Suppression of NK activity of spleen cells by chicken fetal antigen present on Marek's disease lymphoblastoid cell line cells

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Abstract
Chicken fetal antigen (CFA) expressed on the cell surface of Marek's disease (MD) lymphoblastoid cell line (MDCC-MSBI) cells was purified by affinity chromatography using a monoclonal antibody (2H3). A 4-hr 51Cr release assay was performed using spleen cells as effector cells to investigate the role of the CFA in the immune response of chickens, especially in relation to natural killer (NK) activity. Spleen cells of specific-pathogen-free (SPF) chickens showed reduced NK activity in the presence of CFA in vitro, as did those cells treated with MSBI soluble antigen. NK activity of spleen cells from chickens treated with CFA was also suppressed when compared to the cells from untreated or ovalbumin-treated chickens. In addition, MSBI clo. 18 transplantable tumors grew progressively in some of the 14-day-old chickens treated with CFA, whereas the tumors regressed in age-matched chickens with or without treatment by ovalbumin.