Combination of TLR2 and TLR3 agonists derepress infectious bursal disease virus vaccine-induced immunosuppression in the chicken

Sci Rep. 2019 Jun 3;9(1):8197. doi: 10.1038/s41598-019-44578-5.

Abstract

Live intermediate plus infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV) vaccines (hot vaccines) are used for protection against the virulent IBDV strains in young chickens. We evaluated the potential of Toll-like receptor (TLR) agonists to alleviate hot vaccine-induced immunosuppression. The combination of Pam3CSK4 and poly I:C synergistically upregulated IFN-β, IFN-γ, IL-12, IL-4, and IL-13 transcripts and cross-inhibited IL-1β, IL-10, and iNOS transcripts in the chicken peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) as analyzed by quantitative real-time PCR. Further, four-week old specific pathogen free White Leghorn chickens (n = 60) were randomly divided into six groups and either immunized with hot IBDV vaccine with or without Pam3CSK4 and/or poly I:C or not vaccinated to serve as controls. The results indicated that poly I:C alone and in combination with Pam3CSK4 alleviated vaccine-induced immunosuppression, as evidenced by greater weight gain, increased overall antibody responses to both sheep erythrocytes and live infectious bronchitis virus vaccine, upregulated IFN-γ transcripts and nitric oxide production by PBMCs (P < 0.05), and lower bursal lesion score in the experimental birds. In conclusion, poly I:C alone and its combination with Pam3CSK4 reduced the destruction of B cells as well as bursal damage with restoration of function of T cells and macrophages when used with a hot IBDV vaccine.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Birnaviridae Infections / prevention & control
  • Body Weight
  • Chickens
  • Immunosuppression Therapy*
  • Infectious bursal disease virus*
  • Interferon-gamma / metabolism
  • Leukocytes, Mononuclear / cytology
  • Lipopeptides / administration & dosage*
  • Macrophages / metabolism
  • Nitric Oxide / metabolism
  • Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II / metabolism
  • Poly I-C / administration & dosage*
  • Toll-Like Receptor 2 / agonists*
  • Toll-Like Receptor 3 / agonists*
  • Toll-Like Receptors / metabolism
  • Viral Vaccines / adverse effects*

Substances

  • Lipopeptides
  • Pam(3)CSK(4) peptide
  • Toll-Like Receptor 2
  • Toll-Like Receptor 3
  • Toll-Like Receptors
  • Viral Vaccines
  • Nitric Oxide
  • Interferon-gamma
  • Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II
  • Poly I-C