Comparative enumeration of cytokine immune response in pbmc's of sows and piglets infected with porcine circovirus and classical swine fever virus

Cytokines are important in mucosal immune response and regulation of metabolism and growth. Maternal cytokines form constructive blocks in the development of neonatal immune system. We have studied the expression of pro-inflammatory (Interleukin6, Tumor Necrosis Factor-α), T-helper (Th)-1 (Interferon-γ, Interleukin-2, Interleukin-12, Tumor Necrosis Factor-β) and Th-2 (IL-10) cytokines in sow and weaned piglets based on the infection of porcine circovirus 2 (PCV2) and classical swine fever virus (CSFV). PCV2 infection being immunosuppressive and ubiquitous in farms, increase disease susceptibility. This study focused the detection and quantitation of PCV2 and CSFV in serum samples from an organised farm of Meghalaya and enumeration of the relative cytokine expression. TNF-a expression in piglets with combined infection (CI) is considerably very high. The expression of IL-12 was more in piglets with PCV2 infection compared with CI. Thus, this study indicates super expression of Th-1 and Th-2 type cytokine production by peripheral blood mononuclear cells in case of coinfection, indicating immunocompromise of cell-mediated and humoral immune responses resulting disease severity.