Cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying the strong neonatal IL-12 response of lamb mesenteric lymph node cells to R-848.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Comparative studies on the response of neonates and adults to TLR stimulation have been almost exclusively limited to comparisons of human neonatal cord blood cells with peripheral blood from adults, and analyses of spleen cell responses in mice. We need to extend these studies and gain further information regarding such responses at mucosal sites.

Methodology/principal findings

We used sheep as a large animal model to study TLR agonist responses in the lymph nodes draining the intestine, an organ that must adapt to profound changes after birth. In response to the imidazoquinoline compound R-848, neonatal mesenteric lymph node (MLN) and spleen cells produced more IL-12 and, consequently, more IFNγ than their adult counterparts. This difference was age-related for

SUBMITTER: Ferret-Bernard S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2965667 | biostudies-literature | 2010 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature