Abstract
Phytohemagglutinin (PHA) and concanavalin A (Con A)-induced blastogenesis of peripheral blood lymphocytes was examined in heat-stressed pre- and postpartal sheep. The peak responses of lymphocytes to PHA and Con A in heat-stressed sheep revealed significant reduction before and after parturition compared with those in the corresponding control animals kept under thermoneutral conditions. Furthermore, the effect of serum from control or heat-stressed sheep on PHA-induced lymphocyte blastogenesis was examined. Supplementation of serum from heat-stressed sheep significantly suppressed the blastogenesis of lymphocytes obtained from healthy sheep, bovine, and human donors. Unlike dexamethasone, heat-stressed sheep serum did not inhibit IL-2 production by PHA-stimulated human peripheral blood lymphocytes. These results indicate that the immunosuppression of heat-stressed sheep is in part mediated by serum factor(s) that can modulate T-cell function in a species nonspecific manner.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 139-149 |
Number of pages | 11 |
Journal | Developmental and Comparative Immunology |
Volume | 14 |
Issue number | 1 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 1990 Jan 1 |
Keywords
- Blastogenesis
- Dexamethasone
- Immunosuppression
- Lymphocytes
- Parturition
- T-cell function
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Immunology
- Developmental Biology