Lymphocyte transformation test in veterinary clinical immunology.
Abstract: Lymphocyte transformation test is a powerful tool in laboratory testing of immunologic competence of animals. The impaired function of the lymphocytes or presence of mitogenesis suppressing factors in the patient serum were detected by comparing lymphocyte transformation (expressed as thymidine incorporation) obtained in media containing either autologous, homologous, or fetal calf serum additions. Most valuable results were obtained by using at least two, preferably three, different phytomitogens: concanavalin A (Con A), pokeweed mitogen (PWM), and phytohemagglutinin (PHA) at optimal concentrations (Con A, 15 micrograms/ml. PWM and PHA, 5 micrograms/ml) and decreased concentrations (Con A, 5 micrograms/ml, PWM and PHA, 1 microgram/ml). Mitogenesis induced by lipopolysaccharide was considerably smaller and not used routinely. With 2 X 10(5) lymphocytes/well, the background count of unstimulated lymphocytes in autologous serum in healthy dogs was usually between 100 and 400 counts/min (CPM), in clinically healthy cattle and horses from 200 to over 2000 CPM. Higher CPM were rarely detected without clinical disease. Increased background counts were often associated with viral infections, leukemias and lymphoreticular hyperplasias, decreased background counts were associated with various diseases. The stimulation indexes (SI) of healthy animals in autologous serum with Con A, (5 micrograms/ml) or PWM or PHA (1 microgram/ml) were in the range from 100 to 1000 in the dogs, in the tens for Con A and in hundreds for PWM and PHA in horses and cattle. Increased SI were present during the incubation period of various diseases. Decreased SI were associated with numerous infectious and lymphoreticular diseases and were caused by any of the following: (1) the presence of serum immunosuppressive factor(s) in the patient serum, (2) the decreased response of lymphocytes to mitogens, or (3) increased mitogenicity of lymphocytes due to unidentified serum factors in absence of phytomitogens.
Publication Date: 1981-01-01 PubMed ID: 7348210DOI: 10.1016/0147-9571(81)90006-0Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
- Research Support
- U.S. Gov't
- P.H.S.
Summary
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The research explores the use of the lymphocyte transformation test in determining the immunological competence of animals. Through this test, the researchers were able to detect flawed lymphocyte function or the existence of mitogenesis suppressing elements in the tested animal’s serum.
Understanding the Lymphocyte Transformation Test
This research focuses on the Lymphocyte Transformation Test, a laboratory method used to assess the ability of an animal’s immune system. The following points explain the process and findings of the test:
- The test functions by comparing the transformation of lymphocytes (expressed as thymidine incorporation) in media with different serum additives, including autologous, homologous, or fetal calf serum.
- The effectiveness of the test is enhanced by using at least two, preferably three, different phytomitogens (substances that stimulate cell division): Concanavalin A, Pokeweed Mitogen, and Phytohemagglutinin, at their optimal concentrations.
- The research found that Mitogenesis induced by lipopolysaccharide was less significant and therefore not used routinely.
Indicators & Measures in the Test
The research found that certain measures and indicators suggest the health status of the animal’s immune system:
- The background count of unstimulated lymphocytes in a healthy animal’s serum is typically within specified ranges for different animals (between 100 and 400 CPM for dogs, 200 to over 2000 CPM for healthy cattle and horses).
- Increased counts beyond these ranges are generally associated with clinical diseases such as viral infections, leukemias, and lymphoreticular hyperplasias, while decrease counts suggest the presence of various diseases.
- The study introduces the concept of stimulation indexes or SIs, which represent the responsiveness of the immune system to external stimulators. In healthy animals, the SIs values fall within specified ranges. However, increases or decreases in these indexes can depict the progression or presence of various diseases.
- Lower stimulation indexes can consequently be associated with several health issues including infectious and lymphoreticular diseases and may signal a reduced lymphocyte response to mitogens or the presence of serum immunosuppressive factors.
Conclusion
The Lymphocyte Transformation Test, according to this research, is a critical tool in veterinary clinical immunology. It provides valuable insights into an animal’s immunological state, helping professionals identify potential health challenges at an early stage.
Cite This Article
APA
Barta O, Oyekan PP.
(1981).
Lymphocyte transformation test in veterinary clinical immunology.
Comp Immunol Microbiol Infect Dis, 4(2), 209-221.
https://doi.org/10.1016/0147-9571(81)90006-0 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
MeSH Terms
- Animal Diseases / diagnosis
- Animal Diseases / immunology
- Animals
- DNA Replication
- Immune System Diseases / diagnosis
- Immune System Diseases / veterinary
- Immunocompetence
- Lymphocyte Activation
- Lymphocytes / immunology
- Mitogens
Grant Funding
- RR-09087 / NCRR NIH HHS
Citations
This article has been cited 6 times.- Wang W, Xu L, Cao Y, Liu G, Lin Q, Mao X. Effects of Casein Phosphopeptide-Selenium Complex on the Immune Functions in Beagle Dogs.. Animals (Basel) 2022 Aug 10;12(16).
- Lavergne SN. In Vitro Research Tools in the Field of Human Immediate Drug Hypersensitivity and Their Present Use in Small Animal Veterinary Medicine.. Vet Sci 2016 Dec 22;4(1).
- Laurin EL, McKenna SL, Sanchez J, Bach H, Rodriguez-Lecompte JC, Chaffer M, Keefe GP. Novel Cell Preservation Technique to Extend Bovine In Vitro White Blood Cell Viability.. PLoS One 2015;10(10):e0140046.
- Barta O. Laboratory techniques of veterinary clinical immunology: a review.. Comp Immunol Microbiol Infect Dis 1981;4(2):131-60.
- Stirtzinger T, Valli VE, Jacobs RM, Beiner L, Jansen B. In vitro response of purified ovine peripheral blood lymphocytes to phytohemagglutinin-M.. Can J Vet Res 1986 Jan;50(1):115-7.
- Archambault D, Morin G, Elazhary Y, Joncas JH, Roy RS. Standardization and kinetics of in vitro bovine blood lymphocyte stimulation with bovine rotavirus.. Comp Immunol Microbiol Infect Dis 1988;11(1):11-20.
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