ACTA VETERINARIA ET ZOOTECHNICA SINICA ›› 2015, Vol. 46 ›› Issue (10): 1851-1857.doi: 10.11843/j.issn.0366-6964.2015.10.019

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Expression of CD8α in the Major Immune Organs of Male Yaks

ZHANG Qian,YANG Kun,HUANG Yu-feng,PAN Yang-yang,YU Si-jiu,HE Jun-feng,LIU Peng-gang,CUI Yan*   

  1. (College of Veterinary Medicine,Gansu Agricultural University,Lanzhou 730070,China)
  • Received:2015-05-10 Online:2015-10-23 Published:2015-10-23

Abstract:

CD8α is an important surface marker of cytotoxic T lymphocyte.This molecule is critical for cell-mediated immune response and defense mechanisms,widely involved in recognition of specific antigens in association with MHCⅠ molecules and transmembrane signal transduction.In this study,the yak(Bos grunniens) CD8α was cloned using RT-PCR,and the expression of CD8α mRNA and protein in the major immune organs(thymus,spleen,mesenteric lymph nodes and haemal nodes) of adult male yaks were detected by means of quantitative real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR,Western blots and immunohistochemical SP methods.The RT-PCR results showed the coding sequence of yak CD8α contained 729 bp,encoded for 243 amino acids.The cDNA sequences of yak CD8α revealed significant homology with Bos taurus.The quantitative real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR and Western blot results showed that CD8α mRNA and protein were widely expressed in immune organs.The expression levels in the thymus was the highest than other immune organs(P<0.01);additionally the levels of haemal nodes was similar to that of spleen,and both of them were higher than those for mesenteric lymph nodes(P<0.01).Moreover,the immunohistochemical results showed the CD8α + cells were distributed in the cortex and medulla of yak thymus.In the spleen,many CD8α + cells were located in the periarteriolar lymphoid sheaths and red pulp.Moreover CD8α+ cells in mesenteric lymph nodes and haemal nodes were mainly presented in the mantle zone and medulla.The results indicated the thymic production might influence the CD8α+ T lymphocytes extent of secondary immune organs.Then haemal nodes might have similar functions in cellular immunity as the mesenteric lymph nodes and spleen.These datas would provide new insights into timely immunization,the pathogenesis and disease prevention.

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