WC1+ and WC1neg γδ T lymphocytes in intestinal mucosa of healthy and Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis-infected calves

Publication date: Available online 6 August 2019Source: Veterinary Immunology and ImmunopathologyAuthor(s): Latasha Ludwig, Rebecca Egan, Monica Baquero, Amanda Mansz, Brandon L. PlattnerAbstractMucosal surfaces such as the gastrointestinal tract, and skin are the front line of host defence and immunity against many pathogens. Gamma delta (γδ) T lymphocytes preferentially localize to the mucosal surfaces in several species including cattle, and are thought to play crucial roles in immunosurveillance and host defence, particularly against mycobacteria. Many γδ T cells are present in young calves, which is the period when calves are thought to be initially exposed to Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis (Map). The role of mucosal γδ T cells in cattle, especially during host-pathogen interactions during early pre-clinical phases of infectious disease remains unclear. The purposes of this study were to investigate and characterize WC1+ and WC1neg γδ T cell subsets in various segments of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract of young calves, and then to examine γδ T cell subsets in the distal small intestine of calves after experimental intestinal Map infection by direct Peyer’s patch inoculation. We show that in healthy calves, the relative proportion of γδ T cells is constant throughout the GI mucosa, though the ileum has significantly more γδ T cells. In the distal intestine, γδ T cells are mainly WC1neg and primarily located within the lamina propria...
Source: Veterinary Immunology and Immunopathology - Category: Veterinary Research Source Type: research