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Title: DEFENSE OF THE BOVINE MAMMARY GLAND BY POLYMORPHONUCLEAR NEUTROPHIL LEUKOCYTES

Author
item Paape, Max
item BRUVENICH, CHRISTIAN - GHENT UNIV, BELGIUM
item ZHAO, XIN - MCGILL UNIV.QUEBEC CANADA
item DETILLEUX, JOANNE - U. LIEGE, BELGIUM
item MASSART-LEEN, ANNE - GHENT UNIV,, BELGIUM

Submitted to: Journal of Mammary Gland Biology and Neoplasia
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/22/2002
Publication Date: 4/1/2002
Citation: Paape, M.J., Bruvenich, C., Zhao, X., Detilleux, J., Massart-Leen, A.M. 2002. Defense of the bovine mammary gland by polymorphonuclear neutrophil leukocytes. Journal of Mammary Gland Biology and Neoplasia. 7(2):109-121.

Interpretive Summary: Three million cases of clinical mastitis caused by Gram-negative bacteria (coliforms) occur every year in the U.S. Three hundred thousand cows leave the herd annually due to endotoxin produced during acute coliform mastitis. Scientists at the Immunology and Disease Resistance Laboratory at the USDA, Beltsville have cloned the gene for production of recombinant bovine CD14 and transgenic animals. The gene was inserted into Escherichia coli and baculovirus and the recombinant protein produced. Laboratory tests have shown that the recombinant protein was biologically active in vivo and in vitro. Eighty percent of mice injected with endotoxin died whereas only forty percent died when injected with both endotoxin and CD14. Inserting the gene for CD14 into the mammary gland will provide the CD14 necessary of recruitment of neutrophils and elimination of invading coliform mastitis causing pathogens. Novel reagents such as host defense proteins like CD14 and production of transgenic animals has a role for the treatment and prevention of coliform intramammary infections.

Technical Abstract: In the mammary gland, protection is only effective if rapid influx of neutrophils from the circulation and subsequent phagocytosis and killing of bacteria occurs. The second line of defense against infection consists of a network of memory cells and immunoglobulins, and there is no doubt that complex interactions exist with the first line of defense. In order to minimize mammary tissue damage caused by bacterial toxins and oxidative products released by neutrophils, elimination of invading bacteria should proceed quickly. Therefore, the inflammatory response needs to be regulated. The concept of a well balanced inflammatory response where pro- and anti- inflammatory local mediators, such as cytokines, regulate the outcome of the inflammatory process, is also applicable to systemic factors. Hormones, metabolites and acute phase proteins, influence the outcome of mastitis. This is especially the case around parturition. Advances in molecular biology are making available the tools, techniques and products to study and modulate host-pathogen interactions.