EFFECT OF HERBAL POLYSACCHARIDES ON CYTOKINE PRODUCTION IN CHICKENS INFECTED WITH EIMERIA TENELLA
10.3969/j.issn.1005-0507.2008.03.003
- VernacularTitle:中药多糖对柔嫩艾美尔球虫感染鸡细胞因子水平的影响
- Author:
Wan-Kun LI
1
;
Fu-Cun GUO
;
Xun SUO
;
Xing-Xu ZHAO
Author Information
1. 甘肃农业大学
- Keywords:
Polysaccharides;
Chickens;
Ceccidiosis;
IL-2;
IFN-γ
- From:
Acta Parasitologica et Medica Entomologica Sinica
2008;15(3):137-145
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
The effects of natural immano-active polysaccharide extracts (E) from two mushrooms, Lentinus edodes (LenE) and Tremella fuciformis (TreE), and an herb, Astragalus membranaceus (AstE), on production of the cytokines IFN-γ and IL-2 were investigated in Eimeria tenella infected chickens. A total of 180 broiler chicken were assigned to nine groups: three groups fed with the extracts (LenE, TreE and AstE), three groups fed with extracts and immunized with live oecyst vaccine (LenE + V, TreE + V and AstE + V), a group immunized with oecyst vaccine, and two controls (With or without E. tenella infected). Serum IFN-γ titers and IL-2 production of splenocytes were determined at 7 and 14 days post-infection (p. i. ). The overall mean serum IFN-γ of the groups fed with the extracts and immunized with vaccine was significantly (P ＜ 0.01 ) higher compared with the vaccine group at 7 and 14 days p. i., whereas that of the groups fed with the extracts only was not significantly different from the vaccine group. Of the three extracts, AstE showed the highest IFN-γ titers at 7 days p. i., and the Tree + V group had significantly higher IFN-γ titers compared with both LenE + V and AstE + V groups. The IL-2 production of splenocytes showed a similar pattern to the serum IFN-γ titers. Seven days p. i., the overall mean IL-2 level of the groups fed with extracts and immunized with vaccine was significantly (P ＜ 0.01) higher compared with the group immunized with the oecyst vaccine only, but that of the groups fed with the extracts only were not significantly different from the vaccine group. At 14 days p. i., the overall mean IL-2 production of both the groups fed with the extracts and the groups fed with the extracts and immunized with vaccine was not significantly different from the vaccine group. A significant difference in IL-2 production of splenecytes between different extracts was not found. The use of the mushroom and herb polysaccharide extracts might enhance T-cell immune responses, characterized by IFN-γ and IL-2 secretion, against coccidiosis in chickens, and particularly when they are used in conjunction with vaccine. Thus,these immunoactive herbal polysaccharide extracts may enhance protective immunity against infections.
