Differential expression of surface membrane antigens on bovine monocytes activated with recombinant cytokines and during Trypanosoma congolense infection

The expression of surface membrane antigens on peripheral blood monocytes (PBM) of cattle of the Boran and N'Dama breeds activated with recombinant cytokines (TNF-alpha and IFN-gamma) and during experimental infection with Trypanosoma congolense was investigated using monoclonal antibodies (MoAbs) and fluorescein-activated cell sorter (FACS). The surface antigens investigated were C3bi receptor, major histocompartibility (MHC) II complex (Ia antigen) and two monocyte/macrophage (Mphi) differentiation antigens. The study revealed that both cytokines caused the enhancement of the expression of all the PBM surface antigens studied. rBolFN-gammaat low concentrations was more efficient in causing the activation of PBM. While the PBM of Boran cattle were more significantly activated to express the C3bi receptor vis-à-vis the Ia antigen than N'Dama cattle, the reverse was the case with the PBM of N'Dama cattle which expressed more Ia antigens than Boran PBM. Similar results were observed during T. congolense infection in the two breeds of cattle. The significantly higher expression of C3bi receptor and correspondingly lower Ia antigen expression by the PBM of Boran cattle, both during trypanosomosis and in vitro may be responsible for the higher rate of erythrocyte phagocytosis, hence the development of more severe anaemia by Boran cattle during trypanosomosis than N'Dama. In addition, the expression of significantly higher numbers of Ia antigen by N'Dama Mphi, hence are more able to process, present and initiate better trypanosome antigen-specific immune response than Boran cattle during infection. These two attributes are known genetic characteristics of trypanotolerance in cattle.