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Equine herpesvirus‐1‐specific interferon gamma (IFNγ) synthesis by peripheral blood mononuclear cells in Thoroughbred horses
Author(s) -
LUCE R.,
SHEPHERD M.,
PAILLOT R.,
BLACKLAWS B.,
WOOD J. L. N.,
KYDD J. H.
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
equine veterinary journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.82
H-Index - 87
eISSN - 2042-3306
pISSN - 0425-1644
DOI - 10.2746/042516407x174216
Subject(s) - peripheral blood mononuclear cell , immunology , population , vaccination , medicine , cytokine , monoclonal antibody , interferon gamma , antibody , interferon , virology , virus , biology , in vitro , biochemistry , environmental health
Summary Reasons for performing study : An assay has been developed that measures EHV‐1 specific interferon gamma synthesis (IFNγ), a cytokine produced following the activation of memory T lymphocytes and therefore a measure of cell mediated immunity. The method requires validation in the field. Objectives : To measure the frequency of EHV‐1 specific, IFNγ synthesising peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) in a population of Thoroughbred horses, and examine its relationship with age, gender, premises and history of vaccination or field infection with EHV‐1. Methods : Lymphocytes from 200 Thoroughbred horses were stimulated with EHV‐1 in vitro , and IFNγ detected using a monoclonal antibody and indirect immunofluorescence. Percent positive cells were enumerated by flow cytometric analysis and the results described and compared statistically between groups. Results : The frequency of IFNγ + PBMC was significantly higher in animals age >5 years compared with 2–4 years, in females vs. males, on stud farms vs. training yards and following vaccination of 2‐year‐olds with inactivated virus compared with nonvaccinates. Age strongly confounded all these associations and care must therefore be taken interpreting these results. Mares exposed to a field infection with EHV‐1 also had higher frequencies of IFNγ + PBMC than other vaccinated horses. Conclusions : The frequency of EHV‐1 specific, IFNγ + PBMC among the sample Thoroughbred population was diverse but lowest in young, unvaccinated horses‐in‐training. Potential relevance : The frequency of EHV‐1 specific lymphocytes synthesising IFNγ in this population may be associated with its susceptibility to infection with this virus. This easy technique may be applied to monitor the antigenicity of vaccines and their effectiveness at stimulating cellular immunity.