Nonlinear Effects of Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor Copy Number Variation on Cellular Immunity in Awassi Sheep
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: Cellular immunity (CD4+ and CD8+ T lymphocyte subsets and CD4/CD8 ratio) and Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) Copy Number Variation (CNV) and expression were determined in blood samples (n = 40) of Awassi sheep. CNV was determined by qPCR method, BDNF transcript was quantified by SYBR Green qPCR, and CD4+ and CD8+ T lymphocyte percentages were measured by flow cytometry. Duncan’ s multiple range test following ANOVA was performed for evaluating the differences among NOR, DEL, and DUP groups and Spearman and Pearson correlation coefficients were applied for determining monotonic and linear relationships amongst the measured parameters. The CD4+ and CD8+ T percentages and CD4/CD8 ratio were not significantly different among CNV groups (P > 0.05). Pearson correlation coefficient between CD4+ percentage and CNV coding status was significant (r = 0.317, P = 0.046) and Spearman rho value displaying a positive monotonic association (rho = 0.373, P = 0.018). CD4+/CD8+ ratio trended towards significance for monotonic association (rho = 0.289, P = 0.071). Together, these results reveal a dose-dependent relationship between CNV and helper T cells that gains significance in larger cohorts. BDNF engagement operates at a dosage threshold, driving neuroimmune communication via transcriptional and secretory mechanisms rather than changes in baseline T-cell subset composition. Notably, the percentage of CD4+ cells was the most probable parameter to reflect these fluctuations.
Author: Hamzah Riyadh Abdulhameed
Language: English
Subfield: Genetics
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W7222901858