Expression patterns of cell adhesion molecules on CD4+ T Cells and WC1+ T cells in the peripheral blood of dromedary camels

Abstract

In human, mice and different veterinary species, T cells are subdivided into phenotypically different subpopulations based on their expressed T cell receptor and cell specific surface markers. As no data were available regarding the existence of T cell subpopulations in the peripheral blood of dromedary camels, the current study aimed at the identification of camel blood T cell subpopulations and the analysis of their adhesion molecules expression patterns. Using monoclonal antibodies cross-reactive with camel CD antigens, camel blood WC1-positive T cells and CD4-positive αβ T cells and their expression pattern of adhesion molecules were identified by flow cytometry. Under camel CD4-positive T cells, a major fraction (83%) with naïve phenotype (CD4+ CD11alo CD44lo) and minor fraction (13%) with effector phenotype (CD4+ CD11ahi CD44hi) were identified. In addition, the analysis of age related effects on the proportion of lymphocyte subsets indicates that camels belong to the T cell high species.