Flow Cytometric Analysis of Lymphocyte Subpopulations of Cattle Infected with Bovine Leukemia Virus

ABSTRACT

We examined lymphocyte subpopulations of peripheral blood from BLV infected and noninfected Holstein-Friesian dairy cattle reared in Korea by flow cytometry using monoclonal antibodies specifically reactive with bovine leukocyte differentiation marker. Lymphocyte subpopulations expressing BoCD11b, B-B2, CD5, B, MHC II-DP, MHC II-DQ, and MHC II-DR antigens were significantly abundant in the BLV(+) group than the BLV(-) group (p<0.01). On double staining, subpopulation of B-1a(BoCD5+ BoCD11b+) lymphocytes was significantly increased in leukemic group. However, T-lymphocyte lineage expressing BoCD2, BoCD4, BoCD8, and WC1 antigens was significantly lower than in the BLV(+) group (p<0.01). However the absolute number of T-lymphocytes expressing BoCD2, BoCD4, BoCD8, and WC1 antigens in BLV(+) group remained with in the normal range. Furthermore mean ratio of BoCD4/BoCD8 in the BLV(+) groups was higher than that in the BLV(-) group. Taken together, cellular immune responses did not seem to significantly be decreased in the leukemic cattle.