Correlation of serum concentration of α1,-acid glycoprotein with lymphocyte blastogenesis and development of experimentally induced or naturally acquired hepatic abscesses in cattle

Summary Changes in serum alpha 1 -acid glycoprotein (α 1 AG ) concentration in cattle with hepatic abscesses were observed, and function of α 1 ag was evaluated, particularly its influence on cellular immune response. Test cattle (n = 4) were inoculated with Fusobacterium necrophorum, control cattle (n = 2) were inoculated with inactivated bacteria, and naturally affected cattle (n = 11) were found in a slaughterhouse. Determination of α 1 ag was made by use of a single radial immunodiffusion method. The action on lymphocyte blastogenesis was determined by [ 3 H]thymidine incorporation. Cultured lymphocytes from healthy cattle were treated with variable concentrations of α 1 ag purified from serum obtained from cattle with hepatic abscesses and suppression of blastogenesis stimulated by each of 3 mitogens was measured. In cattle with experimentally induced abscesses, serum α 1 ag concentration increased for 7 to 10 days after F necrophorum inoculation, its change being parallel to that of sialic acid. High concentration of α 1 ag was found in naturally affected cattle and was highly correlated to sialic acid concentration. Suppression of lymphocyte blastogenesis in cattle with experimentally induced hepatic abscesses was highly correlated to serum α 1 ag concentration.