage of these cell populations in BLNs. Infection of foals also resulted in a marked increase in serum immunoglobulin Ga (IgGa) and IgGb levels, resulting in concentrations in serum that were significantly higher than those of adult horses. This study demonstrates that the immune response to R. equi in foals is not biased toward IL-4 and is characterized by the predominant induction of IFN-gamma.
Publication Date: 2007-04-04 PubMed ID: 17409222PubMed Central: PMC1951072DOI: 10.1128/CVI.00042-07Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Comparative Study
- 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.
The research experimentally infects young foals with Rhodococcus equi, an intracellular pathogen, to study the immune response comparing to adult horses. The results showed that young foals, despite being generally deficient in producing interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma), displayed an adult-like IFN-gamma induction and lower interleukin 4 mRNA expression, driving a shift in the immune response.
Objective and Methodology
- The main aim of this study was to scrutinize the differences in immune response, specifically the cytokine profiles cell-mediated, and antibody responses between young colts and adult horses when exposed to Rhodococcus equi.
- The experiment involved intrabronchial injections of Rhodococcus equi in young foals to simulate a natural infection scenario.
- Following the experimental infection, researchers examined the bronchial lymph node (BLN) cells’ responses, comparing them with those of adult horses.
Findings
- The results indicated that the lymphoproliferative responses of BLN cells to concanavalin A in infected foals were significantly higher than in adult horses.
- However, when exposed to Rhodococcus equi antigens, adult horses exhibited a stronger lymphoproliferative response.
- Interestingly, infected foals demonstrated lower interleukin-4 (IL-4) mRNA expression, contrary to the conventional understanding that young mammals predominantly express IL-4.
- Simultaneously, infected foals showed elevated expression of IFN-gamma, demonstrating an adult-like IFN-gamma induction response, resulting in a higher INF-gamma/IL-4 ratio compared to the infected adults.
Implications
- This study reveals important nuances in the immunity of young foals when faced with Rhodococcus equi.
- While young foals are generally deficient in producing IFN-gamma, the infection with Rhodococcus equi triggers an adult-like IFN-gamma induction.
- Contrary to previous assumptions, the immune response in foals is not predominantly inclined towards IL-4 expression, providing new insight into foals immunity towards Rhodococcus equi.
- The research can have significant implications for developing targeted treatments for Rhodococcus equi pneumonia in young foals, tailoring therapies according to their unique immune response.
Cite This Article
APA
Jacks S, Giguère S, Crawford PC, Castleman WL.
(2007).
Experimental infection of neonatal foals with Rhodococcus equi triggers adult-like gamma interferon induction.
Clin Vaccine Immunol, 14(6), 669-677.
https://doi.org/10.1128/CVI.00042-07 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, P.O. Box 100136, 2015 S.W. 16th Ave., Gainesville, FL 32610, USA.
MeSH Terms
- Actinomycetales Infections / immunology
- Actinomycetales Infections / veterinary
- Animals
- Animals, Newborn
- Bronchi / cytology
- Bronchi / drug effects
- Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid / cytology
- Cell Proliferation / drug effects
- Cells, Cultured
- Concanavalin A / pharmacology
- Horse Diseases / immunology
- Horses
- Immunoglobulin G / blood
- Interferon-gamma / biosynthesis
- Interferon-gamma / immunology
- Interleukin-4 / immunology
- Lymph Nodes / cytology
- Lymph Nodes / drug effects
- Lymphocyte Subsets / cytology
- Mitogens / pharmacology
- RNA, Messenger / metabolism
- Rhodococcus equi / immunology
- Rhodococcus equi / pathogenicity
- T-Lymphocytes / cytology
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