DETERMINATION OF EXTRACELLULAR CYTOKINE EXPRESSION IN EQUINE PERIPHERAL BLOOD MONONUCLEAR CELLS

摘要

Effective immune activation involves stimulation of innate and adaptive immune responses. Innate immunity provides immediate host protection, yet this activity does not provide a lasting response. Adaptive responses provide broad-based immune protection through the combined actions of immunologic memory and antigenic specificity. Antigen presenting cells (APCs) include several cellular elements: dendritic cells, macrophages and B lymphocytes that orchestrate key adaptive functions. APCs process and present antigen peptides in the context of Major Histocompatibility Complex molecules, type I or II. MHC I with peptide typically interact with CD8+ lymphocytes, whereas MHC II molecules with peptide interact with CD4+ (T helper; Th lymphocytes). These cells can be distinguished phenotypically by the expression of surface cell molecules using a panel of monoclonal antibodies and flow cytometry. In addition to cellular phenotype, determined by surface antigen expression, cellular function based on cytokine production is an important factor that determines immune activation status and immunologic response to antigenic challenge. Dual staining of activated lymphocytes with flow cytometry (Figure 1) is an efficient method to determine host response to antigen stimulation.