Effect of Ketone Bodies on the Mitogenic Response of Bovine Milk Lymphocytes^*

Abstract

Summary The effect of increasing concentrations of beta‐hydroxybutyrate, acetoacetate and acetone on the activity in vitro of T‐lymphocytes isolated from milk and peripheral blood was studied, using cells obtained from 25 clinically healthy cows. The activity of milk and peripheral blood lymphocytes was determined by incorporation of 3 H‐ labelled thymidine into these cells after stimulation with mitogens (PHA and Con A). It was found that beta‐hydroxybutyrate and acetoacetate in concentrations from 0.1 to 4.8mmol/l significantly inhibited the blastic transformation of milk and blood T‐lymphocytes stimulated with PHA or Con A. Increasing concentrations of acetone had no significant effect on the activity of milk or blood T‐ lymphocytes.