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Title: BURSAL EPITHEILIAL CELLS OF THE GUINEA FOWL EXPRESS A PRESUMPTIVE ADHESION MOLECULE DEFINED BY AN ANTI MACROPHAGE MONOCLONAL ANTIBODY

Author
item OLAH, IMRE - SEMMELWEIS UNIV MED
item Lillehoj, Hyun
item SCOTT, THOMAS - CLEMSON UNIV
item GLICK, BRUCE - CLEMSON UNIV

Submitted to: Avian Diseases
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/1/1997
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: Because of the uniqueness of birds in evolution, many features of the chicken immune system are different from the mammalian system. Understanding immunobiology of poultry will enhance our ability to improve the well-being of chickens. In this study scientists from the University of Budapest, Clemson University, and ARS-USDA collaborated to find a unique expression of adhesion molecule in developing chicken embryo bursa. Understanding the detailed role of various cell surface antigens involved in the development of chicken's immune system will lead to a novel strategy to improve poultry health.

Technical Abstract: In the bursae of Fabricius of guinea fowl embryos a monoclonal antibody, designated K1, recognizes the entire epithelial bud, including follicular associated epithelium. This finding supports the suggestion that the follicular associated epithelium develops from the same epithelial anlage like the other epithelial components of the follicle. The epithelial buds receiving B cell precursors gradually stop expressing the antigen detected by the K1 monoclonal antibody in the center, and the K1 positive moiety becomes restricted to the periphery of the epithelial bud. In the posthatched guinea fowl the corticomedullary epithelium and the follicular associated epithelium-supporting cells continue to express the K1 molecule. At this point in time, the reticular epithelium of the follicular medulla stops producing this moiety. During the first month of life the expression of the K1 positive antigen by follicular associated epithelium is highly variable, from heavily to weakly stained, which suggests that the follicular associated epithelium gradually ceases to synthetise this molecule. The immunostaining pattern of the bursal follicle suggests the K1 positive antigen may serve as an adhesion molecule for the precursors of vimentin positive dendritic cells in the epithelial arches.