Effect of Vanadium on the Subset and Proliferation of Peripheral Blood T Cells, and Serum Interleukin-2 Content in Broilers

Abstract

The purpose of this 42-day study was to investigate the effects of dietary excess vanadium on immune function by determining changes of the subsets and proliferation function of peripheral blood T cells. Four hundred twenty 1-day-old avian broilers were divided into six groups and fed on a corn-soybean basal diet as control diet or the same diet amended to contain 5, 15, 30, 45, and 60 ppm vanadium supplied as ammonium metavanadate. In comparison with those of the control group, the percentages of CD (3) (+) , CD (3) (+) CD (4) (+) , and CD (3) (+) CD (8) (+) were decreased in 45 and 60 ppm groups from 14 to 42 days of age, and the percentages of CD (3) (+) and CD (3) (+) CD (4) (+) were increased in 5 ppm group at 42 days of age. The CD (4) (+) /CD (8) (+) ratio was increased in 45 and 60 ppm groups at 28 days of age. Meanwhile, the proliferation function of peripheral blood T cell were decreased in 30, 45, and 60 ppm groups from 14 to 42 days of age. Also, the serum interleukin-2 contents were decreased in 45 and 60 ppm groups from 14 to 42 days of age and increased in 5 ppm group at 28 days of age. Histopathologically, hypocellularity appeared in the thymus in 45 and 60 ppm groups. It was concluded that dietary vanadium in excess of 30 ppm reduced the percentages of peripheral blood T-cell subsets and the proliferation function and serum interleukin-2 contents. The cellular immune function was finally impaired in broilers.

Effect of Dietary Vanadium on Cecal Tonsil T Cell Subsets and IL-2 Contents in Broilers

“…CD 4 + T cells concentrate in the inter-follicular areas, and both CD 3 + and CD 8 + T cells distribute in the lamina propria and epithelium [17]. In the present study, the percentages of CD 3 + , CD 3 + CD 8 + , and CD 3 + CD 4 + in cecal tonsil were decreased in 45 and 60 mg/kg groups and increased in 5 mg/kg group, which were consistent with the results of our recent studies [18,19]. The results showed that the population and biological function of mature T cells were affected.…”

“…(2) The cecal tonsil lesions can explain the tissular basis of the decreased T cells. (3) Lesions are observed in the thymus [18]. Thymus is the place where T cells are activated and differentiated to CD 4 or CD 8 T cells, and then mature T cells migrate from thymus to the peripheral blood and secondary immune organs.…”

“…The composition of mature T cells decides the biological function of mature T cells and is related to the cellular immune function of the body. The results of our recent studies show that dietary vanadium in excess of 30 mg/kg can reduce the splenic and peripheral blood T cell population and proliferation and the serum interleukin-2 (IL-2) contents [18,19].…”

The Relevance of Cytokines for Mucosal Immunity Induced By Dietary Vanadium in the Intestine of Broilers

“…Other biological functions of vanadium and vanadium compounds as anti-tumor drugs, anti-parasitic agents and their estrogenic actions, reflecting recently medicinal applications of this element, and their availability and safety for clinical use have also been described recently [6]. In addition, our studies show that excessive vanadium strongly negatively affects the normal cellular immunity [7][8][9][10].…”

Toxicological effects of nickel chloride on the cytokine mRNA expression and protein levels in intestinal mucosal immunity of broilers

“…It is reported that in chicken, the CD 4+ T cells are considered as helper/inflammatory T cells which respond to exogenous antigens in conjunction with the class II MHC molecules (Cui et al, ). The CD 8+ T cells are considered as cytotoxic T cells and respond to endogenous antigens in conjunction with the class I MHC molecules (Kannangai et al, ).…”