Opsonic effect of equine plasma from different donors.
Abstract: The ability of equine plasma from different donors to enhance phagocytic capacity was assessed in neutrophils obtained from seven foals, aged 7-8 days (Study A), and from seven adult horses (Study B). Neutrophils were allowed to phagocytize fluorescent yeast cells opsonized with plasma from one of three donors or with pooled serum, all previously frozen (-18 degrees C) and thawed. The results were analysed by flow cytometry. In study A, fresh autologous foal serum was also used for opsonization, and in study B, heat-inactivated plasma and pooled serum were used in addition to untreated samples. The plasma from donor GN induced a higher number of truly phagocytic neutrophils (mean 78%) than did plasma from donors GD (68%), OD (66%) and pooled serum (59%) when neutrophils from foals were used (p < 0.05). Similar results were obtained when adult neutrophils were used. Phagocytosis was markedly reduced with beat-inactivated plasma as a result of there being fewer phagocytic neutrophils and less phagocytized material per cell. The opsonic capacities of the autologous foal sera were lower than that of adult donor plasma in six out of seven foals. It is concluded that there is significant individual variation in the opsonic activity amongst plasma donors with similar serum IgG concentrations. The results were consistent irrespective of whether neutrophils from adults or foals were used.
Publication Date: 1997-06-16 PubMed ID: 9226837DOI: 10.1016/s0378-1135(97)00091-6Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
Summary
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This research investigates the effect of plasma from different donor horses on the ingestion capacity of white blood cells, with significant variation found amongst donors despite similar concentrations of an important antibody. This maintains regardless of whether the white cells originate from adult horses or foals.
Objective and Methodology
- The research aimed to assess the potential of plasma from different equine donors to increase the capacity of neutrophils, a type of white blood cell, to ingest foreign substances, a process known as phagocytosis.
- Neutrophils were obtained from two groups: seven young horses (“foals”) aged 7-8 days (Study A) and seven adult horses (Study B).
- The neutrophils were then allowed to ingest fluorescent yeast cells coated (“opsonised”) with plasma from one of three different donors, or with a pooled serum. These donors’ plasma and pooled serum were previously frozen and thawed for the experiment.
Results
- Plasma from a specific donor (GN) triggered a larger number of truly phagocytic neutrophils in comparison with plasma from other donors. The average percentage of phagocytic neutrophils was 78% for GN, compared to 68% for GD, 66% for OD, and 59% for pooled serum.
- Similar results were found when adult neutrophils were used.
- The presence of heat-inactivated plasma (plasma treated with heat to deactivate certain components) drastically decreased phagocytosis.
- The opsonic capacities of the sera from the young horses for their own cells were lessened compared to that of adult donor plasma in six out of seven foals.
Conclusion
- The research concludes that significant individual variation exists in the opsonic activity amongst plasma donors, despite having similar serum IgG concentrations. Here, IgG refers to a particular type of antibody, a protein that the immune system uses to neutralise pathogens.
- This variability persisted irrespective of whether neutrophils from adults or foals were used, indicating a level of consistency in the results.
Cite This Article
APA
Gröndahl G, Johannisson A, Jensen-Waern M.
(1997).
Opsonic effect of equine plasma from different donors.
Vet Microbiol, 56(3-4), 227-235.
https://doi.org/10.1016/s0378-1135(97)00091-6 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden. gittan.grondahl@kirmed.slu.se
MeSH Terms
- Aging / blood
- Aging / immunology
- Animals
- Animals, Newborn
- Female
- Flow Cytometry
- Horses / blood
- Horses / immunology
- Immunoglobulin G / blood
- Male
- Neutrophils / immunology
- Neutrophils / physiology
- Phagocytosis
- Saccharomyces cerevisiae
Citations
This article has been cited 3 times.- Gurel V, Lambert K, Page AE, Loynachan AT, Huges K, Timoney JF, Fettinger M, Horohov DW, McMichael J. Streptolysin-O/antibiotics adjunct therapy modulates site-specific expression of extracellular matrix and inflammatory genes in lungs of Rhodococcus equi infected foals. Vet Res Commun 2013 Jun;37(2):145-54.
- Flaminio MJ, Rush BR, Davis EG, Hennessy K, Shuman W, Wilkerson MJ. Simultaneous flow cytometric analysis of phagocytosis and oxidative burst activity in equine leukocytes. Vet Res Commun 2002 Feb;26(2):85-92.
- da Silveira BP, Cohen ND, Lawhon SD, Watson RO, Bordin AI. Protective immune response against Rhodococcus equi: An innate immunity-focused review. Equine Vet J 2025 May;57(3):563-586.
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