Expression Patterns of Cell Adhesion Molecules on CD4+ T Cells and WC1+ T Cells in the Peripheral Blood of Dromedary Camels

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 alpha beta 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 naive phenotype (CD4(+) CD11a(lo) CD44(lo)) and minor fraction (13%) with effector phenotype (CD4(+) CD11a(hi) CD44(hi) 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. (C) 2018 PVJ. All rights reserved