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Differential Gene Expression of Cytokine and Cell Surface Molecules in T cell Subpopulation Derived from Mammary Gland Secretion of Cows
Author(s) -
Asai Kenichi,
Yamaguchi Takahiro,
Kuroishi Toshinobu,
Komine Yumiko,
Kai Kenzo,
Komine Kenichi,
Kumagai Katsuo
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
american journal of reproductive immunology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.071
H-Index - 97
eISSN - 1600-0897
pISSN - 1046-7408
DOI - 10.1046/j.8755-8920.2003.00113.x
Subject(s) - biology , lactation , cd8 , cytokine , t cell , endocrinology , tumor necrosis factor alpha , fas ligand , medicine , microbiology and biotechnology , immune system , immunology , apoptosis , biochemistry , programmed cell death , pregnancy , genetics
Problem: As T cell subpopulations in the mammary gland secretion (MGS) of cows dynamically vary through the lactation cycle, their functional analysis is important to understand the mammary immune responses. Method of study: T cell subpopulations were positively selected from MGS during lactation period and non‐lactation period (dry period) by a magnetic cell sorter. The messenger RNA (mRNA) expression of cytokine and cell surface molecules in the subpopulations stimulated with anti‐CD3 was investigated using reverse transcription‐polymerase chain reaction (RT‐PCR). Results: CD4 + T cells from MGS significantly expressed mRNA of interferon (IFN)‐ γ , interleukin (IL)‐2, granulocyte‐macrophage colony‐stimulating factor (GM‐CSF), transforming growth factor (TGF)‐ β , tumor necrosis factor (TNF)‐ α , IL‐4, CD40 ligand (CD40L), Fas ligand (FasL) and IL‐2 receptor (IL‐2R) during dry period, and mRNA of IFN‐ γ , IL‐2 and TGF‐ β during lactation period. Their expression during lactation period was always less than that during dry period. CD8 + T cells from MGS substantially expressed mRNA of IFN‐ γ , IL‐2, GM‐CSF, TGF‐ β , TNF‐ α , FasL and IL‐2R during dry period and mRNA of IFN‐ γ , GM‐CSF, TGF‐ β , TNF‐ α and c‐ kit during lactation period. The TGF‐ β , TNF‐ α , c‐ kit and IL‐2R mRNA expression of T cells in MGS during lactation period mostly depended on γ δ T cells. Interestingly, c‐ kit mRNA was exclusively expressed in γ δ T cells. Conclusions: The cytokine expression of T cells in MGS of cows depended on the T cell subpopulations. The present findings suggested that the activation of γ δ T cells via c‐ kit receptor participated in the suppressed expression of cytokine mRNA in T cells during lactation period.