The effect of T-2 toxin on percentages of CD4+, CD8+, CD4+ CD8+ and CD21+ lymphocytes, and mRNA expression levels of selected cytokines in porcine ileal Peyer's patches

Pol J Vet Sci. 2013;16(2):341-9. doi: 10.2478/pjvs-2013-0046.

Abstract

The immune system is one of the main toxicity targets of the T-2 toxin. In view of scant research data demonstrating the effect of T-2 on cellular and humoral responses in gut-associated lymphoid tissue (GALT), this study set out to investigate the effects of chronic exposure to low doses of the T-2 toxin (200 microg T-2 toxin kg(-1) feed) on percentages of CD4+ and CD8+ T lymphocytes, CD4+/CD8+ double-positive T lymphocytes, CD21+ B cells, and IL-2, IFN-gamma, IL-4 and IL-10 mRNA expression levels in porcine ileal Peyer's patches. The investigated material comprised ileum sections sampled from piglets (aged 8-10 weeks, body weight of 15-18 kg) on days 14, 28 and 42 of the experiment. After 42 days of exposure to T-2, a significant drop in the quantity of the IL-10 product was observed (R = 0.94; S.E. 0.49-0.79; p < 0.001). A gradual decrease in the amount of IL-4 and IFN-gamma cytokine transcripts was found throughout the experiment, but the reported trend was not significant. On experimental days 14 and 42, a significant increase in the percentage of CD8+ T lymphocytes was observed in comparison with the control (p = 0.04 and p = 0.05, respectively), whereas on day 28, a significant decrease in the percentage of the above subpopulation was noted (p = 0.00). The percentage of CD21+ B cells in the experimental group decreased steadily in comparison with the control, and the observed drop was significant on days 28 and 42 (p = 0.06 and p = 0.00, respectively). On days 14 and 28, the percentages of CD4+ and CD8+ T lymphocytes were lower in the experimental animals than in the control group, and the drop reported on day 28 was statistically significant (p = 0.03).

Publication types

  • Controlled Clinical Trial
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animal Feed / analysis
  • Animals
  • Antigens, CD / genetics
  • Antigens, CD / metabolism
  • Cytokines / genetics
  • Cytokines / metabolism*
  • Diet / veterinary
  • Female
  • Gene Expression Regulation / drug effects
  • Peyer's Patches / cytology
  • Peyer's Patches / drug effects*
  • Peyer's Patches / metabolism
  • RNA, Messenger / genetics
  • RNA, Messenger / metabolism*
  • Swine / physiology*
  • T-2 Toxin / toxicity*
  • T-Lymphocytes / classification
  • T-Lymphocytes / metabolism
  • T-Lymphocytes / physiology*

Substances

  • Antigens, CD
  • Cytokines
  • RNA, Messenger
  • T-2 Toxin