Effects of porcine epidemic diarrhea virus infection on CD21+ B cells activation

Chen Yuan; Yidan Lin; Yawen Wang; Yanan Zhang; Xue Zhao; Hongxing Yuan; Tanqing Li; Qinye Song

doi:10.1016/j.vetmic.2024.110087

Effects of porcine epidemic diarrhea virus infection on CD21⁺ B cells activation

Vet Microbiol. 2024 Apr 13:293:110087. doi: 10.1016/j.vetmic.2024.110087. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Chen Yuan¹, Yidan Lin¹, Yawen Wang¹, Yanan Zhang¹, Xue Zhao¹, Hongxing Yuan², Tanqing Li¹, Qinye Song³

Affiliations

¹ College of Veterinary Medicine, Hebei Agricultural University, China; Veterinary Biological Technology Innovation Center of Hebei Province, Baoding 071000, China.
² Agriculture and Rural Bureau of Guantao County, Handan, Hebei Province 057750, China.
³ College of Veterinary Medicine, Hebei Agricultural University, China; Veterinary Biological Technology Innovation Center of Hebei Province, Baoding 071000, China. Electronic address: songqinye@126.com.

PMID: 38663176
DOI: 10.1016/j.vetmic.2024.110087

Abstract

Porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV) is a devastating pathogen of acute- gastrointestinal infectious diseases, which can cause vomiting, diarrhea, dehydration and high morbidity and mortality among neonatal piglets. Humoral immunity plays a vital role in the host anti-PEDV infection process, but the mechanism of PEDV-induced B-cell immune response remains unknown. In this study, the effects of PEDV infection on CD21⁺ B cell activation were systematically analyzed through animal experiments. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) revealed that low levels of serum-specific IgA, IgM, or IgG were detected in piglets after PEDV infection, respectively. Serum interleukin (IL)-6 levels increased significantly at 4 d after infection, and the levels of IL-4, B-cell activating factor (BAFF), interferon (IFN)-γ, transforming growth factor (TGF)-β and IL-10 decreased at 7 d after infection. Fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) showed that expression levels of CD21, MHC Ⅱ, CD40, and CD38 on B cell surfaces were significantly higher. In contrast, the proportions of CD21⁺IgM⁺ B cells were decreased in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from the infected piglets. No differences were found in the percentage of CD21⁺CD80⁺ and CD21⁺CD27⁺ B cells in PBMCs from the infected piglets. In addition, the number of CD21⁺B cells in PBMCs stimulated with PEDV in vitro was significantly lower. No significant change in the mRNA expression of BCR molecules was found while the expression levels of paired immunoglobulin-like receptor B (PIR-B), B cell adaptor molecule of 32 kDa (Bam32) and BAFF were decreased. In conclusion, our research demonstrates that virulent strains of PEDV profoundly impact B cell activation, leading to alterations in phenotypic expression and BCR signaling molecules. Furthermore, this dysregulation results in compromised specific antibody secretion and perturbed cytokine production, highlighting the intricate immunological dysfunctions induced by PEDV infection.

Keywords: Antibody; CD21(+)B cells; Cytokines; PEDV; Surface and BCR signaling molecules.