title: 1,25-Dihydroxyvitamin-D3 Induces Avian β-Defensin Gene Expression in Chickens.
abstract: Host defense peptides (HDPs) play a critical role in innate immunity. Specific modulation of endogenous HDP synthesis by dietary compounds has been regarded as a novel approach to boost immunity and disease resistance in animal production. 1,25-dihydroxy vitamin D3 (1,25D3) is well known as a powerful HDP inducer in humans, but limited information about the effect of 1,25D3 on HDPs in poultry is available. Here, we sought to examine whether 1,25D3 could stimulate avian β-defensin (AvBD) expression in chickens. We used chicken embryo intestinal epithelial cells (CEIEPCs) and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) to study the effect of 1,25D3 on the expression of AvBDs. We observed that 1,25D3 is able to up-regulate the expression of several AvBDs in CEIEPCs and PBMCs, whereas it increased the amounts of AvBD4 mRNA in CEIEPCs only in the presence of lipopolysaccharide (LPS). On the other hand, LPS treatment not only inhibited the expression of CYP24A1 but also altered the expression pattern of VDR in CEIEPCs. Furthermore, AvBDs were not directly regulated by 1,25D3, as cycloheximide completely blocked 1,25D3-induced expression of AvBDs. Our observations suggest that 1,25D3 is capable of inducing AvBD gene expression and is a potential antibiotic alternative through augmentation of host innate immunity as well as disease control in chickens.
authors.affiliation: Farm Animal Genetic Resources Exploration and Innovation Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, 611130, P. R. China.
authors.forename: Long
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Farm Animal Genetic Resources Exploration and Innovation Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, 611130, P. R. China.
authors.forename: Lu
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.affiliation: Institute of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary, Jiangxi Academy of Agricultural Science, Nanchang, 330200, P. R. China.
authors.forename: Siming
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Science, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, Oklahoma, 74078, United States of America.
authors.forename: Guolong
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Institute of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary, Jiangxi Academy of Agricultural Science, Nanchang, 330200, P. R. China.
authors.forename: Linghua
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ouyang
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Science, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, Oklahoma, 74078, United States of America.
authors.forename: Kelsy
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Robinson
authors.affiliation: Institute of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary, Jiangxi Academy of Agricultural Science, Nanchang, 330200, P. R. China.
authors.forename: Yanqiang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.affiliation: Farm Animal Genetic Resources Exploration and Innovation Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, 611130, P. R. China.
authors.forename: Qing
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.affiliation: Farm Animal Genetic Resources Exploration and Innovation Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, 611130, P. R. China.
authors.forename: Diyan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Farm Animal Genetic Resources Exploration and Innovation Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, 611130, P. R. China.
authors.forename: Yaodong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.affiliation: Farm Animal Genetic Resources Exploration and Innovation Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, 611130, P. R. China.
authors.forename: Yiping
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Liu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002645:Chickens; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism*; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D007113:Immunity, Innate / Q000187:drug effects; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000166:cytology; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000494:pharmacology; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology; D065668:Vitamin D3 24-Hydroxylase / Q000378:metabolism; D023083:beta-Defensins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D023083:beta-Defensins; C118756:dihydroxy-vitamin D3; D014807:Vitamin D; D065668:Vitamin D3 24-Hydroxylase