Impact of age and pregnancy on the expression level of the coronavirus (MERS-COV) receptor, dipeptidyl peptidase 4 on camel blood leukocytes

In dromedary camels, young animals have shown higher susceptibility to MERS-CoV infection than adult camels. The current study, analysed the impact of animal age and pregnancy on the expression density of DPP4 on the main populations of camel leukocytes using flow cytometry.

Adult camels showed significantly higher expression levels of DPP4 on their monocytes in comparison to newborn calves. Newborn calves and adult camels showed comparable expression levels of DPP4 on their neutrophils and lymphocytes. The results of the current study argue against a role of different DPP4 expression levels on blood leukocytes in the higher susceptibility of camel calves than to MERS-CoV. The comparable expression levels of DPP4 on monocytes, neutrophils, and lymphocytes from pregnant and non-pregnant female camels indicate no significant impact of pregnancy on DPP4 expression on blood leukocytes of camels.