Young foal and adult horse monocyte-derived dendritic cells differ by their degree of phenotypic maturity.
Abstract: Newborn foals are very susceptible to infections by opportunistic pathogens such as Rhodococcus equi. This susceptibility is thought to be due to the immaturity of their immune system, in particular their inability to produce interferon-gamma. This deficiency may result from an insufficiency in accessory signals. We therefore compared monocyte-derived dendritic cells (MoDC) from foals and from adult horses. CD172, MHC-I and MHC-II were generally expressed on more than 90% MoDC from foals and adults. CD1w2(+)CD86(+) cells tended to be less represented in 2-3-week-old foals than in adults. This difference was significant among CD14(-) cells. The percentage of CD14(-)CD1w2(+)CD86(+) cells tended to be increased at 3 months. This suggests that very young foal dendritic cells are quantitatively less mature than their adult counterparts. The expression of IL-1, IL-12, IL-15 and IL-18 mRNA was not different in foal and adult MoDC, but the levels of TNF-alpha, IL-10, MCP-1 and TGF-beta were lower in foal cells. TNF-alpha and IL-10 expression was increased by LPS; TNF-alpha even reached the level of adult MoDC. This may mean that the lack of IFN-gamma in foals is not due to decreased levels of IL-12, IL-15 or IL-18, but rather to lower constitutive levels of TNF-alpha.
Publication Date: 2009-03-14 PubMed ID: 19349079DOI: 10.1016/j.vetimm.2009.03.002Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
- Research Support
- U.S. Gov't
- Non-P.H.S.
Summary
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The research study compares the immune systems of newborn colts and adult horses, specifically focusing on monocyte-derived dendritic cells. It highlights the differences in cellular composition and the associated response to infections, suggesting the relative immaturity of newborn horse immune systems.
About the Study
- The study evaluates the susceptibility of newborn foals (young horses) to opportunistic pathogens, specifically Rhodococcus equi, considering it is a major issue for foals. The trouble is attributed to the immaturity of their immune system.
- Researchers focused on an important part of the immune system – the monocyte-derived dendritic cells (MoDC), and drew comparisons between the foals and mature horses.
Results and Findings
- The research found that while most markers such as CD172, MHC-I and MHC-II were generally expressed in more than 90% of MoDC from both foals and adults, a significant difference was noticed in the expression of CD1w2(+)CD86(+) cells. These were found less represented in 2 to 3-week-old foals than in adult horses.
- These differences were particularly significant in CD14(-) cells. Signifying that young foal dendritic cells are less mature than their adult counterparts.
- On the cytokine front, the difference was furthered. While the mRNA expression of several cytokines – IL-1, IL-12, IL-15 and IL-18 – seemed consistent between the two, the levels of TNF-alpha, IL-10, MCP-1 and TGF-beta were lower in foal cells.
- Interestingly, the expression of TNF-alpha and IL-10 was observed to increase with the application of LPS.
Explanation and Implication
- The findings imply that these differences in the immune cells and cytokine level could make foals vulnerable to infections.
- Foal immune cells’ less mature state and the lower cytokine levels may affect their ability to generate a sufficient early immune response.
- Understanding these differences can help design better preventive or therapeutic strategies for infectious diseases in young horses.
Cite This Article
APA
Mérant C, Breathnach CC, Kohler K, Rashid C, Van Meter P, Horohov DW.
(2009).
Young foal and adult horse monocyte-derived dendritic cells differ by their degree of phenotypic maturity.
Vet Immunol Immunopathol, 131(1-2), 1-8.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vetimm.2009.03.002 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Veterinary Science, Maxwell H. Gluck Equine Research Center, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40546, USA.
MeSH Terms
- Age Factors
- Animals
- Antigens, CD1 / analysis
- B7-2 Antigen / analysis
- Cytokines / biosynthesis
- Dendritic Cells / immunology
- Dendritic Cells / ultrastructure
- Horses / immunology
- Lipopolysaccharide Receptors / analysis
- Lipopolysaccharides / immunology
- Monocytes / cytology
- Phenotype
Citations
This article has been cited 7 times.- Tallmadge RL, Wang M, Sun Q, Felippe MJB. Transcriptome analysis of immune genes in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of young foals and adult horses. PLoS One 2018;13(9):e0202646.
- Tallmadge RL, Miller SC, Parry SA, Felippe MJB. Antigen-specific immunoglobulin variable region sequencing measures humoral immune response to vaccination in the equine neonate. PLoS One 2017;12(5):e0177831.
- Vendrig JC, Coffeng LE, Fink-Gremmels J. Effects of orally administered galacto-oligosaccharides on immunological parameters in foals: a pilot study. BMC Vet Res 2014 Nov 19;10:278.
- Lohmann KL, Lopez AM, Manning ST, Marques FJ, Brownlie R, Allen AL, Sangster AE, Mutwiri G, Gerdts V, Potter A, Townsend HG. Failure of a VapA/CpG oligodeoxynucleotide vaccine to protect foals against experimental Rhocococcus equi pneumonia despite induction of VapA-specific antibody and interferon-γ response. Can J Vet Res 2013 Jul;77(3):161-9.
- Vendrig JC, Coffeng LE, Fink-Gremmels J. Effects of Separate and Concomitant TLR-2 and TLR-4 Activation in Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells of Newborn and Adult Horses. PLoS One 2013;8(6):e66897.
- Ryan C, Giguère S. Equine neonates have attenuated humoral and cell-mediated immune responses to a killed adjuvanted vaccine compared to adult horses. Clin Vaccine Immunol 2010 Dec;17(12):1896-902.
- 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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