Modulation of innate immunity in chickens induced by in vivo administration of baculovirus

Baculoviruses stimulate cytokine production in mammalian cells. They induce a strong innate immune response in animals and have adjuvant properties. The purpose of this work was to study the in vivo effect of baculovirus on chicken innate immune response. SPF chickens were inoculated intravenously with Autographa californica nuclear polyhedrosis virus (BV). Three hours later, chickens were bled, euthanized and their spleen, duodenum and cecal tonsils were excised in order to take samples for RNA extraction and real time PCR, and to isolate lymphocytes, which were stained and analyzed by flow cytometry. The results obtained showed that baculovirus inoculation up-regulates the expression of IFN-γ, IL-6 and LITAF in spleen cells. This result (IFN-γ) correlated with that obtained by ELISA which showed a very strong increase of IFN-γ in chicken plasma. Flow cytometry analysis revealed that BV inoculation induced in spleen an increase in the percentage of monocyte/macrophage population together with an increase in CD3(+)CD4(+) T lymphocytes. On the other hand, BV inoculation decreased the percentage of CD3(+)CD4(+) T lymphocytes and increased the percentage of NK cells in cecal tonsils. However, intraepithelial lymphocytes of the gut did not show differences between BV and control treated animals. Even though further studies in order to understand the mechanisms by which BVs affect the avian immune response are needed, results obtained in the present work demonstrate the ability of BVs to stimulate the innate immunity in chickens, modifying the expression pattern of related genes and the profile of the immune cells involved.     

Pathological and immunohistochemical studies of subclinical infection of chicken anemia virus in 4-week-old chickens

Subclinical infection of chicken anemia virus (CAV) at 4 to 6 weeks of age, after maternal antibodies have waned, is implicated in several field problems in broiler flocks. In order to understand the pathogenesis of subclinical infection with CAV, an immunopathological study of CAV-inoculated 4-week-old SPF chickens was performed. Sixty 4-week-old SPF chickens were equally divided into CAV and control groups. The CAV group was inoculated intramuscularly with the MSB1-TK5803 strain of CAV. Neither mortality nor anemia was detected in the CAV and control groups. In the CAV group, no signs were observed, except that some chickens were grossly smaller compared with the control group. Sporadic thymus lobes appeared to be reddening and atrophied. Within the first two weeks p.i. of CAV, there was a mild to moderate depletion of lymphocytes in the thymus cortex and spleen in some chickens. Moreover, lymphoid depletion of the bursa of Fabricius, proventriculus and cecal tonsils was observed. Hyperplastic lymphoid foci were observed in the liver, lungs, kidneys and heart at the 4th week p.i. of CAV. Immunohistochemically, a moderate lymphoid depletion of CD4(+)and CD8(+) T cells in the thymus cortex and spleen was observed in some chickens within two weeks p.i. of CAV. CAV inclusions and antigens were detected infrequently in the thymus cortex and spleen. It could be concluded that the immunosuppression in subclinical infection with CAV occurs as a result of reduction of cellular immunity.     

Epidermal tissue-derived T-cell growth factor, colony stimulating factor and nerve growth factor in chickens.

The purpose of this study was to determine the mechanism of the local cytokine-mediated immune response in the skin of chickens. The incorporation of 3H-thymidine into spleen T lymphocytes from 9-to 10-week-old chickens was augmented by the addition of epidermal tissue culture supernatant (ESN) from 11-day-old embryos. The colony formation of neonatal chicken bone marrow cells in the methylcellulose medium was also significantly increased by addition of ESN. When axonal outgrowth in matrigel was investigated, the embryonal sympathetic ganglion was found to grow axons outwards towards the epidermal tissue specimens. The above results suggest that chicken epidermal cells (probably keratinocytes) produce T-cell growth factor (corresponding to IL-1), colony-stimulating factor for macrophages (M-CSF) and granulocytes (G-CSF), and nerve growth factor (NGF).     

Epidermal Tissue-Derived T-cell Growth Factor,Colony Stimulating Factor and Nerve Growth Factor in Chickens

The purpose of this study was to determine the mechanism of the local cytokine-mediated immune response in the skin of chickens. The incorporation of 3H-thymidine into spleen T lymphocytes from 9- to 10-week-old chickens was augmented by the addition of epidermal tissue culture supernatant (ESN) from 11-day-old embryos. The colony formation of neonatal chicken bone marrow cells in the methylcellulose medium was also significantly increased by addition of ESN. When axonal outgrowth in matrigel was investigated, the embryonal sympathetic ganglion was found to grow axons outwards towards the epidermal tissue specimens. The above results suggest that chicken epidermal cells (probably keratinocytes) produce T-cell growth factor (corresponding to IL-1), colony-stimulating factor for macrophages (M-CSF) and granulocytes (G-CSF), and nerve growth factor (NGF).     

Protective effects of sugar cane extracts (SCE) on Eimeria tenella infection in chickens

The effects of oral administration of sugar cane extracts (SCE) on Eimeria tenella oocysts infection in chickens were studied with 2 different experiments. In Experiment 1, 3-week-old inbred chickens (MHC; H.B15) were inoculated into the crop with SCE (500 mg/kg/day) for 1 day or 3 consecutive days, and then challenged with E. tenella sporulated oocysts (2 x 10(4) cells/chicken). In Experiment 2, 1-week-old chickens were orally administered SCE at the same dose for 3 consecutive days, and then initially infected with E. tenella sporulated oocysts (2 x 10(3) cells/chicken). At 2 and 3 weeks of age, these chickens were immunized intravenously with the mixed antigens of sheep red blood cells (SRBC) and Brucella abortus (BA). At 4 weeks of age, chickens were challenged with E. tenella sporulated oocysts (1 x 10(5)/chicken). Challenged chickens with E. tenella oocysts showed markedly decreased body weight gain/day, severe hemorrhage and great number of shedding oocysts in feces and high lesion scores. Oral administration of SCE and initial infection with oocysts (2 x 10 (3)/chicken) resulted in a remarkable improvement in body weight gain/day, hemorrhage, the number of shedding oocysts and lesion score, compare to other infected groups. In addition, SCE-inoculated chickens with the initial infection showed a significant increase in antibody responses against SRBC and BA and also improvement in decreased relative proportions of Bu-1a(+) and CD4( )cells in cecal tonsil lymphocytes of E. tenella-challenged chickens. Cecal tissues of chickens administered SCE and initially infected with E. tenella oocysts showed lower numbers of schizonts, gametocytes and oocysts than those of infected control chickens. These results suggest that SCE have immunostimulating and protective effects against E. tenella infection in chickens.     

Changes in local IFN-gamma and TGF-beta4 mRNA expression and intraepithelial lymphocytes following Eimeria acervulina infection

Inbred chickens SC (B2B2) and TK (B15B21) display different levels of susceptibility to Eimeria acervulina infection. Following primary and secondary infections, SC chickens showed significantly lower oocyst production compared to TK chickens. Both strains produce significantly fewer oocysts during secondary infection (si) indicating that a protective host immune response had developed subsequent to primary infection (pi). To elucidate the immunologic differences between SC and TK chickens that may account for their different levels of disease susceptibility, cellular and molecular parameters of intestinal immunity were compared. CD4 T-lymphocytes increased significantly and more rapidly post-pi and si in SC relative to TK chickens during the later stages of infections. However, later during the infections, CD4 cells were higher in TK compared to SC chickens. Although the percentage of CD8 lymphocytes increased in both strains after pi, following si the percentage of these cells continued to increase in SC chickens but showed a marked decrease in TK chickens. Contrary to the effects on CD4 cells, the percentage of TCR1 cells was higher in TK chickens early after pi while the same cell subset was higher in SC chickens later following infection. The percentages of TCR2 cells were significantly higher in both strains following pi. At the molecular level, IFN-gamma mRNA expression in caecal tonsils and splenic lymphocytes was generally higher in SC compared to TK chickens following E. acervulina infection, while intraepithelial lymphocytes from the duodenum demonstrated reduced levels of this cytokine in both the strains, particularly following pi. TGF-beta4 mRNA levels generally increased in lymphocytes from the caecal tonsils, spleen and duodenum from both the strains. These differences in lymphocyte subpopulations and cytokine mRNA expression between SC and TK chickens following E. acervulina infection indicate a complex genetic control of the native immune response to coccidiosis.     

REV感染SPF鸡中白细胞介素18的定量检测

建立并利用鸡白细胞介素18（chicken interleukin-18,ChIL-18）荧光定量RT-PCR方法,对于禽网状内皮组织增生症病毒（reticuloendotheliosis virus,REV）感染SPF鸡后主要免疫器官的IL-18mRNA转录水平进行了初步研究。结果表明,与对照组相比,处理组脾脏、胸腺和法氏囊中IL-18的分泌水平除感染后14d脾脏外,在感染后7,14,21,28,35,42,49d均显著升高（P〈0.05）。本研究为探讨REV感染的免疫抑制机理打下了一定基础。     

刺五加多糖对雏鸡脾脏中T、B淋巴细胞定位分布的影响

为了研究雏鸡注射不同浓度刺五加多糖(ASPS)后脾脏中T、B淋巴细胞定位分布的变化情况,将60只1日龄雏鸡随机分为3组:对照组、低剂量组和高剂量组,每组20只,10日龄起对低、高剂量组雏鸡分别皮下注射免疫50和200 mg/m L的ASPS 0.2 m L,对照组雏鸡以相同方式注射等体积的生理盐水,连续注射4 d。于末次免疫后第7天和第14天,从每组中分别随机选取5只雏鸡,取其脾脏制作冰冻切片,采用免疫组织化学方法检测CD3+T淋巴细胞和Bu-1+B淋巴细胞的定位分布。结果显示,与对照组比较,低、高剂量组在注射后的7 d和14 d ASPS均能增加脾脏中CD3+T淋巴细胞和Bu-1+B淋巴细胞的数量,由CD3+T淋巴细胞构成的脾脏特征性结构-动脉周围淋巴鞘(PALS)的面积也显著增加,红髓中CD3+T淋巴细胞也明显增多,分布范围逐渐增加;同时,由Bu-1+B淋巴细胞构成的椭球周围淋巴鞘(EALS)的面积也明显增加,红髓和白髓中的浆细胞数量显著增多,并在注射后14 d时出现生发中心。与对照组比较,高剂量组和注射后14 d时上述变化趋势更为明显。结果表明,ASPS能够增加脾脏中T、B淋巴细胞的数量,并且能够影响其在PALS、EALS等脾脏特征性结构中的定位分布,从而从组织学角度进一步证明ASPS对鸡免疫功能具有显著的增强作用。     

Studies on the pathogenesis of chicken infectious anaemia virus infection in six-week-old SPF chickens

The pathogenesis of chicken infectious anaemia virus (CAV) infection was studied in 6-week-old and one-day-old SPF chickens inoculated intramuscularly with graded doses of Cux-1 strain (10(6)-10(2) TCID50/chicken). Viraemia, virus shedding, development of virus neutralizing (VN) antibodies and CAV distribution in the thymus were studied by virus isolation, polymerase chain reaction (PCR), immunocytochemistry (IP) and in situ hybridization until postinfection day (PID) 28. In 6-week-old chickens infected with high doses of CAV, viraemia and VN antibodies could be detected 4 PID and onward without virus shedding or contact transmission to sentinel birds. However, virus shedding and contact transmission were demonstrated in one-day-old infected chickens. In the 6-week-old groups infected with lower doses, VN antibodies developed by PID 14, transient viraemia and virus shedding were detected. The thymus cortex of all 1-day-old inoculated chickens stained with VP3-specific mAb. Cells with positive in situ hybridization signal were fewer and scattered throughout the thymus tissue of the one-day-old inoculated chickens as compared to IP-positive cells. These results suggest that early immune response induced by high doses of CAV in 6-week-old chickens curtails viral replication and prevents virus shedding.     

In vivo lipopolysaccharide injection alters CD4+CD25+ cell properties in chickens

In chickens, thymic CD4(+)CD25(+) cells are characterized as regulatory T cells. The objectives of this experiment were to study the effects of an in vivo lipopolysaccharide (LPS) injection on the percentage of CD4(+)CD25(+) cells in peripheral organs and the suppressive properties of splenic CD4(+)CD25(+) cells in chickens. Chickens were injected with LPS and CD4(+)CD25(+) cells were analyzed at 1, 2, 3, 5, and 10 d post LPS injection. The LPS injection increased CD4(+)CD25(+) cell percentage approximately 5-fold in the blood at 1 d post LPS injection (P < 0.001), 3-fold in the thymus at 3 d post LPS injection (P = 0.001), and 2.5-fold in the spleen at 2 d post LPS injection (P = 0.001) compared with the no-LPS-injected group. The LPS injection did not alter the CD4(+)CD25(+) cell percentage in the cecal tonsil (P = 0.162), lung (P = 0.098), or bone marrow (P = 0.071) at any time point measured. At 2 d post LPS injection, splenic CD4(+)CD25(+) cells lost their suppressive ability (P < 0.001). At 5 d post LPS injection, splenic CD4(+)CD25(+) cells not only regained their suppressive ability, but also became supersuppressive (P < 0.001). Splenic CD4(+)CD25(+) cells at 5 d post LPS injection produced 5.5-fold more (P = 0.005) IL-10 mRNA than splenic CD4(+)CD25(+) cells at 0 and 2 d post LPS injection. In conclusion, chicken regulatory T cells are differentially activated to facilitate immune response during the early stage of inflammation and to facilitate immune suppression at a later stage of inflammation.     

Chicken peripheral blood CD3+CD4-CD8- cells are regulated by endocrine and nerve systems

The existence of CD3(+)CD4(-)CD8(-) T cells in thymus and spleen has already been known. However, because of the presence of large amounts of thrombocytes in peripheral blood (PB), the proportion of CD3(+)CD4(-)CD8(-) T cells in PB has yet to be investigated. Therefore, the proportion of peripheral T cell-subsets was investigated in 6-week-old chickens. The percentage of CD3(+) cells, CD4(+) cells, CD8 alpha(+) cells, CD8 beta(+), and CD3(+)CD4(-)CD8(-) cells was 76%, 41%, 14%, 5%, and 15%, respectively. The proportion of CD3(+)CD4(-)CD8(-) cells in PB increased during egg-laying periods and in chickens treated with an analog of estrogen, while it decreased with age and in response to restraint stress. All of the CD3(+)CD4(-)CD8(-) cells expressed TCR1, and did not have NK activity. CD3(+)CD4(-)CD8(-) cells represent about 60% of peripheral TCR1(+) cells. These findings indicate that the proportion of CD3(+)CD4(-)CD8(-) cells is regulated by the endocrine and nerve systems.     

鸡传染性贫血病毒感染对雏鸡免疫系统的影响 Ⅰ.T、B淋巴细胞增殖反应的变化

1日龄雏鸡感染鸡传染性贫血病毒（CIAV）后,胸腺和脾脏T淋巴细胞增殖反应分别于14d和7～21d明显减弱（P相似文献   

Effect of ascorbic acid supplementation on the immune response of chickens vaccinated and challenged with infectious bursal disease virus

One-day-old chickens were divided into two groups and reared under similar conditions. One group was fed a diet supplemented with 1000ppm ascorbic acid and the other group was fed an identical diet, but not supplemented with ascorbic acid. Both groups were vaccinated against infectious bursal disease (IBD) at 7 days of age and challenged orally with 4x10(5) of 50% embryo-lethal-dose IBDV 14 days later. The number of anti-IBDV antibody secreting cells, production of interleukin-2 (IL-2) by splenocytes, number of CD4(+), CD8(+) and IgM(+) cells in spleen and IgM(+) cells in bursa of Fabricius were compared between the two groups at 7 days (prior to vaccination), 21 days (14 days post-vaccination and prior to challenge) and 31 days (10 days post-challenge) of age. The number of CD8(+) in spleen at 7 days of age and IgM(+) cells in bursa at 7, 21 and 31 days of age were significantly higher in ascorbic acid supplemented group (P<0.05). Production of IL-2 by splenocytes was higher as indicated by higher stimulation indices in ascorbic acid supplemented group. The number of anti-IBDV IgG antibody secreting cells in spleen at 21 and 31 days of age were significantly higher in ascorbic acid supplemented group (P<0.05). Dietary supplementation of ascorbic acid may ameliorate the immunosuppression caused by IBDV vaccination and improve humoral and cellular immune responses.     

Effect of Compound Chinese Herbal Medicinal Polysaccharides on MyD88 Dependent Pathway Mediated by TLR4 in Lymphocytes of Chicken with Different MHC B-LβⅡ Genotypes

To investigate the effects of different doses of compound Chinese herbal medicinal polysaccharides (cCHMPS) on TLR4 and downstream MyD88 dependent signal transduction pathway components in chicken lymphocytes of different MHC B-LβⅡ genotypes,PCR-SSCP technique was applied to group layer according to different MHC B-LβⅡ genotypes.The peripheral blood lymphocytes of chicken with different MHC B-LβⅡ genotypes were collected,and added with 100,75,50 and 0 μg/mL cCHMPS (high,middle and low dose groups and control group),respectively,then co-culturing for 16,24,32 and 48 h.The expression of TLR4,MYD88 and TRAF-6 mRNA were detected using Real-time PCR method.The results showed that compared with control group,cCHMPS could significantly improve the expression levels of TLR4,MYD88 and TRAF-6 mRNA of different MHC B-Lβ Ⅱ genotypes chickens (P < 0.05);The expression levels of TLR4,MYD88 and TRAF-6 mRNA of AA genotype chicken lymphocyte in middle and low dose groups were higher than those of high dose group (except TLR4 gene cultured for 16 h);The expression of TLR4,MyD88 and TNAF-6 mRNA of BB genotype in high dose group were higher than those of other dose groups (except TLR4 gene cultured for 32 and 48 h);The expression of TLR4,MyD88 and TNAF-6 mRNA of BC genotype in low dose were higher than that of other dose groups (except TLR4 gene cultured for 16 h).There results indicated that cCHMPS played an important role in the body’s immune regulatory mechanism by binding to TLR4 in the surface of lymphocytes,activating the downstream MyD88-dependent signal transduction pathway,regulating cellular immunity,and cCHMPS optimum immunomodulatory does were different in each MHC B-Lβ Ⅱ genotype chickens.     

葡萄球菌性关节炎肉鸡免疫器官的病理学变化

利用鸡源致病性金黄色葡萄球菌复制鸡葡萄球菌性关节炎的病理模型,研究免疫器官的主要病理学变化及其内CD4 和CD8 T淋巴细胞的动态变化。结果表明:鸡接种细菌后呈典型的关节炎症状。脾脏肿大,表面呈网格状,法氏囊黏膜增厚,盲肠扁桃体和胸腺上散在出血点。光镜下脾脏淋巴小结早期数目增多,后期呈灶状坏死,法氏囊水肿,淋巴小结坏死液化。CD4 和CD8 T淋巴细胞的变化为:脾脏在接种后7 d淋巴小结内的CD4 和CD8 T淋巴细胞已明显多于对照组,与对照组比差异极显著(P<0.01);接种后7 d,法氏囊的淋巴滤泡周围的间隙中检出较多的阳性细胞,在接种后14 d CD4 T淋巴细胞达到高峰,随后下降,与对照组相比在接种后7 d差异显著(P<0.05),在接种后14 d差异极显著(P<0.01);而CD8 T淋巴细胞在接种后7 d就达到高峰,与对照组相比差异极显著(P<0.01);盲肠扁桃体的CD8 T淋巴细胞在接种后7 d上升,21 d达到最高值;胸腺组织中阳性细胞数对照组和试验组都很少,试验组的阳性细胞数的变化没有明显的规律。鸡接种金黄色葡萄球菌后免疫器官内CD4 和CD8 T淋巴细胞数目增多,表明T淋巴细胞参与了金黄色葡萄球菌引起鸡的关节炎的发生发展过程。     

Dynamics of lymphocyte subpopulation changes in the cecal tonsils of chickens infected with Salmonella enteritidis

Salmonella enteritidis (SE)-induced changes in various T and B lymphocyte subpopulations in the cecal tonsils of chickens were analyzed using flow cytometry. At 1 day post-SE inoculation, the percentages of CD3(+) and CD8(+) T lymphocytes were significantly decreased in the group inoculated with 1x10(9) SE colony-forming units (CFU) (SE high) and in the group inoculated with 1x10(6) SE CFU (SE low) compared with the uninfected control group. The percentage of CD4(+) T lymphocytes was significantly increased in the SE high group compared to the uninfected and the SE low groups at 4 days after SE inoculation. The percentage of IgG(+) B lymphocytes was also significantly increased in both SE high and low groups compared to the uninfected control at 6 days post-SE inoculation. In contrast, the SE low group showed significantly fewer IgM(+) B lymphocytes compared to the uninfected and SE high groups. These results show that SE infection induces significant changes in the cecal tonsil lymphocytes subpopulations shortly following SE inoculation.     

Immune responses in Eimeria acervulina infected one-day-old broilers compared to amount of Eimeria in the duodenum, measured by real-time PCR

T-cell responses are supposed to be the major immune reactions in broilers infected with Eimeria. The nature of such T-cell responses is influenced by the species of Eimeria involved, age of the host, amount of parasites and the preceding infection history. In young chicks the intestine is still developing in length while the lymphocyte populations in the gut develop and differentiate. In chicks infected at young age the immune response may be different in quality as compared to responses in adults. We investigated the (T-cell) immune responses of young broilers to a primary Eimeria acervulina infection in relation to the number of parasites used for infection. In our experiment we infected one-day-old broilers with a low (5 x 10(2) oocysts) and a high (5 x 10(4) oocysts) dose of E. acervulina. We used a newly developed species specific real-time PCR to quantify total amount of parasites in the duodenum as the number of oocysts in faeces may not be representative for the exposure of the gut immune system. We characterized T-cell subsets in the duodenum by means of FACS-analyses, lymphocyte proliferation assays with spleen lymphocytes and the mRNA profiles of different cytokines (TGF-beta2, -4, IFN-gamma, IL-2, -6, -8 and -18) in the duodenum by means of real-time PCR. From day 5 p.i. broilers with a high dose of E. acervulina had a significantly lower body weight than the control group. No increase in CD4(+) cells, but a strong increase in CD8(+) cells was observed at days 7 and 9 p.i. in the duodenum of broilers infected with a high dose E. acervulina. IL-8 mRNA responses were observed after infection with low and with high infection doses, but no IFN-gamma and TGF-beta mRNA responses were found in the duodenum. The specific proliferative T-cell responses to a low infectious dose were not significantly different as compared to the control group. In conclusion, based on the kinetics of observed responses a primary infection with a high dose of E. acervulina in one-day-old broilers seems to generate an immune response that shows a peak at the time of oocyst excretion, whereas the immune response to a low dose is less explicit.     

高温下清凉冲剂对鸡免疫器官中CD4+、CD8+ T细胞数量的影响

采用免疫组化方法检测鸡免疫器官中CD4^＋、CD8^＋T细胞数量，探讨高温下清凉冲剂对机体细胞免疫机能的影响及其药理作用。108只农大3号35目龄公雏，随机分为3组，每纽36只鸡，即常温对照组、高温对照组和高温用药组。用药组饲喂中药煎荆（浓度为1g／ml），用药量与饲料量比为1：1000。在试验的第1、4、8、10天各组捕杀5只。分别采取胸腺、脾脏、法氏囊检测。结果高温下。用药组免疫器官中CD4^＋、CD8^＋T细胞数量均高于高温对照组。第8、10天差异极显著（P〈0．01）。表明高温下清凉冲剂可以增加鸡免疫器官中CD4^＋、CD8^＋T细胞数量，有效地提高鸡细胞免疫水平。