title: Expression of β-defensins in intestines of chickens injected with vitamin D3 and lipopolysaccharide.
abstract: The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of vitamin D3 (VD3) on the regulation of chicken intestinal β-defensin genes under normal and lipopolysaccharides (LPS) conditions. Four treatment groups were used, including a negative control group, VD3-injection group, LPS-injection group, and both VD3-injection and LPS-injection group. At 4, 24, and 48 h post-injection, intestines were collected and RNA was isolated to measure the chicken β-defensin genes with putative vitamin D responsive elements using quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Expressions of all 7 chicken β-defensin genes was detectable in the intestines. Significant increases in GAL-6, -7 and -9 were found following LPS injection treatment at 4, 24, and 48 h post-injection, respectively, whereas VD3 injection did not affect the expression of any investigated genes under normal conditions. However, the expression of GAL-4, -5, -6, and -10 were synergistically upregulated by VD3 in combination with LPS. These results suggest that VD3 enhances the immune immunity during LPS challenge by inducing the expression of chicken β-defensin genes when birds are exposed to immune stressors.
authors.affiliation: Farm Animal Genetic Resources Exploration and Innovation Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agricultural University, Ya'an, China.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.affiliation: Institute of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary, Jiangxi Academy of Agricultural Science, Nanchang, China.
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Farm Animal Genetic Resources Exploration and Innovation Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agricultural University, Ya'an, China.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Farm Animal Genetic Resources Exploration and Innovation Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agricultural University, Ya'an, China.
authors.forename: X Q
authors.initials: XQ
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Farm Animal Genetic Resources Exploration and Innovation Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agricultural University, Ya'an, China.
authors.forename: D Y
authors.initials: DY
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Farm Animal Genetic Resources Exploration and Innovation Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agricultural University, Ya'an, China.
authors.forename: X L
authors.initials: XL
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.affiliation: Farm Animal Genetic Resources Exploration and Innovation Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agricultural University, Ya'an, China liuyp578@163.com.
authors.forename: Y P
authors.initials: YP
authors.lastname: Liu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D030161:Avian Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D002645:Chickens; D002762:Cholecalciferol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004353:Drug Evaluation, Preclinical; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000187:drug effects*; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000378:metabolism*; D007422:Intestines / Q000276:immunology; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D015854:Up-Regulation; D030181:Vitamin D Response Element / Q000502:physiology; D023083:beta-Defensins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D030161:Avian Proteins; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D023083:beta-Defensins; D002762:Cholecalciferol