title: Association between in vitro heterophil function and the feathering gene in commercial broiler chickens.
abstract: We recently showed that in vitro heterophil functional efficiency in commercial broiler chickens is genetically controlled and may be a sex-associated trait. To further characterize the genetic mechanism(s) of heterophil functional efficiency, we wanted to determine whether the feathering gene, present on the Z sex chromosome, contributes to heterophil functional efficiency. Heterophils from two pairs of broiler lines were evaluated; each pair contained a fast feather (FF) (lines A and X) and a slow feather (SF) line (lines B and Y). On days 1 and 4 post-hatch, heterophils isolated from two sets of pure line broilers (A and B, and X and Y) were evaluated for their ability to (1) phagocytize Salmonella enteritidis, and (2) exhibit bactericidal activity against S. enteritidis. On days 1 and 4 post-hatch, heterophils isolated from the FF lines were statistically (P < or = 0.02) more proficient at phagocytizing S. enteritidis than heterophils from SF lines. Bactericidal activity was also statistically (p < or = 0.02) greater on day 1 post-hatch in the heterophils isolated from FF lines compared to heterophils isolated from SF lines. These data indicate that the presence of the FF gene locus on the Z sex chromosome contributes to heterophil function and may contribute to the early innate immune competence of a flock.
authors.affiliation: United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Services, Southern Plains Agricultural Research Center, 2881 F & B Road, College Station, TX 77845, USA.
authors.forename: Christina L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Swaggerty
authors.forename: Igal Y
authors.initials: IY
authors.lastname: Pevzner
authors.forename: Pamela J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Ferro
authors.forename: Tawni L
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Crippen
authors.forename: Michael H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Kogut
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002645:Chickens / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology; D003433:Crosses, Genetic; D005241:Feathers / Q000254:growth & development; D005260:Female; D006098:Granulocytes / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D010587:Phagocytosis / Q000235:genetics*; D012481:Salmonella Infections, Animal / Q000276:immunology; D012477:Salmonella enteritidis / Q000276:immunology