COMPARATIVE EFFECTS OF BOVINE CYTOKINES ON CATTLE AND BISON PERIPHERAL-BLOOD MONONUCLEAR CELL-PROLIFERATION

Proliferation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from cattle and bison was measured following stimulation of PBMC with bovine cyto kines. Bovine interleukin 1 beta (BoIL-1 beta), interteukin 2 (BoIL-2) or granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (BoGM-CSF) at 0.1 -100 U/ml were incubated for 48 h with PBMC alone or with PBMC and var ious mitogens. These included concanavalin A (Con A), phytohemagglutin in (PHA), pokeweed mitogen (PWM) or Escherichia coli 055:B5 lipopolysa ccharide (IFS) at 10-0.1 mu g/ml. BoIL-2 alone, but not BoIL-1 beta an d BoGM-CSF alone, induced proliferation of cattle and bison PBMC in th e absence of mitogens. In addition, BoIL-1 beta and BoIL-2. but not Bo GM-CSF, enhanced proliferation of cattle and bison PBMC induced by mit ogens. These results indicate that BoIL-1 beta and BoIL-2 stimulate ca ttle and bison PBMC proliferation in a similar manner, whereas BoGM-CS F does not appear capable of stimulating either cattle or bison PBMC p roliferation.