Piglets are highly vulnerable to infections, but colostrum provides them with some protection. The function of colostrum components is unknown, as is if the amount and subsets of leukocytes in colostrum differ between gilts and sows. This study serially characterized leukocyte populations in colostrum for differential leukocyte counts. Differences in humoral and cellular composition of colostrum between 40 gilts and 40 sows (parities orders 3–4) from a commercial herd were examined. Flow cytometry is a useful tool to identify and quantify leukocyte subsets in sow colostrum. Overall, there were no (p ≥ 0.05) parity differences in total macrophages, granulocytes, and T and B cells. However, the sows’ colostrum presented significantly higher (p ≤ 0.05) T lymphocyte subsets than gilts, such as central memory CD4+T cells, effector memory CD4+T cells, and central memory CD8+T cells. Among B-lymphocytes, percentages of SWC7+CD5+ cells were significantly higher in sow colostrum than in that of gilts. As expected, IgG concentrations were significantly higher in sows than in gilts. Colostrum from sows had significantly greater mitogenic activity than colostrum from gilts and this fact can be associated with the potential to accelerate the maturation of a newborn’s gastrointestinal tract. Our findings suggest that parity order may be one among other factors influencing the cell population and, consequently, the immune adaptive response in piglets that induces neutralizing antibodies and cellular immune responses to antigens.

The effect of colostrum feeding on the ontogeny of serum cytokines and immune cells in suckling piglets fed sow/gilt colostrum and milk replacer was studied. After farrowing, the born piglets were randomized into six groups: GG and SS: piglets were kept with their dam; GS: piglets were changed from gilts to sow; SG: piglets were changed from sow to gilt; GMR and SMR: piglets from gilt or sow were isolated from the dams and were bottle-fed commercial formula milk replacer. The piglets remained in the groups during the first 24 hours of life and were later returned to their respective mothers. Overall, piglets suckling sow (SS and GS) had a higher concentration of serum immunoglobulins at 24 hours, and also was associated with a rise in plasma cytokines concentration and also the greater ability of B and T cells from lymphatic organs and blood mononuclear cells to respond to mitogens. We suggest a bias towards Th1-, Th2-, Th17-cell polarizing and cytokines in the suckling period, which may be influenced by maternal immunological factors in colostrum, like parity of dam. All findings suggest a possible role of sow parity that may contribute to exerting a modulating action on immune response development.

The effects on the ontogeny of serum cytokines and immune cells caused by feeding suckling piglets with sow/gilt colostrum and milk replacer was assessed in the present study. After farrowing, the piglets born were randomized into six groups: GG and SS (n = 10/group): piglets were kept with their dam; GS (n = 10): piglets were changed from gilts to sows; SG (n = 10): piglets were changed from sows to gilts; GMR (n = 6) and SMR (n = 8): piglets from either gilts or sows were isolated from the dams and were bottle-fed ad libitum with commercial formula milk replacer. The piglets remained in the groups during the first 24 h of life and were later returned to their respective mothers. Serum immunoglobulin concentration and lymphocyte proliferation from the blood, spleen, thymus, and mesenteric lymph node of the piglets were assessed at 24 h and at 28 days of age. Serum cytokine concentrations were measured through a cytokine multiplex assay at 24 h. Overall, piglets suckling on sows (SS and GS) had a higher concentration of serum immunoglobulin at 24 h, which was also associated with a rise in plasma cytokine concentration and greater ability of B and T cells from lymphatic organs and blood mononuclear cells to respond to mitogens. We suggest a bias towards Th1-, Th2-, and Th17-cell polarizing and cytokines during the suckling period, which may be influenced by maternal immunological factors in the colostrum, such as dam parity. All findings suggest sow parity having a possible role, which may contribute to exerting a modulating action on immune response development.

Influenza-based virosome is an effective immunomodulating carrier that replicates the natural antigen presentation pathway and has tolerability profile due to their purity and biocompatibility. Based on that, this study aimed to develop a polyvalent virosome influenza vaccine containing the hemagglutinin and neuraminidase proteins derived from the swine influenza A viruses (IAVs) H1N1, H1N2 and H3N2 viruses, and to investigate its effectiveness in mice as a potential vaccine for swine. The humoral and cellular immune responses in mice vaccinated intranasally or intramuscularly with polyvalent influenza virosomal vaccine were investigated. Only intramuscular vaccination induced high hemagglutination inhibition (HI) titers. Seroconversion and seroprotection (> 4-fold rise in HI antibody titers, reaching a titer of ≥ 1:40) were achieved in 80% of mice (intramuscularly vaccinated group) at 21 days after booster immunization. Long-lasting immunity was observed 8 months after vaccination. Overall, mice immunized with the virosome displayed greater ability for B, effector-T and memory-T cells from the spleen to respond to H1N1, H1N2 and H3N2 antigens. All findings showed an efficient immune response against IAVs in mice vaccinated with a polyvalent virosome-based influenza vaccine.

O presente estudo objetivou desenvolver e caracterizar grânulos nanorevestidos contendo trans-resveratrol (RSV). Assim, foram preparadas nanocápsulas poliméricas contendo RSV (NC-RSV, 0,5 mg/mL) e nanocápsulas brancas (NCB) pelo método de deposição interfacial de polímero pré-formado. As formulações foram caracterizadas quanto ao diâmetro, potencial zeta, pH e teor. Também foi avaliada a citotoxicidade das NC-RSV pela técnica de MTT em macrófagos (linhagem RAW) nas concentrações de 0,78 – 100 µg/mL por 24, 48 e 72 h. As NCB, o trans-resveratrol livre e o Tween 80 também foram testados para comparação.A seguir, foram preparados grânulos por via úmida utilizando HPMC ou PVP como aglutinantes, os quais foram caracterizados quanto ao teor, propriedades de fluxo e capacidade de compactação. As NC-RSV apresentaram tamanho médio de 188±3 nm, potencial zeta -26,5±0,2 mV, pH 5,4 e teor médio de 0,4904±0,0056 mg/mL. No teste de MTT, as células expostas às NC-RSV apresentaram viabilidade celular superior a 70% nas concentrações de 0,78 a 6,25 µg/mL. Os grânulos aglutinados com HPMC apresentaram um teor de 37,9±4,5% de RSV e todos os pós apresentaram propriedades de fluxo justo e passável. Desta forma, a utilização da nanotecnologia oferece um meio promissor de liberação de fármacos e a incorporação das nanoformulações em grânulos possibilita o delineamento de formas farmacêuticas de uso oral e com melhor estabilidade, embora outros estudos sejam necessários para ajustar os excipientes e obter preparações mais adequadas. Palavras-chave: trans-resveratrol. Nanotecnologia. Citotoxicidade. Grânulos.