Transgenerational Effects of Maternal Immune Activation on Specific Antibody Responses in Layer Chickens

Abstract

Activation of the maternal immune system may affect innate and adaptive immune responses in the next generation and may therefore have implications for vaccine efficacy and dietary immune modulation by feed additives. However, transgenerational effects on immune responses in chickens have been investigated to a limited extend. The present study investigated effects of intratracheal (i.t) specific and aspecific immune activation of laying hens on specific antibody production in the next generation. In two experiments laying hens received intratracheally an immune stimulus with human serum albumin (HuSA) or lipopolysaccharide (LPS). In experiment 1, hatchlings of the immune activated hens were at 4 weeks i.t. immunized with HuSA or HuSA+LPS. Maternal immune activation with LPS increased HuSA specific IgY and IgM responses in offspring. These results suggest a transgenerational effect of the maternal immune system on the specific antibody response in the next generation. In experiment 2 hatchlings received either β-glucan-enriched feed or control feed and were i.t. immunized with HuSA. Maternal immune activation with LPS decreased IgY anti-HuSA responses after HuSA immunization within hatchlings that received β-glucan enriched feed. The results of Experiment 2 suggest a transgenerational link between the innate immune system of mother and specific antibody responses in offspring. Despite variabilities in the outcomes of the two experiments, the observations of both suggest a link between the maternal innate immune system and the immune system of the offspring. Furthermore, our results may imply that maternal activation of the innate immune system can influence immune modulating dietary interventions and vaccine strategies in the next generation.

Addition of a protected complex of biofactors and antioxidants to breeder hen diets confers transgenerational protection against Salmonella enterica serovar Enteritidis in progeny chicks

“…Most studies using feed additives and Salmonella challenges in poultry are directly evaluating the benefits to the birds that are provided the treatments and not the offspring of the treated breeders’ hens ( Lowry et al, 2005 ; Grilli et al, 2011 ; Kogut et al, 2013 ; Abudabos et al, 2017 ). There are limited studies evaluating transgenerational immunity in chickens and tend to focus on antibody production ( Leandro et al, 2011 ; Verwoolde et al, 2022 ), cytokine responses ( Koppenol et al, 2015 ), or tolerance to endotoxin ( Li et al, 2018 ) whereas the study presented herein, to our knowledge, is the first to follow chicks under a bacterial challenge. In addition to reducing the number of positive chicks, the number of Salmonella that were recoverable was also significantly reduced ( Table 1 ) in the chicks from the breeder hens on the dietary supplement.…”

“…The paternal effect of dietary supplementation with Astragalu s polysaccharides in broilers shows improved growth within the first 10-days posthatch and a beneficial impact on jejunal morphology in the offspring ( Li et al, 2018 ). A study in layer chickens shows immune stimulation of the hens produces offspring that produce increased antibody responses following immunization suggesting a transgenerational effect ( Verwoolde et al, 2022 ).…”

Dietary sodium butyrate improves female broiler breeder performance and offspring immune function by enhancing maternal intestinal barrier and microbiota

“…IgG and IgA are often used as indicators to evaluate maternal antibodies’ effect on the offspring's immune function ( Fan et al, 2018 ). By contrast, the maternal activation of immune function through exogenous nutrition promotes the immune response in offspring ( Verwoolde et al, 2022 ). In the present study, dietary SB improved the immune function of broiler breeders.…”

Modulation of the immune system of chickens a key factor in maintaining poultry production—a review

“…This suggests a cross-generational link between the maternal innate immune system and specific antibody responses in the offspring. These results may indicate maternal innate immune system activation influences immune-modulating dietary interventions and vaccination strategies in next-generation poultry ( Verwoolde et al, 2022 ). Despite the lack of direct evidence in the cited experiment for the intergenerational transmission of epigenetic patterns, there are indications of their impact on the activity of genes related to the immunity of offspring.…”