Characterising the transcriptomic response of bovine peripheral blood mononuclear cells to a mycobacterial cell wall fraction

Amplimune induced dose- and time-dependent gene expression profile changes in bovine peripheral blood mononuclear cells, which were enriched into GO-BP regulation of signalling receptor activity, response to cytokine and inflammatory response. Enriched pathways from KEGG analysis were cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction, IL17 signalling and TNF signalling pathways. Selected genes involved in these processes and pathways included IFNG, IL17A, TNF, IL22 and IL23A. PDE1B, CSF2 and IL36G were identified as the most connected genes in a co-expression network, while the connection between SAA2 and SIGLEC5 was the most important for flow of information within the network. Genes encoding for pro-inflammatory cytokines TNF, IL1B, IL6, IL2, and IL12B, and chemokines CCL3, CCL4 and CCL20 were also upregulated at 6 and 24 h post stimulation, as was the β-defensin gene TAP. These results assist in understanding how mycobacterial cell wall fractions alter immune function and may contribute to our understanding of the immune stimulant response attributed to Amplimune.