L-selectin and beta2-integrin expression on circulating bovine polymorphonuclear leukocytes during endotoxin mastitis

The aim of this in vivo study was to examine the effect of intramammarily administered endotoxin (lipopolysaccharide, LPS) on the expression of L-selectin (CD62L) and the beta2-integrin subunits CD11b and CD18 on circulating bovine PMN. Six early lactating cows were infused with Escherichia coli LPS. The adhesion molecules under study were stained at the cell surface and analyzed flow cytometrically. In addition, some of the clinical parameters associated with adhesion molecule mobilization such as fever, blood cortisol levels, somatic cell count (SCC), and total and differential blood leukocyte count were measured. In analogy with observations during clinical coliform mastitis, a progressive decrease of CD62L expression levels was observed early after LPS infusion, concomitantly with a continuous rise of CD11b and CD18 density. However, no correlation was found between the kinetics of CD11b and CD18 density. The initial changes in adhesion molecule expression paralleled the decrease in blood PMN numbers, together with the increase in rectal temperature, cortisol levels, SCC, and number of circulating immature PMN. In conclusion, intramammarily administered LPS seems to play an important role in modulating adhesion receptor expression on circulating bovine PMN. Interestingly, in contrast to coliform mastitis, the net CD18 variation is not principally influenced by CD11b upregulation during endotoxin administration. The knowledge of adhesion molecule kinetics in relation to the different parameters evaluated in the present study contributes to an improved understanding of the inflammatory reaction.