Kerstin H. Mair

The porcine innate immune system: an update.

Abstract Over the last few years, we have seen an increasing interest and demand for pigs in biomedical research. Domestic pigs (Sus scrofa domesticus) are closely related to humans in terms of their anatomy, genetics, and physiology, and often are the model of choice for the assessment of novel vaccines and therapeutics in a preclinical stage. However, the pig as a model has much more to offer, and can serve as a model for many biomedical applications including aging research, medical imaging, and pharmaceutical studies to name a few. In this review, we will provide an overview of the innate immune system in pigs, describe its anatomical and physiological key features, and discuss the key players involved. In particular, we compare the porcine innate immune system to that of humans, and emphasize on the importance of the pig as model for human disease.

Phenotypic maturation of porcine NK- and T-cell subsets

Detailed information concerning the development of the immune system in young pigs is still rudimental. In the present study, we analyzed changes in phenotype and absolute numbers of natural killer cells, γδ T cells, T helper cells, regulatory T cells and cytolytic T cells in the blood of pigs from birth to six months of age. For each lymphocyte subpopulation, a combination of lineage and differentiation markers was investigated by six-color flow cytometry. Major findings were: (i) absolute numbers of γδ T cells strongly increased from birth until 19-25 weeks of age, indicating an important role for these cells during adolescence; (ii) phenotype of T helper cells changed over time from CD8α(-)SLA-DR(-)CD27(+) towards CD8α(+)SLA-DR(+)CD27(-) but CD45RC(-) T helper cells were found immediately after birth, therefore questioning the role of this marker for the identification of T-helper memory cells; (iii) for cytolytic T cells, putative phenotypes for early effector (CD3(+)CD8αβ(+)perforin(+)CD27(dim)) and late effector or memory cells (CD3(+)CD8αβ(+)perforin(+)CD27(-)) could be identified.

NKp46 expression discriminates porcine NK cells with different functional properties

So far little is known about natural killer (NK) cells in the pig due to the lack of NK cell‐specific markers. In this study, we identified the activating receptor NKp46 (CD335) in swine with newly developed monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) for more detailed studies on NK cells in this species. The NKp46 mAbs showed a specific reactivity with a distinct population of perforin+CD2+CD3−CD8α+CD16+ lymphocytes. In spleen and liver, an additional subset of CD8αdim/− lymphocytes with increased NKp46 expression was observed. Surprisingly, we could identify NKp46− cells with an NK cell phenotype in all animals analyzed. These lymphocytes showed comparable cytolytic activity against xenogeneic and allogeneic target cells as NKp46+ NK cells. In contrast, NKp46+ NK cells produced several fold higher levels of interferon‐γ (IFN‐γ) than the NKp46− cells after cytokine stimulation. Furthermore, an activation‐dependent induction of NKp46 expression in formerly NKp46− cells after stimulation with interleukin‐2 (IL‐2), IL‐12, and IL‐18 could be shown. In summary, our data indicate that NKp46 is not expressed by all porcine NK cells and that NKp46 discriminates porcine NK cells differing in regard to cytokine production, which challenges the paradigm of NKp46 as a comprehensive marker for NK cells across different mammalian species.

Phenotypic and functional differentiation of porcine αβ T cells: current knowledge and available tools.

Domestic pigs are considered as a valuable large animal model because of their close relation to humans in regard to anatomy, genetics and physiology. This includes their potential use as organ donors in xenotransplantation but also studies on various zoonotic infections affecting pigs and humans. Such work also requires a thorough understanding of the porcine immune system which was partially hampered in the past by restrictions on available immunological tools compared to rodent models. However, progress has been made during recent years in the study of both, the innate and the adaptive immune system of pigs. In this review we will summarize the current knowledge on porcine αβ T cells, which comprise two major lymphocyte subsets of the adaptive immune system: CD4(+) T cells with important immunoregulatory functions and CD8(+) T cells, also designated as cytolytic T cells. Aspects on their functional and phenotypic differentiation are presented. In addition, we summarize currently available tools to study these subsets which may support a more widespread use of swine as a large animal model.

Porcine CD8αdim/-NKp46high NK cells are in a highly activated state

Natural Killer (NK) cells play a crucial role in the early phase of immune responses against various pathogens. In swine so far only little information about this lymphocyte population exists. Phenotypical analyses with newly developed monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) against porcine NKp46 recently revealed that in blood NKp46- and NKp46+ cells with NK phenotype exist with comparable cytotoxic properties. In spleen a third NKp46-defined population with NK phenotype was observed that was characterised by a low to negative CD8α and increased NKp46 expression. In the current study it is shown that this NKp46high phenotype was correlated with an increased expression of CD16 and CD27 compared to the CD8α+NKp46- and NKp46+ NK-cell subsets in spleen and blood. Additionally NKp46high NK cells expressed elevated levels of the chemokine receptor CXCR3 on mRNA level. Functional analyses revealed that splenic NKp46high NK cells produced much higher levels of Interferon-γ and Tumor Necrosis Factor-α upon stimulation with cytokines or phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate/Ionomycin compared to the other two subsets. Furthermore, cross-linking of NKp46 by NKp46-specific mAbs led to a superior CD107a expression in the NKp46high NK cells, thus indicating a higher cytolytic capacity of this subset. Therefore porcine splenic NKp46high NK cells represent a highly activated subset of NK cells and may play a profound role in the immune surveillance of this organ.

Magnitude and kinetics of multifunctional CD4+ and CD8β+ T cells in pigs infected with swine influenza A virus

Although swine are natural hosts for influenza A viruses, the porcine T-cell response to swine influenza A virus (FLUAVsw) infection has been poorly characterized so far. We have studied Ki-67 expression and FLUAVsw-specific production of IFN-γ, TNF-α and IL-2 in CD4+ and CD8β+ T cells isolated from piglets that had been intratracheally infected with a H1N2 FLUAVsw isolate. IFN-γ+TNF-α+IL-2+ multifunctional CD4+ T cells were present in the blood of all infected animals at one or two weeks after primary infection and their frequency increased in four out of six animals after homologous secondary infection. These cells produced higher amounts of IFN-γ, TNF-α and IL-2 than did CD4+ T cells that only produced a single cytokine. The vast majority of cytokine-producing CD4+ T cells expressed CD8α, a marker associated with activation and memory formation in porcine CD4+ T cells. Analysis of CD27 expression suggested that FLUAVsw-specific CD4+ T cells included both central memory and effector memory populations. Three out of six animals showed a strong increase of Ki-67+perforin+ CD8β+ T cells in blood one week post infection. Blood-derived FLUAVsw-specific CD8β+ T cells could be identified after an in vitro expansion phase and were multifunctional in terms of CD107a expression and co-production of IFN-γ and TNF-α. These data show that multifunctional T cells are generated in response to FLUAVsw infection of pigs, supporting the idea that T cells contribute to the efficient control of infection.

Influenza A Virus Infection in Pigs Attracts Multifunctional and Cross-Reactive T Cells to the Lung

ABSTRACT Pigs are natural hosts for influenza A viruses and play a critical role in influenza epidemiology. However, little is known about their influenza-evoked T-cell response. We performed a thorough analysis of both the local and systemic T-cell response in influenza virus-infected pigs, addressing kinetics and phenotype as well as multifunctionality (gamma interferon [IFN-γ], tumor necrosis factor alpha [TNF-α], and interleukin-2 [IL-2]) and cross-reactivity. A total of 31 pigs were intratracheally infected with an H1N2 swine influenza A virus (FLUAVsw) and consecutively euthanized. Lungs, tracheobronchial lymph nodes, and blood were sampled during the first 15 days postinfection (p.i.) and at 6 weeks p.i. Ex vivo flow cytometry of lung lymphocytes revealed an increase in proliferating (Ki-67+) CD8+ T cells with an early effector phenotype (perforin+ CD27+) at day 6 p.i. Low frequencies of influenza virus-specific IFN-γ-producing CD4+ and CD8+ T cells could be detected in the lung as early as 4 days p.i. On consecutive days, influenza virus-specific CD4+ and CD8+ T cells produced mainly IFN-γ and/or TNF-α, reaching peak frequencies around day 9 p.i., which were up to 30-fold higher in the lung than in tracheobronchial lymph nodes or blood. At 6 weeks p.i., CD4+ and CD8+ memory T cells had accumulated in lung tissue. These cells showed diverse cytokine profiles and in vitro reactivity against heterologous influenza virus strains, all of which supports their potential to combat heterologous influenza virus infections in pigs. IMPORTANCE Pigs not only are a suitable large-animal model for human influenza virus infection and vaccine development but also play a central role in the emergence of new pandemic strains. Although promising candidate universal vaccines are tested in pigs and local T cells are the major correlate of heterologous control, detailed and targeted analyses of T-cell responses at the site of infection are scarce. With the present study, we provide the first detailed characterization of magnitude, kinetics, and phenotype of specific T cells recruited to the lungs of influenza virus-infected pigs, and we could demonstrate multifunctionality, cross-reactivity, and memory formation of these cells. This, and ensuing work in the pig, will strengthen the position of this species as a large-animal model for human influenza virus infection and will immediately benefit vaccine development for improved control of influenza virus infections in pigs.

Current knowledge on porcine regulatory T cells.

Regulatory T cells (Tregs) are known in humans and mice from last 15 years, and several studies led to a detailed knowledge on their phenotype, functions, and role in various immune reactions. In swine, the existence of Tregs was first demonstrated in 2008 and research is still at the beginning. Nevertheless, basic information regarding phenotype, mechanisms and targets of suppression, as well as implications in transplantation and some diseases are available. Purpose of this review is to give a brief summary of the current knowledge about porcine Tregs.

Carbopol improves the early cellular immune responses induced by the modified-life vaccine Ingelvac PRRS® MLV.

Adjuvants enhance both the magnitude and duration of immune responses, therefore representing a central component of vaccines. The nature of the adjuvant can determine the particular type of immune response, which may be skewed toward cytotoxic T cell (CTL) responses, antibody responses, or particular classes of T helper (Th) responses and antibody isotypes. Traditionally, adjuvants have been added to intrinsically poor immunogenic vaccines, such as those using whole killed organisms or subunit vaccines. Here, we have compared cellular immune responses induced by the immunogenic modified life-attenuated vaccine Ingelvac PRRS® MLV when administered alone or in combination with carbopol, a widely used adjuvant in veterinary medicine. Using functional readouts (IFN-γ ELISpot and cell proliferation) and analyzing phenotypical hallmarks of CD4T cell differentiation, we show that carbopol improves cellular immunity by inducing early IFN-γ-producing cells and by preferentially driving T cell differentiation to effector phenotypes. Our data suggest that adjuvants may enhance and modulate life-attenuated--not only subunit/inactivated--vaccines.

Natural and inducible Tregs in swine: Helios expression and functional properties

Within the population of regulatory T cells (Tregs) natural Tregs (nTregs) and inducible Tregs (iTregs) can be distinguished. Although information about Tregs in swine exists, porcine iTregs were not under investigation yet. In this study, Foxp3(+) iTregs were generated from CD4(+)Foxp3(-) T cells by in vitro stimulation in the presence of IL-2 and TGF-β. In comparison to ex vivo Tregs these iTregs had a similar suppressive capacity on the proliferation of CD3-stimulated PBMC, caused higher levels of IL-10 in PBMC/Treg co-cultures, but did not suppress IFN-γ levels. The Ikaros family member Helios is currently discussed to distinguish iTregs and nTregs or to serve as an activation marker of Tregs. In this study, we demonstrate the cross-reactivity of an anti-mouse/human Helios mAb with porcine Helios. Flow cytometric analyses with this antibody showed that porcine iTregs do not express Helios after in vitro iTreg induction. Nevertheless, thymic Foxp3(+) T cells, which arise at the CD4/CD8α single-positive stage of T-cell development and are defined as nTregs, entirely expressed Helios. Although this might suggest the suitability of Helios as an nTreg-iTreg differentiation marker we also found that Helios(-) Tregs displayed a phenotype of naive CD4(+) T cells in vivo. Since iTregs are by definition activated/differentiated Tregs, this finding precludes that all Helios(-) Tregs are iTregs and thus also the use of Helios as a selection marker for porcine nTregs. Furthermore, Helios(+) Tregs displayed a more differentiated phenotype indicating that Helios might rather serve as a Treg activation/differentiation marker.