Transcriptomic Analysis of Spleen Revealed Mechanism of Dexamethasone-Induced Immune Suppression in Chicks.

Abstract

Stress-induced immunosuppression is a common problem in the poultry industry, but the specific mechanism of its effect on the immune function of chicken has not been clarified. In this study, 7-day-old Gushi cocks were selected as subjects, and a stress-induced immunosuppression model was successfully established via daily injection of 2.0 mg/kg (body weight) dexamethasone. We characterized the spleen transcriptome in the control (B_S) and model (D_S) groups, and 515 significant differentially expressed genes (SDEGs) (Fragments Per Kilobase of transcript sequence per Millions base pairs sequenced (FPKM) > 1, adjusted p-value (padj) < 0.05 and Fold change (|FC|) ≥ 2) were identified. The cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction signaling pathway was identified as being highly activated during stress-induced immunosuppression, including the following SDEGs-CXCL13L2, CSF3R, CSF2RB, CCR9, CCR10, IL1R1, IL8L1, IL8L2, GHR, KIT, OSMR, TNFRSF13B, TNFSF13B, and TGFBR2L. At the same time, immune-related SDEGs including CCR9, CCR10, DMB1, TNFRSF13B, TNFRSF13C and TNFSF13B were significantly enriched in the intestinal immune network for the IgA production signaling pathway. The SDEG protein-protein interaction module analysis showed that CXCR5, CCR8L, CCR9, CCR10, IL8L2, IL8L1, TNFSF13B, TNFRSF13B and TNFRSF13C may play an important role in stress-induced immunosuppression. These findings provide a background for further research on stress-induced immunosuppression. Thus, we can better understand the molecular genetic mechanism of chicken stress-induced immunosuppression.

• Authors: Yujie Guo, Aru Su, Huihui Tian, Minxi Zhai, Wenting Li, Yadong Tian, Kui Li, Guirong Sun, Ruirui Jiang, Ruili Han, Fengbin Yan, Xiangtao Kang
• Journal: Genes (Genes (Basel)) Vol. 11 Issue 5 (05 06 2020) ISSN: 2073-4425 [Electronic] Switzerland
• PMID: 32384708 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Blood Glucose
• Blood Proteins
• Cytokines
• Immunoglobulin A
• Immunosuppressive Agents
• RNA, Messenger
• Receptors, Cytokine
• Dexamethasone
• Corticosterone

Topics

• Animals
• Blood Glucose (analysis)
• Blood Proteins (analysis)
• Chickens (genetics, immunology, metabolism)
• Corticosterone (blood)
• Cytokines (genetics, metabolism)
• Dexamethasone (pharmacology)
• Gene Expression Profiling
• Gene Expression Regulation
• Gene Ontology
• Humans
• Immunoglobulin A (biosynthesis)
• Immunosuppressive Agents (pharmacology)
• Male
• Poultry Diseases (genetics, immunology)
• Protein Interaction Mapping
• RNA, Messenger (biosynthesis, genetics)
• RNA-Seq
• Random Allocation
• Receptors, Cytokine (genetics, metabolism)
• Signal Transduction
• Spleen (drug effects, metabolism)
• Stress, Physiological (genetics, immunology)