BAFF enhances B-cell-mediated immune response and vaccine-protection against a very virulent IBDV in chickens.
Infectious bursal disease (IBD) is an acute, highly infectious and immunosuppressive disease caused by IBDV, which specifically targets destruction of B cells in the bursa of Fabricius. B-cell activating factor belonging to the TNF family (BAFF, also called BLyS, TALL-1, THANK, or zTNF4) is an important factor for B-cell proliferation and survival. Here we demonstrate that human soluble BAFF (hsBAFF) may enhance humoral immune response by elevating B lymphocyte activity of secretion of immunoglobulin (Ig) such as IgA, IgM and IgG in chickens immunized or unimmunized with an inactivated IBDV vaccine from a very virulent strain. Of importance, we found that hsBAFF, as a co-immunostimulant for vaccination, may play a vital role in amplifying the specific protective immune response, thereby potently preventing very virulent IBDV challenge. This is supported by serological evidence that hsBAFF may effectively enhance higher specific IgG activity and titre in serum of immunized chickens. The findings strongly suggest that BAFF may be exploited in combination with specific vaccination for prevention of IBD.
Chen
Long
L
College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Normal University, and Jiangsu Province Key Laboratory for Molecular and Medical Biotechnology, Nanjing 210046, PR China. lchen@njnu.edu.cn
Ran
Mao Ju
MJ
Shan
Xiao Xiao
XX
Cao
Meng
M
Cao
Peng
P
Yang
Xiao Man
XM
Zhang
Shuang Quan
SQ
D000818:Animals; D053264:B-Cell Activating Factor / Q000276:immunology*; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D018059:Birnaviridae / Q000302:isolation & purification; D018175:Birnaviridae Infections / Q000276:immunology / Q000662:veterinary*; D002645:Chickens / Q000276:immunology; D004531:Eggs; D005260:Female; D007243:Infectious bursal disease virus / Q000276:immunology*; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D010063:Ovum / Q000276:immunology; D011201:Poultry Diseases / Q000276:immunology*; D013154:Spleen / Q000821:virology
D053264:B-Cell Activating Factor