Down-regulation of common cytokine receptor gamma chain inhibits inflammatory responses in macrophages stimulated with Riemerella anatipestifer

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

Submitted to: Developmental and Comparative Immunology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/20/2018
Publication Date: 6/1/2018
Citation: Afrin, F., Fernandez, C., Flores, R., Kim, W.H., Jeong, J., Chang, H., Kim, S., Lillehoj, H.S., Ming, W. 2018. Down-regulation of common cytokine receptor gamma chain inhibits inflammatory responses in macrophages stimulated with Riemerella anatipestifer. Developmental and Comparative Immunology. 81:225-234. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dci.2017.12.009.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dci.2017.12.009

Interpretive Summary: Limited information on the role of various immune mediators in duck species hinders our understanding of host-pathogen interactions in disease processes in duck. Riemerella anatipestifer infection is a significant disease confronting the duck industry worldwide. R. anatipestifer infection leads to high mortality and weight loss, and consequently to major economic losses in duck farmers. In this report, ARS scientists collaborated with scientists at a South Korean university to study the host immune response of duck infected with R. anatipestifer infection. The result showed that one of major host cytokine called interleukin (IL)-17A was upregulated in ducks following Riemerella infection. In general IL-17A cytokine is produced mainly by IL-17A-producing CD4+ T helper cells, also called Th17 cells and plays a critical role in host protective immunity against various microbial pathogens and tissue inflammation. Furthermore, these scientists showed that IL-17-mediated inflammation is affected by the soluble form of common cytokine receptor gamma chain (gamma-c). Together, these results implicate the role of IL-17 cytokine and the cytokine receptor gamma-c in R. anatipestifer infection in ducks. Further studies in host response and the nature of cytokines involved in R. anatipestifer infection will lead to logical immunological treatment strategy against this important bacterial infection.

Technical Abstract: Th17-cell-mediated inflammation is affected by the soluble form of common cytokine receptor gamma chain (gamma-c). We previously suggested that inflammatory cytokines including interleukin (IL)-17A are associated with Riemerella anatipestifer infection, which a harmful bacterial pathogen in ducks. Here, the expression profiles of membrane-associated gamma-c (du-gamma-c-a) and soluble gamma-c (du-gamma-c-b) in R. anatipestifer-stimulated splenic lymphocytes and macrophages, and in the spleens and livers of R. anatipestifer-infected ducks, were investigated. In vitro and in vivo results indicated that the expression levels of both forms of gamma-c were increased, showing that marked increases were detected in the expression of the du-gamma-c-b form rather than the du-gamma-c-a form. Treatment with gamma-c-specific siRNA downregulated mRNA expression of Th17-related cytokines, including IL-17A and IL-17F, in duck splenic macrophages stimulated with R. anatipestifer, whereas the expressions of interferon (IFN)-gamma and IL-2 were enhanced. The results showed that the upregulation of gamma-c, especially the du-gamma-c-b form, was associated with expression of Th17-related cytokines during R. anatipestifer infection.