Expression of perforin-granzyme pathway genes in the bursa of infectious bursal disease virus-infected chickens.
Infectious bursal disease (IBD) is an economically important immunosuppressive disease of chickens. The IBD virus (IBDV) actively replicates in B cells and causes severe bursal damage. Generally, T cells are refractory to infection with IBDV but are known to promote virus clearance. However, the mechanisms of T cell mediated viral clearance are not well understood. In this study, we evaluated the molecular mechanisms of cytotoxic T cell responses in the pathogenesis of IBD in chickens. Infection of chickens with IBDV was accompanied by the infiltration of CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cells in the bursa. There was an upregulation in the gene expression of important cytolytic molecules; perforin (PFN), granzyme-A (Gzm-A), DNA repair and apoptotic proteins; high mobility proteins group (HMG) and poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) in the bursa of Fabricius (BF) whereas expression of NK (natural killer) lysin was downregulated. Importantly, PFN producing CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cells were also detected in the bursa of IBDV-infected chickens by immunohistochemistry. The Th1 cytokines, IL-2 and IFN-γ expression was also strongly upregulated, suggesting the activation of T cells. The findings of this study highlight the mechanisms of IBD pathogenesis and the role of cytotoxic T cells in the clearance of virus-infected cells.
Food Animal Health Research Program, Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center, The Ohio State University, 1680 Madison Avenue, Wooster, OH 44691, United States.
Abdul
A
Rauf
Mahesh
M
Khatri
Maria V
MV
Murgia
Yehia M
YM
Saif
D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis; D018175:Birnaviridae Infections / Q000276:immunology / Q000662:veterinary*; D002060:Bursa of Fabricius / Q000378:metabolism*; D002645:Chickens / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology* / Q000821:virology; D004260:DNA Repair; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D053804:Granzymes / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D007243:Infectious bursal disease virus; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D054353:Perforin / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D011201:Poultry Diseases / Q000276:immunology*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology
D054353:Perforin; D053804:Granzymes