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Home / Equine Research Bank / Clin Diagn Lab Immunol / Identification of pulmonary T-lymphocyte and serum antibody ...
Clinical and diagnostic laboratory immunology2002; 9(6); 1270-1276; doi: 10.1128/cdli.9.6.1270-1276.2002

Identification of pulmonary T-lymphocyte and serum antibody isotype responses associated with protection against Rhodococcus equi.

Abstract: Rhodococcus equi infects and causes pneumonia in foals between 2 and 4 months of age but does not induce disease in immunocompetent adults, which are immune and remain clinically normal upon challenge. Understanding the protective response against R. equi in adult horses is important in the development of vaccine strategies, since those mechanisms likely reflect the protective phenotype that an effective vaccine would generate in the foal. Twelve adult horses were challenged with virulent R. equi and shown to be protected against clinical disease. Stimulation of cells obtained from bronchoalveolar lavage fluid with either R. equi or the vaccine candidate protein VapA resulted in significant proliferation and a significant increase in the level of gamma interferon (IFN-gamma) expression by day 7 postchallenge. The levels of interleukin-4 expression were also increased at day 7 postchallenge; however, this increase was not antigen specific. Anamnestic increases in the levels of binding to R. equi and VapA of all immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibody isotypes [IgGa, IgGb, IgG(T)] examined were detected postchallenge. The levels of R. equi- and VapA-specific IgGa and IgGb antibodies, the IgG isotypes that preferentially opsonize and fix complement in horses, were dramatically enhanced postchallenge. The antigen-specific proliferation of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid cells, the levels of IFN-gamma expression by these cells, and the anamnestic increases in the levels of opsonizing IgG isotypes are consistent with stimulation of a memory response in immune adult horses and represent correlates for vaccine development in foals.
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Publication Date: 2002-11-05 PubMed ID: 12414760PubMed Central: PMC130094DOI: 10.1128/cdli.9.6.1270-1276.2002Google 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 study investigates the immune response of adult horses to Rhodococcus equi, a bacterium known to cause pneumonia in young foals. By understanding this response, the researchers hope to contribute to advances in vaccine development.

Objective of the Research

  • The aim of this study was to better understand the immune responses in adult horses challenged with Rhodococcus equi. This bacterium causes pneumonia in foals aged 2 to 4 months, but does not affect healthy adult horses. The researchers believed that by studying the protective response of adult horses, they could guide the development of effective vaccines.

Research Method

  • The researchers experimented on twelve adult horses, challenging them with a virulent strain of R. equi. The immune responses were monitored and analyzed post-challenge.
  • The main method of study was the stimulation of cells from bronchoalveolar lavage fluid with R. equi or the vaccine-candidate protein VapA. This allowed the team to examine the proliferation and expression of certain important cells and molecules.

Key Findings

  • An important finding was that both stimulation with R. equi and VapA resulted in a significant increase in the proliferation and gamma interferon (IFN) level expression by day 7 after the challenge.
  • There was also an increase in the level of interleukin-4 expression post-challenge, though this was not found to be antigen-specific.
  • The research identified large increases in the levels of R. equi- and VapA-specific IgGa and IgGb antibodies, the immunoglobulin G (IgG) isotypes known to preferentially opsonize (making bacteria more susceptible to phagocytosis) and fix complement (enhancing the ability of antibodies to clear pathogens) in horses.
  • The researchers concluded that the activity observed in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid cells and the increases in certain IgG types were consistent with the stimulation of a memory response in the adult horses’ immune systems.

Implications of the Findings

  • These findings imply a correlation between certain biological markers in the adult horse immune response and those which may be useful in foal vaccine development.
  • The study contributes toward understanding the protective immune responses in horses and identifying potential targets for effective vaccination against pneumonia caused by R. equi.

Cite This Article

APA
Lopez AM, Hines MT, Palmer GH, Alperin DC, Hines SA. (2002). Identification of pulmonary T-lymphocyte and serum antibody isotype responses associated with protection against Rhodococcus equi. Clin Diagn Lab Immunol, 9(6), 1270-1276. https://doi.org/10.1128/cdli.9.6.1270-1276.2002

Publication

Clinical and diagnostic laboratory immunology
ISSN: 1071-412X
NlmUniqueID: 9421292
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 9
Issue: 6
Pages: 1270-1276

Researcher Affiliations

Lopez, A Marianela
  • Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Pathology, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington 99164-7040, USA.
Hines, Melissa T
    Palmer, Guy H
      Alperin, Debra C
        Hines, Stephen A

          MeSH Terms

          • Actinomycetales Infections / veterinary
          • Animals
          • Antibodies, Bacterial / blood
          • Bacterial Proteins / immunology
          • Horse Diseases / immunology
          • Horses
          • Immunoglobulin G / blood
          • Immunoglobulin G / classification
          • Immunoglobulin Isotypes / blood
          • Interferon-gamma / biosynthesis
          • Lipoproteins / immunology
          • Lung / immunology
          • Lymphocyte Activation
          • Rhodococcus equi / immunology
          • T-Lymphocytes / immunology
          • Virulence Factors

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