Suppression of mitogenic response of bovine peripheral blood lymphocytes by ketone bodies

Mitogenic response of peripheral blood lymphocytes from ketotic cows and effect of ketone bodies on lymphocyte blastogenesis were investigated. Glucose consumption index (GCI) values for phytohaemagglutinin (PHA), concanavalin A (Con A) and pokeweed mitogen (PWM) in the ketotic cows were significantly lower than those in the healthy dry cows. A significant negative correlation was observed between the GCI values and serum concentrations of total ketone and beta-hydroxybutyric acid. When lymphocytes from healthy dry cows were preincubated in the medium with acetoacetic acid or beta-hydroxybutyric acid, the GCI values for PHA and PWM were significantly lower than those in the lymphocytes without ketone bodies. These findings indicate that increased serum concentrations of acetoacetic acid and beta-hydroxybutyric acid in ketotic cows suppress lymphocyte blastogenesis.