Differential cytokine expression in T cell subsets from bovine peripheral blood

Abstract

ABSTRACTAlthough distinct cytokine expression in T cell subsets is well understood in mice and humans, limited information is available on bovine T cell subsets. In the present study, we analyzed the mRNA expression of 10 kinds of cytokines and CD25 expression in CD4+, CD8+, WC1+ and WC1‐γδ T cell subsets in bovine peripheral blood by Concanavalin A (Con A) stimulation. CD25 expression was significantly increased in CD4+, CD8+ and WC1+γδ T cells, but not in WC1‐γδ T cells by Con A stimulation. In CD4+ T cells, the mRNAs of Interleukin (IL)‐2, IL‐6, IL‐10, interferon (IFN)‐γ, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)‐α, TNF‐β and transforming growth factor (TGF)‐β were expressed in control cultures, and IL‐3, IL‐4 and granulocyte‐macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM‐CSF) were newly expressed when the cells were stimulated with Con A. CD8+ T cells expressed the mRNAs of IL‐6, TNF‐α, TNF‐β and TGF‐β in control cultures, and newly expressed those of IL‐2, IFN‐γ and GM‐CSF, but did not express those of IL‐3, IL‐4 or IL‐10 after Con A stimulation. The cytokine expression profile of WC1+γδ T cells was similar to that of CD8+ T cells. However, WC1‐γδ T cells did not express any cytokine mRNA except TGF‐â mRNA. These results will contribute to elucidate the participation of T cell subsets in immune responses against infectious disease in cattle.