Enhancement of the interferon gamma assay to detect paratuberculosis using interleukin-7 and interleukin-12 potentiation

A limitation to the widespread application of interferon gamma (IFN-γ) response assays has been logistical difficulties, as they must be performed within hours of blood collection. Detection of specific IFN-γ responses to Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis (MAP) as part of the cell-mediated immune response of ruminants with Johne's disease could aid in diagnosis and control programs. In this study, a modified protocol was developed in which cultures were supplemented with interleukin (IL)-7, a survival factor required to maintain resting T cells, alone or in combination with IL-12 to potentiate IFN-γ responses and extend blood storage time. The combination of IL-7 and IL-12 was synergistic, giving IFN-γ responses greater than with IL-12 alone, for sheep blood stored up to 2 days. In a cohort of naturally infected sheep, the same number of animals was identified as test positive using the modified assay (performed after 2 days with IL-7/IL-12 supplementation) as the standard IFN-γ assay performed on the day of blood collection. The modified assay offered greatest advantage in the detection of early stages of paratuberculosis infection, for sheep with low grade and paucibacillary lesions, and at early time points post-infection. The potentiation protocol allowed for practical shipment of blood samples from farm to laboratory, extending permissible transit times and applicability of IFN-γ testing to detect Johne's disease.     

Effects of inoculum size on cell-mediated and humoral immune responses of foals experimentally infected with Rhodococcus equi: A pilot study

The objective of this pilot study was to compare the cytokine profile as well as cell-mediated and antibody responses of foals infected with a low inoculum of virulent Rhodococcus equi resulting in subclinical pneumonia to that of foals infected with a high inoculum resulting in severe clinical pneumonia. The mean (±SD) ratio of post-infection to pre-infection anti-R. equi IgG(T) concentration was significantly (P = 0.002) higher in foals infected with the high inoculum (195 ± 145; range 62–328) compared to foals infected with the low inoculum (3.9 ± 4.5; range 0.5–11). Similarly, mean (±SD) ratio of post-infection to pre-infection IgM concentration was significantly (P = 0.002) higher in foals infected with the high inoculum (12 ± 4.0; range 7.4–14) compared to foals infected with the low inoculum (2.5 ± 1.5; range 1.2–4.7). Proliferative responses to R. equi antigens as well as expression of mRNA for IL-2, IL-4, IL-10, and IFN-γ in BLN were not significantly different between the two groups. There was a tendency (P = 0.073) towards a higher IFN-γ/IL-4 ratio in the low inoculum group. This study demonstrates that the size of inoculum modulates the IgG subisotype response and possibly the cytokine profile of foals.     

IFN-γ renders human intestinal epithelial cells responsive to lipopolysaccharide of Vibrio cholerae by down-regulation of DMBT1

Although intestinal epithelial cells (IECs) are continuously exposed to high densities of enteric bacteria, they are not highly responsive to microbe-associated molecular patterns (MAMPs). However, inflammatory cytokines such as interferon-γ (IFN-γ) are potentially capable of priming IECs to enhance responsiveness to MAMPs. In this study, we observed that heat-killed Vibrio cholerae (HKVC) and its lipopolysaccharide (LPS) poorly induced IL-8 production in a human IEC line, HT-29. However, both HKVC and the LPS showed a substantial induction of IL-8 production in IFN-γ-primed HT-29 cells. LPS-induced IL-8 production was proportional to the IFN-γ-priming period and LPS could not induce IL-8 production in the presence of polymyxin B. Moreover, LPS-induced IL-8 production in the IFN-γ-primed HT-29 cells was mediated through signaling pathways requiring p38 kinase and ERK, but not the JNK/SAPK pathway. Since deleted in malignant brain tumor 1 (DMBT1) is known to interact with and antagonize the action of LPS, we hypothesized that IFN-γ enhanced the responsiveness to LPS in HT-29 through down-regulation of DMBT1. We found that IFN-γ indeed attenuated DMBT1 expression at both the mRNA and protein levels in HT-29 cells. Conversely, when the cells were transfected with small interfering RNA to specifically silence DMBT1, IL-8 expression was augmented even in the absence of IFN-γ and the augmentation was further enhanced by treatment with V. cholerae LPS. Since IFN-γ is known to increase IFN-β expression in the IECs, we examined if IFN-β functioned similar to IFN-γ. Although IFN-β alone was able to induce IL-8 expression, it failed to render HT-29 cells responsive to V. cholerae LPS. In conclusion, our study suggests that IFN-γ primes IECs to become responsive to V. cholerae and its LPS by suppressing the expression of DMBT1.     

Mucosal mRNA Cytokines’ Profile of Gastric Wall in Neonatal Foals: Comparison with Endoscopy and Histology

Gastritis and gastric ulcerations occur frequently in neonatal foals. The relationship between cytokines expressed by gastric mucosa and gastric histopathology in healthy or sick foals has never been investigated. The aim of this study was to compare the histological diagnosis and endoscopic view with cytokine expression (TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-4, IL-8, IL-13, and IFN-γ) of gastric mucosa. Twenty-two foals were definitively enrolled in the study: 19 were critically ill, and 3 were healthy foals. Gastric biopsy specimens were collected for histological examination and for cytokine mRNA qualitative real-time PCR analysis. This study shows that there is a substantial agreement between histology and endoscopy and that foals with evidence of gastritis and gastric ulcerations have higher probability of expressing TNF-α. Moreover, the overall profile of cytokines expression, with a low percentage of IFN-γ, a high percentage of IL-4, and the absence of IL-13, suggests a down-regulation of the Th1 cell-mediated immune response and an impaired Th2 response in the gastric wall in the neonatal period.     

猪脾转移因子提高LaSota株鸡新城疫弱毒疫苗的免疫保护率

旨在了解猪脾转移因子（TF）对新城疫病毒（NDV）弱毒疫苗LaSota株的免疫增强效果及机制。本研究分别采用不同剂量（10^-2、10^-3、10^-4、10^-5羽份） LaSota疫苗株单独（单独免疫组）、LaSota疫苗株与TF联合（联合免疫组）免疫SPF鸡,14 d后以NDV F₄₈E₉强毒攻毒,同时设立对照组（非免疫攻毒）和空白组（非免疫非攻毒）,并采用ELISA方法与蛋白质芯片技术分别测定外周血IL-4、IFN-γ与IL-12 P40浓度。结果显示,鸡免疫10^-2、10^-3、10^-4、10^-5羽份时疫苗攻毒保护率和半数保护量（PD₅₀）如下：单独免疫组分别为100%、55%、0%、0%和0.000 8羽份,联合免疫组分别为100%、75%、0%、0%和0.000 5羽份,对照组和空白组死亡率分别为100%和0%。免疫10^-3羽份疫苗后,联合免疫组IL-4和IFN-γ含量均高于其他组,并于第7、14天差异极显著（P<0.01）;攻毒后,联合免疫组IL-4、IFN-γ和IL-12 P40含量均高于其他组,IL-4于第1、14天,IFN-γ于第1、3天,IL-12 P40于第1天差异极显著（P<0.01）。综上表明,TF可增强IFN-γ、IL-12介导的细胞免疫和IL-4介导的体液免疫,提高LaSota株弱毒疫苗的免疫保护率,降低疫苗PD₅₀;在抵抗NDV F₄₈E₉强毒攻击时,联合免疫组的免疫保护率明显高于单独免疫组。     

Co-incubation with IL-18 potentiates antigen-specific IFN-γ response in a whole-blood stimulation assay for measurement of cell-mediated immune responses in pigs experimentally infected with Lawsonia intracellularis

The whole-blood interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) assay is a quantitative in vitro assay for a direct read-out of Ag-specific cell-mediated immune (CMI) responses to infectious diseases. The IFN-γ assay is robust in severe intracellular infections like Brucella or mycobacteria, but more difficult to evaluate for less severe or immunocompromising infections. Here we investigated the performance of the assay when recombinant co-stimulatory cytokines IL-12 and/or IL-18 were added along with Ag or PBS to cultures of whole-blood from pigs infected with Lawsonia intracellularis. In pigs recovering from a natural infection, addition of rIL-12 or rIL-18 alone increased the Ag-specific IFN-γ release while addition of both cytokines resulted in increased IFN-γ release also in PBS cultures. In analyses after experimental infections with L. intracellularis, significant increased levels of Ag-specific IFN-γ production were measured in Ag+rIL-18 cultures from infected pigs compared to the background response in PBS+rIL-18 control samples (p<0.01) or to Ag+rIL-18 cultures from non-inoculated control pigs (p<0.05). Flow cytometry identified two lymphocyte subsets as the Ag-specific IFN-γ producers. The highest IFN-γ production was by CD4(+)CD8(+) cells while a more numerous population of CD4(-)CD8(+) cells produced lower amounts of IFN-γ in response to rIL-18 and L. intracellularis Ag.     

CpG-Induced Stimulation of Cytokine Expression by Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells of Foals and Their Dams

A relative immunodeficiency of young foals is considered to account for the increased susceptibility of foals to infectious diseases, including pneumonia caused by Rhodococcus equi. In this report, peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from healthy foals at 14 and 56 days of age, or from their dams, were incubated with three stimulatory and one nonstimulatory (control) synthetic cytosine-phosphate-guanosine oligodeoxynucleotides (CpG-ODNs), and mRNA expression of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), interferon gamma (IFN-γ), interleukin (IL) -6, IL-8, IL12-p35, and IL-12p40 were determined. Results indicated that synthetic CpG-ODNs can induce strong, rapid cytokine responses in healthy foals and adult horses. B-class CpG-ODNs 2135 and 2142 induced greater messenger RNA (mRNA) expression of IFN-γ, IL-6, and IL-12p40 than the C-class CpG-ODN 2395 in foal PBMCs. In foals, B-class CpG-ODNs induced IFN-γ, IL-6, and IL-12P40 mRNA expression that was similar to or higher in magnitude than that observed in adult horses. These observations indicate that CpG-ODNs might be useful as immunomodulators or as potential adjuvants for vaccines to aid in preventing R. equi pneumonia and other bacterial diseases of foals.     

Lymphocyte activation as cytokine gene expression and secretion is related to the porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) isolate after in vitro homologous and heterologous recall of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from pigs vaccinated and exposed to natural infection

The present study evaluated the lymphocyte activation in PRRSV-vaccinated pigs subsequently exposed to natural infection by in vitro stimulation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) with homologous vaccine and two heterologous PRRSV isolates. The responsiveness was assessed by determining IFN-γ secreting cells by ELISpot assay, lymphocyte CD8 phenotype by intracellular staining/flow cytometry, cytokine gene expression by real-time quantitative PCR and cytokine secretion by ELISA. Conventional pigs were weaned at 28 days of age and inoculated intramuscularly (IM) or needle-less intradermally (ID) with a modified-live PRRSV vaccine suspended in adjuvant, while control pigs were injected with adjuvant alone (ADJ). Blood samples were collected at vaccination, 35 days post-vaccination and after 35 days post-exposure to natural infection by a heterologous field strain. Thirty-five days post-vaccination, PRRSV vaccine induced a low but significant virus-specific IFN-γ secreting cell response upon stimulation with both the vaccine strain and the two isolates in vaccinated pigs. Conversely, after 35 days post-exposure, only the vaccine strain and the BS/114/S isolate triggered this response. Intracellular staining showed that PRRSV-specific immune cells reacting upon vaccine strain and BS/114/S stimulation were mostly CD8⁺ IFN-γ producing cells whereas the stimulation with BS/55 isolate induced an IFN-γ production associated to the CD8^?IFN-γ⁺ phenotype. At 35 days post-vaccination, PBMC from vaccinated pigs showed lower IL-10 expression and release, and higher TNF-α gene expression upon stimulation with both the vaccine and viral isolates. After infection, both cytokines were not differently modulated in different groups. Immune parameters give evidence that IFN-γ secreting cells in the peripheral blood can be elicited upon PRRSV infection although vaccination itself does not stimulate high levels of these reactive cells. Moreover, the cross-reactivity against divergent PRRS viruses can show a different intensity and be differently associated with cytotoxic CD8⁺IFN-γ⁺ as well as CD8^?IFN-γ⁺ cells. Overall, the obtained data confirmed that the immune activation against PRRSV is not dependent on the genetic divergence of the virus. Especially after infection, a different immune reactivity was evident upon stimulation with the different isolates in terms of frequency and CD8 phenotype of PRRSV-specific IFN-γ producing cells. The modulation of cytokines in vaccinated pigs appeared to be more dependent on vaccination or infection conditions than on stimulation by different isolates, and the changes of IL-10 more relevant than those of TNF-α at gene and protein levels. Moreover, under the conditions of this study, the PRRSV vaccine administered via the intradermal route by a needle-less device was confirmed to induce an immune response comparable or in some cases higher than the intramuscular route.     

鸡鼻相关淋巴组织中IFN-γ和IL-2mRNA表达水平的动态变化

本研究旨在观察鸡鼻黏膜相关淋巴组织（NALT）在不同日龄时细胞因子上干扰素（IFN-γ）和白细胞介素-2（IL-2）mRNA的表达水平,分析鸡NALT免疫功能的建立情况,试验以不同日龄海蓝白鸡鼻腔后部组织为研究对象,采用SYBRGreen1qRT—PCR方法,检测鸡在胚胎时期和出壳后初期鼻相关淋巴组织中IFN-γ和IL-2mRNA的表达水平。研究发现：NALT中于18胚龄检测到IFN-7和IL-2mRNA,随后表达水平逐渐升高,并于21日龄时达到峰值。此外,在4日龄时2种细胞因子与CD4＋细胞出现的时间相同,表明2种细胞因子由该免疫活性细胞所分泌。NALT在4日龄时开始具有-定的免疫功能,并随日龄增长逐渐增强,21日龄时达到成熟水平。     

鸡毒支原体F弱毒疫苗株感染SPF鸡对IFN-γ、IL-2、IL-4和IL-10产生的影响

为了解鸡毒支原体（Mycoplasma Gallisepticum,MG）F弱毒疫苗株感染SPF鸡对IFN-γ、IL-2、IL-4和IL-10共4种细胞因子产生的影响,本研究分别以活菌浓度为109（A组）、106（B组）CCU/mL的MG F株及生理盐水（C组）点眼接种SPF鸡,采用ELISA方法对免疫前后外周血4种细胞因子的动态变化规律进行研究。结果显示免疫后A、B组的4种细胞因子浓度明显升高;其中IFN-γ质量浓度A组于第7、14天显著高于其他组（P〈0.05）,B组于第7天显著高于C组（P〈0.05）;IL-2质量浓度各组于第3、5、7天差异显著（P〈0.05）,由高至低以此为：A、B和C组;A组与B组IL-4和IL-10质量浓度差异不显著（P〉0.05）,但两组IL-4质量浓度于第5、7、14天显著高于C组（P〈0.05）;且2组IL-10质量浓度于第5、7、14、21天显著高于C组（P〈0.05）。免疫MG F株可较好的提高IFN-γ、IL-2介导的细胞免疫作用和IL-4、IL-10介导的体液免疫作用,且MG F株活菌浓度与接种鸡的细胞免疫作用呈正相关性。     

猪圆环病毒2型感染对猪瘟弱毒疫苗接种猪免疫应答的影响

为探索猪圆环病毒2型(PCV2)感染对猪瘟(CSF)弱毒疫苗接种猪免疫应答的影响,将20头28 d断奶仔猪随机分为V-I、I-V、V和C4组,5头·组-1.V-I组在接种CSF弱毒疫苗后2d感染PCV2;I-V组在感染PCV2 后2d接种CSF弱毒疫苗;V组只接种CSF弱毒疫苗;C组为空白对照组.共免疫2次,间隔21 d.免疫后定期检测血清CSFV特异性抗体水平、外周血淋巴细胞(PBLC)增殖活性和PBLC中IFN-γ、IL-2、IL-4和IL-10 mRNA的表达水平.结果显示:在CSF弱毒疫苗免疫前或免疫后感染PCV2,均会导致CSFV抗体水平低下,血清抗体阳转率下降,PBLC增殖活性降低.初次免疫后,V-I与I-V组的PBLC内IFN-γ、IL-2、IL-4和IL-10 mRNA的表达量严重不足,其中V-I组的表达量最低.加强免疫后V-I与I-V组的PBLC内IFN-γ与IL-10的表达失衡,IL-2和IL-4的表达缺乏,其中I-V组的细胞因子表达失衡和缺乏更严重.上述研究表明,CSF弱毒疫苗免疫前或免疫后感染PCV2均会影响机体的体液和细胞免疫应答水平,导致PBLC内细胞因子的表达严重抑制和紊乱.     

非洲猪瘟病毒P72蛋白合成肽疫苗的构建及其免疫效力评估

【目的】构建非洲猪瘟病毒CAS19-01/2019株(GenBank登录号:MN172368.1)结构蛋白P72的合成肽疫苗,通过免疫小鼠评估合成肽疫苗的免疫效力。【方法】利用ProtParam、SOPMA等软件分析P72蛋白的理化性质与结构信息,通过ABCpred、SVMtrip、IEDB预测P72蛋白的T细胞与B细胞抗原表位,筛选出显著的表位多肽区域,合成多肽辅以弗氏佐剂腹腔注射免疫小鼠,检测免疫组小鼠产生的特异性抗体、T淋巴细胞亚群、脾脏淋巴细胞增殖、细胞因子白介素4(IL-4)、IL-2、γ干扰素(IFN-γ)、免疫球蛋白(IgG),从体液免疫与细胞免疫角度评估合成肽的免疫效力。【结果】综合分析得出P72蛋白是稳定性亲水蛋白,二级结构中α-螺旋、β-转角、延伸链、无规则卷曲分别占19.35%、5.42%、25.08%和50.15%。筛选出了P72蛋白的8个优势抗原表位,626－634、520－528、298－306、203－211位氨基酸处为T细胞抗原表位,587－606、232－251、110－129、39－58位氨基酸处为B细胞抗原表位。整合优势表位合成2个多肽P72-1与P72-2,首次免疫小鼠14 d时可检测到P72-1与P72-2的特异性抗体,首免后28 d达到最高值,其最高抗体效价分别为1∶25 600与1∶12 800;免疫后小鼠T淋巴细胞亚群CD4^＋/CD8^＋显著上升(P＜0.05);脾脏淋巴细胞增殖试验结果显示,免疫组淋巴细胞数量均极显著升高(P＜0.01);细胞因子IL-4、IL-2、IFN-γ含量均极显著增加(P＜0.01)。【结论】本研究成功研制2种合成肽疫苗,在免疫效力上P72-2高于P72-1,二者都能产生高水平的特异性抗体,刺激脾脏淋巴细胞增殖,诱导产生细胞因子IL-4、IL-2、IFN-γ,本研究为非洲猪瘟合成肽疫苗研制奠定技术基础。     

Study of serum amyloid A concentrations as a means of achieving early diagnosis of Rhodococcus equi pneumonia

REASONS FOR PERFORMING STUDY: Prognosis of Rhodococcus equi pneumonia can be challenging because the course of the disease is often insidious and overt clinical signs are subtle. Early diagnosis is considered desirable because it may offer the chance of more successful implementation of treatment and, thereby, improved outcome. Serological tests have previously failed to be accurate for early detection or diagnosis. Measurement of serum amyloid A (SAA) prior to and at the time of clinical signs was therefore chosen in order to assess its potential clinical use. OBJECTIVE: To determine whether SAA concentrations differentiate foals affected with R. equi pneumonia from unaffected foals, either prior to the onset of disease or at the time of onset of clinical signs. HYPOTHESIS: SAA concentrations are significantly higher among foals that develop R. equi pneumonia than in foals from the same environment that remain clinically unaffected. METHODS: Serum samples were obtained from 212 foals 7-14 days and 196 foals 21-28 days post partum, and from affected foals and age-matched controls at the time of onset of signs of pneumonia. SAA concentration was determined for each sample. RESULTS: There were no significant differences between SAA concentrations of foals with R. equi and clinically unaffected foals during the 2 periods of examination or at the time of onset of clinical signs of R. equi pneumonia. CONCLUSIONS: Concentrations of SAA are variable among foals with R. equi pneumonia and cannot be used reliably either as an ancillary diagnostic tool or to screen for early detection of disease during the first month post partum. POTENTIAL RELEVANCE: Bimonthly monitoring concentration of SAA is not useful as a screening test for early detection of R. equi pneumonia and does not facilitate diagnosis of this disease when used according to the protocol of this study.     

Therapy of Suspected Septicemia in Neonatal Foals Using Plasma-containing Antibodies to Core Lipopolysaccharide (LPS)

Equine antiserum to core lipopolysaccharide (LPS) was evaluated in a double-blind prospective study for therapeutic benefit in suspected septicemia in neonatal foals. Forty foals younger than 7 days of age were included in the study by satisfaction of clinical and laboratory criteria, suggestive of gram-negative septicemia. Twenty-two foals were treated with core LPS antiserum (plasma produced from horses which were hyperimmunized with rough gram-negative mutant bacterin) and 18 foals received "nonimmune" plasma (from horses prior to immunization against core LPS). All foals received antimicrobials, fluids, and other supportive care measures, depending on clinical signs and according to accepted current practice. The clinical and laboratory data of each foal were monitored and recorded daily for 14 days after plasma treatment or until death.
The overall survival rate of these 40 foals with septicemia was 52.5%. The most prevalent diagnoses in addition to septicemia were enteritis and pneumonia. Of 30 positive bacterial cultures, 93% were due to gram-negative organisms. There was no statistically significant increase in survival rate in the 22 foals given core LPS antiserum ( P ± 0.05).     

Porcine MHC classical class I genes are coordinately expressed in superantigen-activated mononuclear cells

The expression of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) classical class I genes is important for the adaptive immune response to target virus-infected cells and cancer cells. The up-regulation of the MHC is achieved by hormonal/cytokine signals including IFN-γ-inducible elements. The swine leukocyte antigen (SLA), the MHC class I region of pigs, consists of the duplicated classical class I genes, SLA-1, SLA-2 and SLA-3, but the molecular mechanisms involved in their up-regulation after T cell stimulation have not been fully elucidated. In order to better understand some of the putative regulatory mechanisms of SLA class I gene expression in activated T cells, we examined the coordinated expression of the SLA classical class I, IFN-γ and interferon regulatory factor-1 (IRF-1) genes in the peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of SLA homozygous Clawn miniature swine stimulated for 72h with either IFN-γ or an enterotoxin produced by Staphylococcus aureus. This enterotoxin, toxic shock syndrome-1 (TSST-1), is known to act as a superantigen (sAG) to activate the T cells in various vertebrate species. We showed by using mAbs and flow cytometry that the CD4(+)CD25(+) cell number of swine PBMCs was also increased by TSST-1 and to a lesser degree by IFN-γ. Time course analyses of the expression of the IFN-γ, IRF-1 and the three classical class I genes, SLA-1, SLA-2, and SLA-3, in PBMCs by quantitative real-time PCR revealed a transitory response to TSST-1 or IFN-γ stimulation. The IFN-γ mRNA levels in the PBMCs were continuously up-regulated over the first 48h by TSST-1 or IFN-γ. In contrast, SLA class I expression moderately increased at 24h and then decreased to a baseline level or less at 72h of IFN-γ or TSST-1 stimulation. The three classical SLA class I genes showed similar expression kinetics, although SLA-3 mRNA level was consistently lower than those of SLA-1 and -2. The expression of IRF-1, a modulator of SLA expression, showed similar kinetics to those of the three classical SLA class I genes. The expression profiles detected by flow cytometry of the SLA molecules on the cell surface of PBMCs were maintained at a consistently high level during cell stimulation with either TSST-1 or IFN-γ, which was distinct from the kinetics of mRNA expression. These results showed that miniature swine SLA class I mRNA expression was effectively and equally up-regulated among the three loci and coordinately with IRF-1 gene expression after stimulation of T cell activation by sAG or IFN-γ.     

Neutrophil function of neonatal foals is enhanced in vitro by CpG oligodeoxynucleotide stimulation

Rhodococcus equi is an intracellular bacterium that causes pneumonia in foals and immunocompromised adult horses. Evidence exists that foals become infected with R. equi early in life, a period when innate immune responses are critically important for protection against infection. Neutrophils are innate immune cells that play a key role in defense against this bacterium. Enhancing neutrophil function during early life could thus help to protect foals against R. equi infection. The objective of our study was to determine whether in vitro incubation with the TLR9 agonist CpG 2142 would enhance degranulation and gene expression of cytokines and Toll-like receptor 9 (TLR9) by neutrophils collected from foals at 2, 14, and 56 days of life, and to determine whether these stimulated responses varied among ages. Neutrophil degranulation was enhanced at all ages by in vitro stimulation with either CpG alone, R. equi alone, or in combination with either R. equi or N-formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine (fMLP) (P<0.05), but not by in vitro stimulation with fMLP alone. There were no significant differences among ages in CpG-induced cytokine expression, except for IL-12p40, which was induced more at 56 days of age than on days 2 or 14. Collapsing data across ages, CpG 2142 significantly (P<0.05) increased IL-6 and IL-17 mRNA expression. We concluded that in vitro stimulation of foal neutrophils with CpG enhances their function by promoting degranulation and inducing mRNA expression of IL-6 and IL-17, regardless of age.