Abstract
Publisher Summary This chapter focuses on ontogenic development of natural killer (NK) cells in specific pathogen-free (SPF) and germfree (GF) piglets, the relationship of NK and killer (K) cells, and proposed model of the cell lineage(s) of NK and K cells. In a study described in the chapter, the K cells for antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) developed before birth, but NK cells developed after the GF piglets were 3–4 weeks of age; the SPF piglets developed NK activity two weeks after birth. The effector cells for NK in the SPF young adult miniature swine were present only in peripheral blood and not in spleen, lymph nodes, tonsils, thymus, or bone marrow. To examine the possible involvement of in vivo armed natural antibodies in NK activity, newborn piglets were fed colostrum resulting in high levels of maternal natural antibodies in their circulation, and cells from various tissues including peripheral blood, spleen, lymph nodes, thymus, liver, and bone marrow of these colostrum-fed piglets were examined. The unique gnotobiotic miniature swine model may provide with an excellent opportunity to further investigate the definition of the cellular nature of NK and K cells and to examine their cell lineages and relationships.
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