The expression of CD25, CD11b, SWC1, SWC7, MHC-II, and family of CD45 molecules can be used to characterize different stages of gamma delta T lymphocytes in pigs
Abstract
The expression of selected molecules was chosen to study porcine gamma delta lymphocytes and their CD2/CD8 subsets in different lymphoid organs in vivo and in vitro. Results indicate that many gamma delta T cells can constitutively express CD25 and MHC-II and that the frequency of gamma delta T cells positive for CD25, CD11b, SWC1 and SWC7 can be increased by stimulation.
A diversified TCRdelta repertoire was found inside CD25+, CD11b+, SWC1- and CD45RA- cells. Ontogenetic studies revealed various age and/or colonization dependency for expression of all studied molecules except of SWC7.
Findings generally indicate that CD25 represent an activation molecule that probably marks a functionally distinct subsets, expression of CD11b is perhaps connected to early functions of naive gamma delta T cells in the periphery, SWC1 is lineage specific marker, SWC7 may represent an activation molecule with intrinsic or transient expression, and the expression of CD45RA/RC most likely defines naive and terminally differentiated cells.