Gene expression of T lymphocytes of gravid cows during preimplantation

Maeda, Yousuke; Yamamoto, Kana; Ohtsuka, Hiromichi; Ando, Takaaki; Tomioka, Michiko; Oikawa, Masaaki

doi:10.2754/avb201382020131

Acta Veterinaria > Archive > 2013, Vol. 82 > Issue 2 > Gene expression of T lymphocytes of…

Acta Vet. Brno 2013, 82: 131-134

https://doi.org/10.2754/avb201382020131

Gene expression of T lymphocytes of gravid cows during preimplantation

Yousuke Maeda¹, Kana Yamamoto¹, Hiromichi Ohtsuka¹, Takaaki Ando², Michiko Tomioka³, Masaaki Oikawa¹

¹Kitasato University, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Laboratory of Large Animal Internal Medicine, Japan
²Kagoshima University, School of Joint Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Laboratory of Veterinary Theriogenology, Japan
³Kitasato University, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Laboratory of Large Animal Surgery, Japan

An interaction between the conceptus and the immune system of animals is important during implantation. The aim of this study was to clarify the gene expression of T cell subsets in gravid cows during the preimplantation period. Peripheral blood from 14 Holstein dairy cows was taken 14 days after artificial insemination. Based on the gravidity, cows were divided into gravid (n = 8) and nongravid (n = 6) groups. Mononuclear cells from peripheral blood were stimulated with phytohaemagglutinin and then CD4⁺, CD8⁺, and WC1⁺γδ T cell subsets were isolated using magnetic cell sorting. The expression of interferon γ, interleukin 4, and progesterone induced blocking factor were determined using real-time PCR. The expression of interleukin 4 and progesterone induced blocking factor was significantly higher in WC1⁺ γδ T cells from gravid cows. In addition, interleukin 4 expression in WC1⁺γδ T cells from gravid cows was significantly higher than that in CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ T cells. This study describes for the first time the important role of WC1⁺γδ T cells during the preimplantation period in cows.