Hematopoiesis in the equine fetal liver suggests immune preparedness.
- Journal Article
- Research Support
- N.I.H.
- Extramural
Summary
This study focuses on how the equine fetus readies its immune system, particularly its B cells and immunoglobulins, for exposure to pathogens after birth. The researchers found the liver and bone marrow of the fetus to be active sites for the development of these immune components, and noted that the range of antibodies produced is wide and varied, increasing the potential for an effective response to a variety of antigens once the foal is born.
Hematopoiesis in Equine Fetal Liver and Bone Marrow
The study knows that hematopoiesis (the production of blood cells) is actively taking place in the liver and bone marrow of the equine fetus. This was deduced from the detection of:
- Specific mRNA (c-KIT, CD34, IL7R, CXCL12, IRF8, PU.1, PAX5, NOTCH1, GATA1, CEBPA), which are key markers of hematopoietic development and leukocyte differentiation. These markers help decode the development and uniqueness of blood and immune cells.
- Protein markers (CD34, CD19, IgM, CD3, CD4, CD5, CD8, CD11b, CD172A), which also help identify different stages and types of hematopoietic and leukocyte development.
B Cell Production and Immunoglobulin Diversity
The researchers sought to determine the diversity of immunoglobulin (Ig) produced by the B cells in the fetus. This was done by sequencing V(D)J segments – sections of the DNA in B cells responsible for producing a wide variety of antibodies. The study found that:
- Both the equine fetus and adult horse utilized similar heavy chain VDJ segments and CDR3 lengths most frequently.
- Different lambda light chain segments (another part of the antibody) were more commonly used in the fetal stage than in the adult stage.
- Interestingly, the fetus used a more varied selection of variable gene segments to construct the lambda chain, suggesting a more diversified response to antigens.
- Moreover, whilst the sequence diversity of fetal Igs was found to be lesser than that of the adult horse, the study implies that the fetus’s wider use of lambda variable gene segments and diversity in B cell production equips the newborn with an ability to react to a broader range of antigens right after birth.
Cite This Article
Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Equine Immunology Lab, Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, 14853, USA, jmb279@cornell.edu.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Antibody Diversity / genetics
- Antibody Diversity / immunology
- B-Lymphocytes / immunology
- Bone Marrow / immunology
- Fetus / immunology
- Hematopoiesis / genetics
- Hematopoiesis / immunology
- Horses / genetics
- Horses / immunology
- Immunoglobulin Heavy Chains / genetics
- Immunoglobulin Heavy Chains / immunology
- Immunoglobulin Variable Region / genetics
- Immunoglobulin Variable Region / immunology
- Immunoglobulin lambda-Chains / genetics
- Immunoglobulin lambda-Chains / immunology
- Leukocytes / immunology
- Liver / immunology
- RNA, Messenger / genetics
- RNA, Messenger / immunology
Grant Funding
- DP2 OD007216 / NIH HHS
- 1 DP2 OD007216 / NIH HHS
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Citations
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