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Effects of bovine respiratory syncytial virus or bovine viral diarrhea virus infection and N-acetyl cysteine supplementation on intracellular glutathione levels, proliferation and interferon-γ transcription by bovine peripheral blood mononuclear cells and natural killer cells

Laurice A Matulka, University of Nebraska - Lincoln

Abstract

Cell proliferation and lytic activity have been shown to be influenced by intracellular glutathione (GSH) levels in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). Since both functions are important for effective elimination of viral infections, viruses that infect PBMCs could potentially alter cellular GSH levels. The central hypothesis of this study was bovine respiratory syncytial virus (BRSV) and bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) infection lower GSH levels in PBMCs disrupting the anti-viral responses to these viruses. It was further hypothesized that infected cells augmented with N-acetyl cysteine (NAC) have increased GSH levels, changing the ability of infected cells to respond to infection. Mononuclear cells from calf peripheral blood were non-infected or infected with BRSV or BVDV, in the presence or absence of IL-2. Intracellular GSH levels, measured by flow cytometry, were decreased in PBMCs infected with BRSV or BVDV. Proliferation was increased in BRSV- or BVDV-infected PBMCs, in the presence of IL-2 compared to infected PBMCs in the absence of IL-2. IFN-γ transcription was decreased in BRSV- and BVDV-infected PBMCs in the absence of IL-2. N-acetyl cysteine supplementation increased IFN-γ expression in PBMCs infected with BRSV compared to BRSV-infected PBMCs without NAC. Given the importance of NK cells in innate immunity and attenuating viral infections, the NK cell subset was analyzed. GSH levels decreased in NK cells infected with BRSV and BVDV. NAC supplementation resulted in restoration of GSH levels. Flow cytometry revealed IL-2 enhanced proliferation of NK cells infected with BRSV or BVDV compared to infected cells in the absence of IL-2. BRSV or BVDV infection, in the absence of IL-2 caused decreased expression of IFN-γ compared to infected cells in the presence of IL-2. The results of this study revealed BRSV or BVDV infection reduced intracellular GSH levels in PBMCs and NK cells and are capable of suppressing immune responses.

Subject Area

Immunology|Livestock

Recommended Citation

Matulka, Laurice A, "Effects of bovine respiratory syncytial virus or bovine viral diarrhea virus infection and N-acetyl cysteine supplementation on intracellular glutathione levels, proliferation and interferon-γ transcription by bovine peripheral blood mononuclear cells and natural killer cells" (2004). ETD collection for University of Nebraska-Lincoln. AAI3126957.
https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/dissertations/AAI3126957

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