Dynamic Expression of Interferon Lambda Regulated Genes in Primary Fibroblasts and Immune Organs of the Chicken

Abstract

Interferons (IFNs) are pleiotropic cytokines that establish a first line of defense against viral infections in vertebrates. Several types of IFN have been identified; however, limited information is available in poultry, especially using live animal experimental models. IFN-lambda (IFN-λ) has recently been shown to exert a significant antiviral impact against viral pathogens in mammals. In order to investigate the in vivo potential of chicken IFN-λ (chIFN-λ) as a regulator of innate immunity, and potential antiviral therapeutics, we profiled the transcriptome of chIFN-λ-stimulated chicken immune organs (in vivo) and compared it with primary chicken embryo fibroblasts (in vitro). Employing the baculovirus expression vector system (BEVS), recombinant chIFN-λ3 (rchIFN-λ3) was produced and its biological activities were demonstrated. The rchIFNλ3 induced a great array of IFN-regulated genes in primary chicken fibroblast cells. The transcriptional profiling using RNA-seq and subsequent bioinformatics analysis (gene ontology, differential expressed genes, and KEGGs analysis) of the bursa of Fabricious and the thymus demonstrated an upregulation of crucial immune genes (viperin, IKKB, CCL5, IL1β, and AP1) as well as the antiviral signaling pathways. Interestingly, this experimental approach revealed contrasting evidence of the antiviral potential of chIFN-λ in both in vivo and in vitro models. Taken together, our data signifies the potential of chIFN-λ as a potent antiviral cytokine and highlights its future possible use as an antiviral therapeutic in poultry.

Muscle Antioxidant Activity and Meat Quality Are Altered by Supplementation of Astaxanthin in Broilers Exposed to High Temperature

“…Moreover, the high content of polyunsaturated fatty acids in chicken muscle can increase the susceptibility of meat to the oxidative deterioration [ 6 ]. Lipid oxidation occurs when there is an imbalance balance between the scavenging capacity of antioxidants and the generation of free radical [ 7 , 8 , 9 ]. Free radicals and reactive oxygen species damage several enzymes and macromolecules and can lead to severe oxidative injuries, with the potential of impacting the lipid oxidation and health status of animals.…”

Induction of Chicken Host Defense Peptides within Disease-Resistant and -Susceptible Lines

“…Fibroblasts have been early considered as a non-immune type cell maintaining the structural integrity of connective tissue [ 39 , 40 , 41 , 42 ]. Additionally, avian immune responses have been studied by comparing between fibroblasts and immune typed cells [ 43 , 44 , 45 ]. Collectively, the comparisons using these cell types can provide insight on systemic immune responses between and within chicken lines.…”

Genome-Wide Classification of Type I, Type II and Type III Interferon-Stimulated Genes in Chicken Fibroblasts

“…Building upon existing information on chicken ISGs [18,30,32] and our recent studies [3,33], we compared the expression of the genes that were induced by either chIFN-α, chIFN-λ or chIFN-γ, and catalogue the genes which are IFN-specific or genes that are shared between different types of IFNs in chicken. Since IFNs show cell and tissue-specific actions [8], which are mainly attributed to their cognate expression patterns [28], we attempted to establish a model system that could reliably respond to all type of IFNs.…”