Immunomodulation in cattle immunized with Brucella abortus strain 19

Regulation of the bovine immune response to immunization with Brucella abortus Strain 19 (S19) was investigated through application of a modification of an assay to measure suppressor T lymphocyte activities in humans and through development and characterization of antigen-stimulated T lymphocyte lines in vitro. A total of nine of steers were alloted into two groups: control (n = 4) and S19-immunized (n = 5). Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from each animal were cultured in vitro with mitogens (concanavalin A (Con A) and pokeweed mitogen (PWM], B. abortus antigens (B. abortus soluble antigen (BASA) and whole heat-killed B. abortus cells (HKC)) and media alone periodically from days 4 through 49 of the experiment. Supernates from these cultures were assayed for immunomodulatory activity(s) by addition to indicator cultures stimulated with suboptimal concentrations of Con A. Supernates from PBMC of S19-immunized steers generated with B. abortus antigens significantly (P less than 0.05) suppressed indicator cell responses as compared to those from control steers on days 35 and 49 post-immunization. This suppressive activity from PBMC of immunized cattle with respect to that of control cattle could also be induced through mitogenic stimulation with Con A or PWM. On day 49 of the study, suppressive activity was spontaneously released from the PBMC of immunized cattle. T lymphocyte lines were initiated from two S19-immunized steers at 2 and 9 weeks post-immunization. These T cell lines were characterized with respect to proliferative responses to B. abortus antigens through in vitro assay and surface marker expression through indirect immunofluorescence with a limited panel of monoclonal antibodies. Results from the present study indicated that S19 immunization induces a subpopulation(s) of cells in the PBMC of cattle capable of regulating the in vitro response to B. abortus. This regulatory activity is detectable by in vitro assay as early as 7 weeks post-immunization. Furthermore, the regulatory cell(s) appear to involve BoCD8+ T, lymphocytes which are specific for B. abortus antigens.