Partial purification and characterization of bovine fibroblast interferon

Bovine fibroblast interferon (BoF-IFN), produced in primary bovine embryonic kidney cell cultures after priming and infection with bluetongue virus, was purified by controlled pore glass (CPG) chromatography to a specific activity of 10(6) U/mg of protein, with 40% recovery of the original activity. The crude IFN was concentrated more than sevenfold during purification. This proved to be a relatively simple, practical method of obtaining sufficient quantities of partially purified natural BoF-IFN for further studies. The CPG-purified BoF-IFN was further concentrated by sequential ultrafiltration and was analyzed by sodium dodecyl sulfate/polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). Interferon, recovered from denaturing conditions either by dialysis against phosphate-buffered saline solution or by dilution in cell culture medium containing 10% fetal bovine serum, migrated as a single stainable protein with molecular weight of 21,000 on analytic SDS-PAGE gels. Recovered IFN activity from preparative SDS-PAGE totalled 8.7% of that applied. Attempts to further purify CPG-purified BoF-IFN by zinc chelate affinity chromatography were unsuccessful.     

Isolation and differentiation of bovine mammary gland progenitor cell populations

OBJECTIVE: To isolate bovine mammary gland cells with stem cell characteristics. SAMPLE POPULATION: Monolayers of bovine mammary gland cells. PROCEDURE: Mammary gland cell populations were separated by use of selected media supplements. Phenotypic characteristics were examined via light and transmission electron microscopy. Cellular expression of casein and connexin 43 was identified immunohistochemically. A scrape-loading and dye transfer assay was used to examine the mammary gland cell populations for homogenous gap junctional intercellular communication (GJIC). RESULTS: Subpopulations of mammary gland cells grown in vitro are classified on the basis of their distinct morphologic features and ability to communicate via gap junctions. Ultrastructurally, 2 morphologically distinct cell types were classified as type I and II cells. Type I cells were small light undiffertiated cells and large light undifferentiated cells that were deficient in functional gap junctions (as is characteristic of stem cells). Type II cells included large light differentiated cells and terminally differentiated cells; GJIC was functional in type II cells. Type II cells had cytoplasmic expression of connexin 43, whereas, type I cells did not. All cells expressed casein. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Subpopulations of bovine mammary gland cells with stem cell characteristics were identified. Phenotypic differences are observed among type I bovine mammary gland cells with stem cell characteristics. Gap junctional intercellular communication may be necessary for the differentiation of stem cells. Characterization of bovine mammary gland stem cells and their progeny may provide a new tool with which to study mammary gland health.     

Scanning electron microscopic study of bovine leukemic cells

Scanning electron microscopic observation of (i) leukemic cells in peripheral blood and tumor tissues of 11 cattle with bovine leukosis (adult form, n = 5; calf form, n = 2; and thymic form, n = 4) and (ii) peripheral lymphocytes from 2 cattle with persistent lymphocytosis and from 3 healthy cattle revealed morphologic differences of cell surface structures among various forms of bovine leukosis. These differences indicated an interrelationship of cell surface morphologic features between peripheral lymphocytes and tumor cells. Leukemic cells from cattle with the thymic and calf forms characteristically had a smooth surface. In cells from cattle with the adult form, the majority of abnormal cells in the peripheral blood, possessed numerous elongated microvilli on the cell surface, whereas tumor cells in the tissue were pleomorphic with a long villous, plicated surface or had stubby projections. Most of the peripheral lymphocytes from cattle with persistent lymphocytosis were characterized by a dense arrangement of elongated microvilli on the cell surface.     

Cytochemical characterization of feline leukemic cells

Hematopoietic cells in blood and/or bone marrow from 23 leukemic cats and ten control cats were characterized using a battery of cytochemical enzyme stains. The results of cytochemical staining led to modification of diagnosis based on clinical, hematologic and histopathologic findings in four (17%) of the leukemias. Sudan black-B and chloroacetate esterase served as granulocytic markers in both the control and leukemic groups. Peroxidase activity was seen in the granulocytes and monocytes of control animals but not in the blasts of leukemic cats. Diffuse alpha naphthyl butyrate esterase staining marked monocytes in both control and leukemic animals. Cytochemical staining was found to be a valuable aid in the classification of leukemias in the cat.     

Cytogenetic characterization of the Madin-Darby bovine kidney cell line.

The permanent bovine cell line, Madin-Darby bovine kidney, was cytogenetically analyzed. Chromosomal staining indicated 52 metaphase chromosomes with variations from 49 to 54. The isochromosomes 5, 12, and 13, and centric fusions between chromosomes 1 and 26, 9 and 11, 9 and 24, 17 and 25, 18 and 23, 20 and 24, and 24 and 27 were considered marker chromosomes.     

Partial inversion of the bovine caecum

Extract

A 3-year-old Jersey cow which appeared normal at the morning milking had become severely ill by the evening milking.     

Establishment of an IL-2-dependent bovine T cell line and an assay of lymphocyte response inhibition in leukemic bovine serum.

The mechanism of immunosuppression induced by leukemic bovine serum was investigated with respect to lymphokine reactions using an interleukin 2 (IL-2)-dependent bovine T cell line generated from bovine peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBLs). The suppression of concanavalin A (con A)-induced PBL blastogenesis was observed at a high rate in leukemic cattle sera. The growth of IL-2-dependent bovine T cells and IL-2 production from con A-induced bovine PBLs were also inhibited by these sera, and particularly, the latter was correlated significantly to the degree of lymphocyte blastogenesis by the mitogen. Therefore, the lesser sensitivity of lymphocytes to IL-2 and the reduced IL-2 production by activated lymphocytes seem to play a role in suppressing the lymphocyte reaction.     

Cytochemical characterization of leukemic cells from 20 dogs

The hematopoietic cells in blood and/or bone marrow from 20 leukemic dogs and 22 control dogs were characterized using a battery of cytochemical stains. The results of cytochemical staining led to modification of the diagnoses based on clinical, hematologic and histologic findings in seven (35%) of the leukemias. Sudan black B and chloroacetate esterase served as granulocytic markers in both the control and leukemic groups. Peroxidase activity was present in the granulocytes and monocytes of control animals but not the blasts of leukemic dogs. Alkaline phosphatase-positive staining of granulocytic precursors was a consistent finding in granulocytic and myelomonocytic leukemia, and alkaline phosphatase-positive lymphoblasts were seen in 38% of lymphocytic leukemias. Diffuse alpha naphthyl butyrate esterase-positive staining marked monocytes in both control and leukemic dogs. Cytochemical staining was found to be a valuable diagnostic aid in the classification of leukemias in the dog.     

Characterization and separation of bovine lymphocyte populations

Bovine lymphocyte populations were characterized by surface markers, rosette-forming ability and behaviour towards mitogens. After pre-treatment with neuraminidase 16% of the bovine blood lymphocytes and 14% of the bovine spleen cells formed spontaneous (E) rosettes with sheep erythrocytes. About 20% EAC rosette-forming cells were detected among both cell populations. Protein A receptors were detectable among 8% of the blood lymphocytes and 26% of the spleen cells. Bovine lymphocytes responded to pokeweed mitogen (PWM), phytohemagglutinin (PHA) and concanavalin A (Con A). An enrichment of bovine B and T cells was obtained by E-rosette sedimentation (81–84% B cells) and by filtration through nylon fiber columns (51–65% T cells). The T cells obtained after nylon filtration still responded to the mitogens PHA, Con A and PWM. Enriched B-cell populations responded to bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS). After monocyte depletion the mitogenic response of blood lymphocytes was not influenced.     

Separation and identification of bovine lymphocyte populations

Various methods for separation of lymphocyte populations have been modified and adapted for use in isolating and identifying bovine lymphocytes. Ficoll diatrizoate (F-D) with a specific density of 1.084 was found to be superior to those with densities of 1.080 and 1.077 which were developed originally for the mouse and human mononuclear cells, respectively. F-D with a density of 1.084 attained a lymphocyte (absolute number) recovery rate of 92% whereas those with densities of 1.080 and 1.077 yielded 81% and 71% recovery rate of lymphocytes, respectively. Subsequent separation of T lymphocytes was achieved best by nylon wool column whereas separation of B lymphocytes was attained best by complement-mediated depletion of T lymphocytes with the T lymphocyte specific monoclonal antibody (MAb), BLT-1. The former yielded 95 +/- 3% T lymphocytes with 47 +/- 9% recovery rate, and the latter gave 96 +/- 3% B lymphocytes with 71 +/- 9% recovery rate. In comparison, direct panning of F-D gradient separated mononuclear cells with goat anti-bovine IgG coated plates yielded 80% B lymphocytes with 31% recovery rate and indirect panning of MAb BLT-1 treated F-D gradient-separated mononuclear cells with goat anti-mouse IgG coated plates yielded 89% T lymphocytes with 35% recovery rate.     

Quantitative studies of Fc receptors on bovine leukemic blood lymphocytes: characterization by binding of homologous IgG1 and IgG2

Receptors for IgG1 and IgG2 (FcR) on peripheral blood lymphocytes from cows with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) were detected by their ability to bind homologous IgG1 and IgG2 in fluorometric binding assay. Scatchard plots at 4 degrees C demonstrated that IgG1 bound the same number of FcR per cell (3.12 +/- 0.69 X 10(5)) as IgG2 (2.89 +/- 0.69 X 10(5)). The receptors bound IgG2 with an affinity of 4.09 +/- 1.08 X 10(5) 1/M and IgG1 with an affinity of 2.73 +/- 0.55 X 10(5) 1/M, although the difference was not of statistical significance (0.1 greater than P greater than 0.05). Inhibition studies demonstrated that the two ligands could inhibit each other. It might be assumed that FcR for the two subclasses were identical.     

Effects of Staphylococcus aureus mastitis on bovine mammary gland plasma cell populations and immunoglobin concentrations in milk

Bovine mammary tissue and milk samples were examined to determine effects of chronic Staphylococcus aureus mastitis on the humoral immune response. Parenchymal and teat end tissues from lactating bovine mammary glands were stained immunohistochemically to determine distribution of immunoglobulin (Ig) G1-, IgG2-, IgA-, and IgM-producing plasma cells. Numbers of all Ig-producing plasma cells tended to be higher in tissues from S. aureus infected quarters compared with controls, but most differences were not statistically different. Numbers of IgG1-producing plasma cells at the Furstenberg's rosette area of infected quarters were significantly (P less than 0.05) higher than uninfected quarters. There were no significant differences in concentrations of Ig isotypes in milk from S. aureus infected and uninfected quarters. Data suggest that the antigenic effect of chronic S. aureus infection on the humoral immune response of the bovine mammary gland is minimal. Persistency of S. aureus infection may result, in part, from suboptimal stimulation or immunosuppression of the mammary immune system.     

Cytochemical characterization of peripheral blood cell populations of two Cyprinidae,Carassius auratus and Ctenopharyngodon idellus

Fish are the most diverse species of all vertebrate groups, and their blood cells have shown variable characteristics in terms of morphology. Cytochemical staining for enzyme activity in blood leukocytes will help assess the immune function of fish. We characterize blood cells from crucian carp (Carassius auratus) and grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idellus) by using a Diff‐Quick stain as well as different cytochemical methods. Blood specimens obtained from crucian carp and grass carp were evaluated after cytochemical staining for acid phosphatase (ACP), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), naphthol AS chloroacetate esterase (AS‐DNCE), naphthyl acetate esterase (NAE), α‐naphthyl butyrate esterase (NBE), peroxidase (MPO) and periodic acid–Schiff's reaction (PAS) using commercial kits. Blood cell types were evaluated based on their morphological characteristics and the presence or absence of specific chromogen. The expression pattern of enzymes was similar between the two Cyprinidae and was also broadly consistent with other fish species. However, there were some interesting differences detected between crucian carp and grass carp, including naphthol AS chloroacetate esterase activity in monocytes, peroxidase activity and location in thrombocytes. The ACP, ALP and MPO expressions of different leukocytes of the two Cyprinidae were evaluated by Image Pro Plus and were analysed for statistical significant differences. This investigation provides basic haematology and enzyme activity analyses for crucian carp and grass carp and serves as an approach to evaluating the immune response of fish.