Characterization of efferent lymph cells and their function following immunization of cattle with an allogenic Theileria annulata infected cell line

Immunization of cattle with in vitro propagated bovine mononuclear cells infected with Theileria annulata induces a protective immune response. Activation and effector function of T cells exiting the lymph node draining the site of cell line immunization were investigated to understand the mechanisms involved in the generation of immunity. Immunized animals exhibited a biphasic immune response in efferent lymph as well as peripheral blood. The first phase corresponded to allogenic responses against MHC antigens of the immunizing cell line and the second was associated with parasite specific responses. An increase in the output of CD2(+) cells and MHC class II(+) cells in efferent lymph was observed after cell line immunization with a corresponding decrease in WC1(+) cells. Although the percentage of CD4(+) T cells did not change significantly over the course of the experiment, they became activated. Both CD25 and MHC class II expressing CD4(+) T cells were detected from day 7 onwards, peaking around day 13. Efferent lymph leukocytes (ELL) exhibited sustained responses to IL-2 in vitro following cell line immunization. Antigen specific proliferation was also detected first to the immunizing cell line and then to parasite antigens. The two peaks of CD2(+) cells were observed, which corresponded to similar peaks of CD8(+) cells. The increase in CD8(+) cells was more pronounced during the second parasite specific phase than the first allogenic phase. Activated CD8(+) T cells mainly expressed MHC class II and some expressed CD25. Significantly the peak of activated CD4(+) T cells preceded the peak of activated CD8(+) T cells, highlighting the role of T. annulata specific CD4(+) T cells in inducing parasite specific CD8(+) cytotoxic responses. A biphasic cytotoxic response also appeared in efferent lymph and peripheral blood, the first directed against MHC antigens of the immunizing cell line followed by MHC class I restricted parasite specific cytotoxicity. The cytotoxic responses in efferent lymph appeared earlier than peripheral blood, suggesting that activated CD8(+) cells exiting the draining lymph node following immunization with T. annulata infected schizonts play an important role in the development of protective immune responses.