title: Virus-induced immunosuppression in chickens.
abstract: Reovirus and infectious bursal disease virus are among the naturally occurring viruses that cause immunosuppression in chickens. Both viruses cause necrotic lesions in the bursa of Fabricius and may destroy B cells. This may explain their ability to cause humoral immune suppression. The mechanism(s) of virus-induced suppression of cellular immunity is not well understood. Both viruses inhibit the mitogenic response of T cells in chickens. We have noted that this inhibition may be mediated by inhibitory cytokines such as transforming growth factor-beta and nitric oxide produced by activated macrophages. Preliminary studies have indicated that pretreatment of chickens with an immunomodulator, acemannan, reduced the reovirus-induced inhibition of T cells.
authors.affiliation: College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Minnesota, St. Paul 55108.
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Sharma
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Karaca
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Pertile
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D018175:Birnaviridae Infections / Q000276:immunology / Q000662:veterinary*; D002645:Chickens; D016207:Cytokines / Q000276:immunology; D007108:Immune Tolerance; D007243:Infectious bursal disease virus; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008954:Models, Biological; D011201:Poultry Diseases / Q000276:immunology*; D012088:Reoviridae Infections / Q000276:immunology / Q000662:veterinary*
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines