Reduction of mortality in specific-pathogen-free layer chickens by a caprine serum fraction after infection with Pasteurella multocida

Serum Derived Transfer Factor Stimulates the Innate Immune System to Improve Survival Traits in High Risk Pathogen Scenarios

Preclinical Research Transfer Factors (TFs) are low molecular weight (<5,000 daltons) biological response mediators. In the present study, a serum derived TF improved the ability of the recipient animal to survive high-risk infectious challenges (salmonellosis and canine parvoviral enteritis (CPV)) by altering the host's cytokine response profile. Mice mortally challenged with 5,000 colony-forming units of Salmonella experienced a group mortality of 73% while mice treated with a single 5 mg dose of the TF demonstrated a significant decrease in morbidity (7%, p ≤ 0.01). The splenic bacterial load in untreated mice was over 10,000 times higher than that in the TF treated mice. Twenty-four hours post-administration, the treated murine population expressed a rapid temporal increase in serum IL-6 (26-fold) and INF-γ (77-fold) concentrations. IL-6 can act as a critical signal regulating action against bacterial pathogens. A comparative double-blind study performed using dogs confirmed to be undergoing a canine parvovirus challenge showed that when conventional supportive therapy was supplemented with a single 5 mg TF dose there was a reduction (p ≤ 0.01) in group mortality (68% of the TF treated group survived versus 32% of the placebo group), an observation consistent with the observed increase in INF-γ, a cytokine associated with promoting antiviral activity. Drug Dev Res 78 : 189-195, 2017. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Interleukin-6 expression in response to innate immune regulatory factor stimulation

Innate immune regulatory factor (IIRF) is a serum-derived biological response modifier, or agent that modifies/bolsters the pathogenic immune response. IIRF has been shown to provide protection (e.g., increase host survival) against a variety of pathogenic challenges including Salmonella typhimurium and Pasteurella multocida. In this report, we analyzed cytokine production in mice, whole blood and cultured cells in response to IIRF challenge. When IIRF was administered to mice, it stimulated the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines. Both IL-6 and IL-10 were temporally stimulated when IIRF was introduced. Serum IL-6 peaked at 3h (3957pg/ml) before returning to baseline by 8h, while IL-10 began to appear at 3h, peaked at 8h (734.5pg/ml), and returned to baseline by 36h. IIRF challenge also increased the expression of two positive acute phase proteins: haptoglobin increased 61-fold, while serum amyloid A levels increased ∼3500-fold in mice. A whole blood immunoassay indicated the effect of IIRF on production of IL-6 was dose- and time-dependent. Anti-asialo GM 1.1 provided to partially (>95%) eliminate functional natural killer cells elevated IL-6 in whole blood. IIRF was also able to induce the production of IL-6 in cultured human monocytic THP-1 cells. Based upon this study and previously reported data, we propose that IIRF activates the innate immune response via induction of IL-6 production.

Immune system and cardiac functions of progeny chicks from dams fed diets differing in zinc and manganese level and source

This research was conducted to evaluate immunity (experiments 1 to 3), cardiac function, and ascities resistance (experiment 4) of progeny chicks from broiler breeders fed diets differing in trace metal level and source. Broiler breeders received a control diet (75 mg of Zn and 83 mg of Mn added/kg of diet), the control diet supplemented with inorganic Zn (75 mg/kg of diet) and Mn (80 mg/kg of diet), the control diet supplemented with organic Zn (75 mg/kg of diet) and inorganic Mn (80 mg/kg of diet), or the control diet supplemented with organic Zn (75 mg/kg of diet) and Mn (80 mg/kg of diet) in experiments 1, 2, and 3. In experiment 4, the control diet and diet supplemented with organic sources of Zn and Mn were fed to broiler breeders. Immune organ weights, circulating granulocytes vs. agranulocytes, CD4 and CD8 positive T cells, cutaneous basophil hypersensitivity, and antibody titers to SRBC and breeder vaccinations were measured in progeny. Some supplemental mineral treatments increased (P < or = 0.05) cutaneous basophil hypersensitivity and relative bursa weight. All supplemental mineral treatments increased (P < or = 0.05) relative thymus weight. In experiment 4, electrocardiograph, pulse oximetry, heart rate, hematocrits, ventricle weights, and ascites incidence were measured in progeny reared in a cold-stress environment. The supplemental organic minerals increased (P < or = 0.05) left ventricle plus septum and total ventricular weights. Although progeny ascites incidence did not differ between breeder mineral treatments, breeders fed supplemental Zn and Mn sired progeny with improved cardiac functional capacity and some improvements in immunity.

Reducing mortality in Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium-infected mice with a tripeptidic serum fraction

Salmonellosis-induced mortality in female Swiss Webster mice decreased significantly when tripeptidic immunostimulant (TPI) was administered prophylactically. Prophylactic benefits developed in a dose-dependent manner wherein 15 mg of TPI given 1 day before challenge reduced mortality by 70%.