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The effect of age on foal monocyte-derived dendritic cell (MoDC) maturation and function after exposure to killed bacteria.
Abstract: Neonatal foals are uniquely susceptible to certain infections early in life. Dendritic cells (DC) are vital in the transition between the innate and adaptive immune response to infection, but DC biology in foals is not fully characterized. Monocyte-derived DC represent a suitable in vitro model similar to DC that differentiate from monocytes recruited from circulation. We hypothesized that foal monocyte-derived DC (MoDC) would exhibit age-dependent phenotypic and functional differences compared to adult horse MoDC. MoDC generated from 9 horses (collected once) and from 8 foals (collected at 1, 7, and 30 days-of-age) were exposed to killed whole cell Escherichia coli or Staphylococcus aureus bacteria. MoDC expression of MHC class II (MHC class-II), CD86, and CD14 were measured by flow cytometry, and supernatant cytokine concentrations of IL-4, IL-17, IFN-γ, and IL-10 were quantified with a validated immunoassay. The percentage of MoDC expressing MHC class-II and CD86 was lower and CD14 was higher for cells generated from 1-day-old foals compared to cells generated from adult horses (P < 0.0001). Bacterial exposure increased the percentage of cells expressing CD86 at all ages (P < 0.0001). Bacteria-exposed MoDC from 1-day-old foals produced significantly less IL-4, IL-17, and IFN-γ than adult MoDC produced in response to bacterial exposure (P ≤ 0.04). Following bacterial exposure, foal MoDC phenotype and cytokine secretion were different than those of mature horses. These differences could reduce the ability of foals to generate a protective immune response against bacterial infection.
Copyright © 2019. Published by Elsevier B.V.
Publication Date: 2019-03-09 PubMed ID: 30947978DOI: 10.1016/j.vetimm.2018.11.020Google Scholar: Lookup The Equine Research Bank provides access to a large database of publicly available scientific literature. Inclusion in the Research Bank does not imply endorsement of study methods or findings by Mad Barn.
- Journal Article
Summary
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The research article investigates how the maturity of a young horse (or foal) impacts their immune response to bacterial infections. More specifically, it examined changes in monocyte-derived dendritic cells (MoDC), significant in preventing infection, and found that younger foals exhibited lower immune responses to bacteria than adult horses.
Research Objective and Hypothesis
- The primary objective of this research was to investigate the functioning of monocyte-derived dendritic cells (MoDC) in foals with varying ages.
- The researchers hypothesized that the function and appearance of MoDC in foals would differ depending on their age and would be distinct from the MoDC seen in adult horses.
Methodology
- The researchers examined MoDC derived from nine horses and eight foals at 1, 7, and 30 days of age.
- These cells were exposed to dead Escherichia coli (E. coli) or Staphylococcus aureus bacteria to examine their immune response.
- The amount of MHC Class-II, CD86, and CD14, immune system markers, expressed in the MoDC was then measured through flow cytometry.
- The researchers also quantified the levels of cytokines (proteins involved in cell signaling) IL-4, IL-17, IFN-γ, and IL-10 in the cell culture using immunoassays.
Results
- The study found that MoDC from one-day-old foals expressed lower levels of MHC Class-II and CD86 and higher levels of CD14 when compared to those derived from adult horses.
- Exposure to bacteria increased the CD86 expression in all ages.
- One-day-old foals produced significantly fewer cytokines IL-4, IL-17, and, IFN-γ upon bacterial exposure when compared with adult horses.
Conclusion
- The overall results showed that the immune response in the MoDC of foals differed according to their age and differed from that of adult horses.
- These differences might impede the capacity of foals to form a sufficient immune response to protect against bacterial infection.
Cite This Article
APA
Lopez BS, Hurley DJ, Giancola S, Giguère S, Felippe MJB, Hart KA.
(2019).
The effect of age on foal monocyte-derived dendritic cell (MoDC) maturation and function after exposure to killed bacteria.
Vet Immunol Immunopathol, 210, 38-45.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vetimm.2018.11.020 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- From the Department of Large Animal Medicine, 2200 College Station Road, University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine, Athens, GA, 30602, USA.
- From the Department of Population Health, 2200 College Station Road, University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine, Athens, GA, 30602, USA.
- From the Department of Large Animal Medicine, 2200 College Station Road, University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine, Athens, GA, 30602, USA.
- From the Department of Large Animal Medicine, 2200 College Station Road, University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine, Athens, GA, 30602, USA.
- Equine Immunology Laboratory, Department of Clinical Sciences, Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine, Ithaca, NY, 14853, USA.
- From the Department of Large Animal Medicine, 2200 College Station Road, University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine, Athens, GA, 30602, USA. Electronic address: khart4@uga.edu.
MeSH Terms
- Age Factors
- Animals
- Cell Differentiation
- Cells, Cultured
- Cytokines / immunology
- Dendritic Cells / cytology
- Escherichia coli
- Flow Cytometry
- Horses
- Microbial Viability
- Monocytes / cytology
- Phagocytosis
- Phenotype
- Staphylococcus aureus
Citations
This article has been cited 5 times.- Berghaus LJ, Venner M, Helbig H, Hildebrandt D, Hart K. The potential value of cytokine, cortisol and vitamin D profiles in foals from birth to weaning for respiratory disease prediction on a farm endemic for Rhodococcus equi pneumonia. Equine Vet J 2026 Mar;58(2):359-371.
- Hildebrandt D, Venner M, Hart KA, Berghaus L. Plasma C-reactive protein and interleukin-6 concentrations in foals during health and respiratory disease. Equine Vet J 2026 Mar;58(2):372-379.
- da Silveira BP, Kahn SK, Legere RM, Bray JM, Cole-Pfeiffer HM, Golding MC, Cohen ND, Bordin AI. Enteral immunization with live bacteria reprograms innate immune cells and protects neonatal foals from pneumonia. Sci Rep 2025 May 25;15(1):18156.
- 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.
- Lee DH, Lee EB, Seo JP, Ko EJ. In vitro effects of monophosphoryl lipid A and Poly I:C combination on equine cells. J Vet Sci 2023 May;24(3):e37.
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