title: Hyperpigmentation Results in Aberrant Immune Development in Silky Fowl (Gallus gallus domesticus Brisson).
abstract: The Silky Fowl (SF) is known for its special phenotypes and atypical distribution of melanocytes among internal organs. Although the genes associated with melanocyte migration have been investigated substantially, there is little information on the postnatal distribution of melanocytes in inner organs and the effect of hyperpigmentation on the development of SF. Here, we analyzed melanocyte distribution in 26 tissues or organs on postnatal day 1 and weeks 2, 3, 4, 6, 10, and 23. Except for the liver, pancreas, pituitary gland, and adrenal gland, melanocytes were distributed throughout the body, primarily around blood vessels. Interaction between melanocytes and the tissue cells was observed, and melanin was transported by filopodia delivery through engulfed and internalized membrane-encapsulated melanosomes. SFs less than 10 weeks old have lower indices of spleen, thymus, and bursa of Fabricius than White Leghorns (WLs). The expression levels of interferon-γ and interlukin-4 genes in the spleen, and serum antibody levels against H5N1 and infectious bursal disease virus were lower in SF than in WL. We also found immune organ developmental difference between Black-boned and non-Black- boned chickens from SFs and WLs hybrid F2 population. However, degeneration of the thymus and bursa of Fabricius occurred later in SF than in WL after sexual maturity. Analysis of apoptotic cells and apoptosis-associated Bax and Bcl-2 proteins indicated that apoptosis is involved in degeneration of the thymus and bursa of Fabricius. Therefore, these results suggest that hyperpigmentation in SF may have a close relationship with immune development in SF, which can provide an important animal model to investigate the roles of melanocyte.
authors.affiliation: National Engineering Laboratory for Animal Breeding and Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding, and Reproduction of the Ministry of Agriculture, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, China.
authors.forename: Deping
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Han
authors.affiliation: National Engineering Laboratory for Animal Breeding and Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding, and Reproduction of the Ministry of Agriculture, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, China.
authors.forename: Shuxiang
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, China.
authors.forename: Yanxin
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.affiliation: National Engineering Laboratory for Animal Breeding and Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding, and Reproduction of the Ministry of Agriculture, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, China.
authors.forename: Yuanyuan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: National Engineering Laboratory for Animal Breeding and Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding, and Reproduction of the Ministry of Agriculture, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, China.
authors.forename: Xianggui
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Dong
authors.affiliation: National Engineering Laboratory for Animal Breeding and Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding, and Reproduction of the Ministry of Agriculture, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, China.
authors.forename: Zu
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: National Engineering Laboratory for Animal Breeding and Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding, and Reproduction of the Ministry of Agriculture, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, China.
authors.forename: Jiankui
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: National Engineering Laboratory for Animal Breeding and Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding, and Reproduction of the Ministry of Agriculture, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, China.
authors.forename: Junying
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: National Engineering Laboratory for Animal Breeding and Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding, and Reproduction of the Ministry of Agriculture, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, China.
authors.forename: Xuemei
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Deng
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood; D002060:Bursa of Fabricius / Q000378:metabolism; D002645:Chickens / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D017495:Hyperpigmentation / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D007243:Infectious bursal disease virus / Q000276:immunology; D053124:Influenza A Virus, H5N1 Subtype / Q000276:immunology; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000378:metabolism; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008543:Melanins / Q000378:metabolism; D008544:Melanocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000378:metabolism; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013154:Spleen / Q000378:metabolism; D013950:Thymus Gland / Q000378:metabolism; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D008543:Melanins; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein; D015847:Interleukin-4; D007371:Interferon-gamma