Down-regulation of inflammatory cytokines by berberine attenuates Riemerella anatipestifer infection in ducks

Authors: FERNANDEZ, CHERRY - Gyeongsang National University; AFRIN, FAHMIDA - Gyeongsang National University; FLORES, ROCHELLE - Gyeongsang National University; KIM, WOO - Gyeongsang National University; JEONG, JIPSEOL - National Institute Of Environmental Research; KIM, SUK - Gyeongsang National University; CHANG, HONG - Gyeongsang National University; Lillehoj, Hyun; MIN, WONGI - Gyeongsang National University

Submitted to: Developmental and Comparative Immunology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 12/2/2017
Publication Date: 12/30/2017
Citation: Fernandez, C.P., Afrin, F., Flores, R.A., Kim, W.H., Jeong, J., Kim, S., Chang, H.H., Lillehoj, H.S., Min, W. 2017. Down-regulation of inflammatory cytokines by berberine attenuates Riemerella anatipestifer infection in ducks. Developmental and Comparative Immunology. 77:121-127. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dci.2017.07.027.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dci.2017.07.027

Interpretive Summary: Understanding disease process affecting duck species is important since many wild life transmit various infectious agents to humans and livestock. In this paper, ARS collaborated with a Korean scientist to investigate host innate immune response in duck to Riemerella anatipestifer, an important infectious bacterium affecting the duck industry. In a previous collaborative study, it was shown that R. anatipestifer infection causes 5-75% mortality and induces proinflammatory response. In this report the authors show that R. anatipestifer infection induces specific cytokines called IFN-' and IL-10 in berberine-treated lymphocytes and others like IL-17A, IL-17F, IL-6, and IL-1ß were significantly reduced. Interestingly, berberine-treatment increased survival rates and significantly decreased bacterial burdens in ducks confirming that inflammatory cytokines are strongly associated with R. anatipestifer infection in ducks. This finding will enhance our ability to find a new treatment strategy for R. anatipestifer infection.

Technical Abstract: Riemerella anatipestifer an important infectious bacterium affecting the duck industry, has 5-75% mortality, depending on strain virulence. We previously demonstrated that proinflammatory cytokines are involved in inflammation during, and regulating susceptibility to, R. anatipestifer infection We investigated the effects of the anti-inflammatory compound berberine in duck splenic lymphocytes stimulated with killed R. anatipestifer, and in R. anatipestifer-infected ducks. IL-17A, IL-17F and IL-1ß transcripts were downregulated, and IFN-' and IL-10 transcripts were enhanced in berberine-treated stimulated splenic lymphocytes, compared to stimulated untreated splenic lymphocytes. Similarly, IL-17A, IL-17F, IL-6 and IL-1ß expressions were significantly reduced, and IFN-' and IL-10 expressions significantly upregulated in spleens and livers of R. anatipestiferinfected berberine-treated ducks compared to infected untreated birds Moreover, infected and treated birds showed increased survival rates and significantly decreased bacterial burdens compared to infected untreated birds, confirming that inflammatory cytokines are strongly associated with R. anatipestifer infection in ducks.