PIGLET MODELS IN STUDIES ON ANTIBODY REPERTOIRE DEVELOPMENT

Authors: BUTLER, J - UNIV OF IA, IOWA CITY, IA; Lager, Kelly; SPLICHAL, I - INST MICROB, CZECH REPUB; FRANCIS, D - SDSU, BROOKINGS, SD; KACSKOVICS, I - EOTVOS LORAND UNIV, HUNGA; SINKORA, M - INST MICROB, CZECH REPUB; WERTZ, N - UNIV OF IA, IOWA CITY, IA; SUN, J - WAKE FOREST UNIV., NC; ZHAO, Y - CHINA AGRIC UNIV, CHINA; BROWN, W - ABBOTT LAB'S, N.CHICAGO,; DEWALD, R - CVB, NVSL, AMES IA; DIERKS, S - CVB, NVSL, AMES IA; MUYLDERMANNS, S - FREE UNIV OF BRUSSELS; Lunney, Joan; MCCRAY, P - UNIV OF IA, IOWA CITY, IA; ROGERS, C - UNIV OF IA, IOWA CITY, IA; WELSH, M - UNIV OF IA, IOWA CITY, IA; NAVARRO, P - PIONEER RESEARCH, IA; KLOBASA, F - INSTIT FUER T U T, GERM; HABE, F - UNIV OF LJUBLJANA, SLOV; RAMSOONDAR, J - REVIVICOR, BLACKSBURG VA

Submitted to: Veterinary Immunology and Immunopathology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/2/2008
Publication Date: 3/15/2009
Citation: Butler, J.E., Lager, K.M., Splichal, I., Francis, D., Kacskovics, I., Sinkora, M., Wertz, N., Sun, J., Zhao, Y., Brown, W.R., Dewald, R., Dierks, S., Muyldermanns, S., Lunney, J.K., Mccray, P.B., Rogers, C.S., Welsh, M.J., Navarro, P., Klobasa, F., Habe, F., Ramsoondar, J. 2009. Piglet models in studies on antibody repertoire development. Veterinary Immunology and Immunopathology. 128:147-170.

Interpretive Summary: The pig has become an important biomedical model. For its use for disease studies it is important to understand antibody responses and the lymphoid B cells that direct immunoglobulin production. This review addresses that area and tries to identify the differential influences of environmental from intrinsic factors. Studies on laboratory rodents or primates have been ambiguous because neither the effect of environmental nor maternal factors on the newborn can be controlled in mammals that: (i) transmit potential maternal immunoregulatory factors in utero and (ii) cannot be reared after birth without their mothers. The newborn piglet model is ideal to address each of these concerns. The best use of this model is though dependent on the characterization of the immune system of swine and its development. This review focuses on the porcine B cell system, especially on the methods used for its characterization in fetal studies and neonatal piglets. It addresses systems through which newborn piglets can be reared without maternal input and in environmental isolation (gnotobiotic pigs). Studies on neonatal piglets have: (a) provided valuable information on the development of the adaptive immune system (b) lead to important advances in evolutionary biology (c) aided our understanding of passive immunity and (d) provided opportunities to use swine to address specific issues in veterinary and biomedical research and immunotherapy. This review summarizes the history of the development of the piglet as a model for antibody repertoire development, thus providing a framework to guide future investigators.

Technical Abstract: The ability to identify factors responsible for disease in all species depends on the ability to separate those factors which are environmental from those that are intrinsic. This is particularly important for studies on the development of the adaptive immune response of neonates. Studies on laboratory rodents or primates have been ambiguous because neither the effect of environmental nor maternal factors on the newborn can be controlled in mammals that: (i) transmit potential maternal immunoregulatory factors in utero and (ii) are altricial and cannot be reared after birth without their mothers. Employing the newborn piglet model can address each of these concerns. However, it comes at the price of having first to characterize the immune system of swine and its development. This review focuses on the porcine B cell system, especially on the methods used for its characterization in fetal studies and neonatal piglets. Understanding these procedures is important in the interpretation of the data obtained. Studies on neonatal piglets have: (a) provided valuable information on the development of the adaptive immune system (b) lead to important advances in evolutionary biology (c) aided our understanding of passive immunity and (d) provided opportunities to use swine to address specific issues in veterinary and biomedical research and immunotherapy. This review summarizes the history of the development of the piglet as a model for antibody repertoire development, thus providing a framework to guide future investigators.