CYTOKINE PRODUCTION IN-VITRO BY MACROPHAGES OF GOATS WITH CAPRINE ARTHRITIS-ENCEPHALITIS

The response of caprine macrophages to exposure to caprine arthritis-e ncephalitis virus (CAEV) and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) was investigated in female Nubian and Nubian crossbreed of goats. Macrophages were mat ured in vitro from monocytes isolated from blood of control and CAEV-i nfected goats and the concentrations of tumor necrosis factor (TNF-alp ha) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) in culture supernatant after exposure of cells to LPS and virus were assayed. Though barely detectable in unsti mulated cells, TNF-alpha and IL-6 levels showed peak values of 420 +/- 28 to 530 +/- 32 and 70 +/- 27 to 93 +/- 29, respectively, in superna tants of control goat T-cells, remaining high through 24 hrs. post tre atment with LPS stimulation. Exposure of these control goat T-cells to virus induced lower secretions (p<0.05) of the cytokines. The peak va lues occurred between 6 and 12 hrs. post treatment with LPS or virus. Cells prepared from virus-infected goats and treated with the mitogen or virus showed significantly (p<0.05) lower response than those from control goats. The present results suggest a dysregulation, possibly d ownregulation of the production of both cytokines in macrophages of go ats chronically diseased by lentivirus infection.