Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 19, 2026
12:38
Detection and Isolation of Viable Mouse IL-17-Secreting T Cells
Published on: December 18, 2008
Enhancing the toolbox to study IL-17A in cattle and sheep
Sean R Wattegedera1, Yolanda Corripio-Miyar2,3, Yvonne Pang2
1Moredun Research Institute, International Research Centre, Pentlands Science Park, Bush Loan, Penicuik, Scotland, EH26 0PZ, UK. Sean.Wattegedera@moredun.ac.uk.
Veterinary Research
|April 9, 2017
Summary
Developing new methods to detect Interleukin-17A (IL-17A) cytokine expression in ruminant T cells is crucial for livestock vaccine development against infectious diseases. This study successfully created novel techniques for IL-17A detection in cattle and sheep.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Veterinary Science
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Effective livestock vaccines require methods to detect cytokine expression in T cells.
- Existing methods for detecting T cell cytokines like IFN-γ, IL-4, and IL-10 in ruminants are established, but IL-17A detection methods are limited.
- IL-17A plays a critical role in host defense and immune regulation, making its detection vital for understanding ruminant immune responses.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and validate novel methods for detecting Interleukin-17A (IL-17A) expression in T cell subsets of ruminants (cattle and sheep).
- To enable the investigation of IL-17A-producing T cells, contributing to the advancement of livestock vaccine strategies.
- To identify specific T cell subsets responsible for IL-17A expression in ruminants.
Main Methods:
- Cloning of bovine and ovine IL-17A cDNAs and expression of recombinant proteins in Chinese Hamster Ovary (CHO) cells.
- Screening of commercial antibodies for IL-17A detection using transfected CHO cells (intracellularly and in culture supernatants).
- Development of an ELISA for bovine IL-17A, ELISpot assays for peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), and flow cytometry using monoclonal antibodies (mabs) for intracellular IL-17A detection and T cell subset phenotyping (CD4, CD8, WC-1).
Main Results:
- Successful expression of biologically-active recombinant bovine and ovine IL-17A proteins.
- Demonstration that an ELISA developed for bovine IL-17A can detect native ovine IL-17A.
- Identification of specific monoclonal antibodies capable of detecting intracellular IL-17A in PBMCs from cattle and sheep, revealing IL-17A expression in distinct T cell subsets (CD4+, CD8+, WC-1+ in cattle; CD4+, WC-1+ in sheep) upon activation.
Conclusions:
- Novel techniques for detecting IL-17A expression in ruminant T cells have been successfully developed and validated.
- These methods facilitate the investigation of IL-17A-producing T cells and the characterization of specific T cell subset activation in cattle and sheep.
- The developed techniques provide a foundation for advancing research on ruminant immunology and the development of improved livestock vaccines.
