Transcriptional expression levels of chicken collectins are affected by avian influenza A virus inoculation.
Mammalian collectins have been found to play an important role in the defense against influenza A virus H9N2 inoculation, but for chicken collectins this has not yet been clarified. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of avian influenza A virus (AIV) inoculation on collectin gene expression in the respiratory tract of chickens and whether this was affected by age. For this purpose 1- and 4-week-old chickens were inoculated intratracheally with PBS or H9N2 AIV. Chickens were killed at 0, 8, 16 and 24h post-inoculation and trachea and lung were harvested for analysis. Viral RNA expression and mRNA expression of chicken collectins 1 and 2 (cCL-1 and cCL-2), chicken lung lectin (cLL) and chicken surfactant protein A (cSP-A) were determined using real-time quantitative RT-PCR. In lung, a decrease in mRNA expression of cCL-2, cLL and cSP-A after inoculation with H9N2 was seen in both 1- and 4-week-old birds, although at different time points, while in trachea changes were only seen in 4-week-old birds and expression was increased. Moreover, collectin expression correlated with viral RNA expression in lung of 1-week-old birds. These results suggest that both age and location in the respiratory tract affect changes in collectin mRNA expression after inoculation with H9N2 and indicate a possible role for collectins in the host response to AIV in the respiratory tract of chickens.
Reemers
Sylvia S
SS
Department of Infectious Diseases and Immunology, Faculty Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Yalelaan 1, 3584 CL Utrecht, The Netherlands.
Veldhuizen
Edwin J A
EJ
Fleming
Cherina
C
van Haarlem
Daphne A
DA
Haagsman
Henk
H
Vervelde
Lonneke
L
D000367:Age Factors; D000818:Animals; D002645:Chickens; D037222:Collectins / Q000378:metabolism*; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D053127:Influenza A Virus, H9N2 Subtype / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D005585:Influenza in Birds / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000378:metabolism; D012137:Respiratory System / Q000503:physiopathology
D037222:Collectins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D012367:RNA, Viral