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Updated: May 3, 2026
Determination of Vaccine Immunogenicity Using Bovine Monocyte-Derived Dendritic Cells
Published on: May 19, 2023
Two functionally distinct myeloid dendritic cell subpopulations are present in bovine blood
Patricia González-Cano1, Natasa Arsic1, Yurij I Popowych1
1Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization-International Vaccine Center, 120 Veterinary Road, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5E3, Canada.
Insights
Two distinct bovine myeloid dendritic cell (mDC) subpopulations, CD205(Hi) and CD205(Lo), were identified in blood. The CD205(Lo) mDCs showed superior T cell activation capacity, highlighting functional differences in bovine immune cells.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Cell Biology
- Veterinary Science
Background:
- Immature myeloid dendritic cells (mDCs) are crucial immune cells found in bovine blood.
- These cells are characterized as lineage-negative (Lin(-))MHCII(+)CD11c(+)CD205(+)
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the heterogeneity of bovine mDCs.
- To characterize distinct subpopulations based on CD205 expression and their functional differences in T cell activation.
Main Methods:
- Isolation and high-speed cell sorting of bovine blood mononuclear cells.
- Phenotypic characterization using cell surface markers (CD11c, CD205, MHCII).
- Assessment of macropinocytosis, non-specific esterase activity, and T cell activation capacity.
Main Results:
- Bovine mDCs were heterogeneous in size and CD205 expression, allowing sorting into CD205(Hi) and CD205(Lo) subpopulations.
- Both subpopulations exhibited efficient macropinocytosis but differed in Toll-like receptor (TLR) gene expression.
- CD205(Lo) mDCs demonstrated significantly higher capacity for allogeneic T cell activation compared to CD205(Hi) mDCs, with distinct co-stimulatory molecule and cytokine gene expression profiles.
Conclusions:
- Two phenotypically and functionally distinct bovine mDC subpopulations (CD205(Hi) and CD205(Lo)) exist in blood.
- While both mDC types efficiently acquire antigen, they possess markedly different capacities for T cell activation, suggesting specialized roles in the bovine immune response.
Abstract:
Immature myeloid (m)DCs circulating in the blood of cattle have been defined as lineage negative (Lin(-))MHCII(+)CD11c(+)CD205(+) cells. Lin(-)MHCII(+)CD11c(+)CD205(+) mDCs (0.2% blood mononuclear cells) isolated from bovine blood were heterogeneous in cell size and CD205 expression. Using highspeed cell sorting, Lin(-)MHCII(+)CD11c(+)CD205(+) DCs were sorted into CD205(Hi) and CD205(Lo) subpopulations which were phenotypically distinct and differed significantly (P<0.01) in TLR gene expression. CD205(Hi) and CD205(Lo) mDCs were more efficient in macropinocytosis than monocytes and expressed no or little detectable non-specific esterase activity. CD205(Lo) mDCs efficiently activated purified allogeneic T cells and the addition of TLR agonists did not significantly alter this antigen presentation capacity. T cell activation by CD205(Lo) mDCs was associated with differential up-regulation of CD40, CD80, CD86 and TGFβ1 gene expression when compared to CD205(Hi) mDCs. In conclusion, two phenotypically and functionally distinct CD11c(+)CD205(+) mDCs were isolated from blood that had an equal capacity to acquire antigen but markedly different capacities to activate T cells.
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