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Published on: March 6, 2009
Identification of a CD4 homologue in the cat
C D Ackley1, E A Hoover, M D Cooper
1Department of Medicine, University of Alabama, Birmingham.
Insights
Monoclonal antibody Fel 7 identifies a feline CD4 homologue on cat T cells. This discovery offers a vital tool for researching feline T cell development and function.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Veterinary Medicine
- Cell Biology
Background:
- Monoclonal antibodies are crucial tools in immunology for identifying cell surface markers.
- Understanding T cell subsets and their functions is essential for immune system research.
- Feline immunology research requires specific reagents to study immune responses in cats.
Purpose of the Study:
- To characterize a novel monoclonal antibody, Fel 7, produced against cat T cells.
- To determine the expression patterns and function of the antigen recognized by Fel 7 on feline immune cells.
- To investigate the potential of Fel 7 as a feline CD4 homologue.
Main Methods:
- Production and characterization of monoclonal antibody Fel 7.
- Flow cytometry analysis to determine antigen expression on various feline cell populations.
- Comparison of Fel 7 expression with feline CD8 (fCD8) antigen.
- Investigation of antigen expression and phosphorylation upon T cell stimulation.
- Functional assays to assess the effect of Fel 7 on T cell proliferation.
Main Results:
- Fel 7 reacts with a 65,000 Mr glycoprotein found on thymocytes, lymph node cells, splenocytes, and blood mononuclear cells.
- Fel 7 and fCD8 antigens are co-expressed on a subset of thymocytes but are mutually exclusive on peripheral T cells.
- Fel 7 expression is down-regulated and phosphorylated upon T cell stimulation, unlike fCD8.
- Soluble Fel 7 antibodies inhibit Concanavalin A-induced T cell proliferation.
Conclusions:
- The data strongly suggest that mAb Fel 7 identifies a feline CD4 homologue.
- Fel 7 is a valuable reagent for studying T cell subsets in cats.
- This antibody will aid in the investigation of normal and abnormal T cell development in felines.
Abstract:
Monoclonal antibody, Fel 7, produced against cat T cells, was found to react with a single-chain glycoprotein of Mr 65,000 present on a majority of the thymocytes, 40% of lymph node cells, 15% of splenocytes and 25% of blood mononuclear cells. Using a previously reported antibody that recognizes the feline CD8 antigen, approximately 65% of cat thymocytes were shown to express both the Fel 7 and fCD8 antigens, while 14% and 6% expressed either the Fel 7 or the fCD8 determinant respectively. The Fel 7 and fCD8 antigens were expressed by mutually-exclusive subpopulations of peripheral T cells, and not by B cells, macrophages or other types of blood cells. Expression of the Fel 7 antigen was down-regulated and the molecule was phosphorylated when T cells were stimulated with phorbol ester, while the expression of the fCD8 antigen was unaffected by this treatment. The addition of soluble Fel 7 antibodies efficiently blocked Con A-induced proliferation of T cells in a dose-dependent manner. The data suggest that the mAb Fel 7 identifies a feline CD4 homologue, providing an important reagent for the study of normal and abnormal T cell development in cats.
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