Mitochondrial and Glycolytic Capacity of Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells Isolated From Diverse Poultry Genetic Lines: Optimization and Assessment

Dexamethasone has profound influence on the energy metabolism of porcine blood leukocytes and prevents the LPS-induced glycolytic switch

In farm animals, little is known about the relationship between energy metabolism of immune cells and their activation state. Moreover, there has recently been evidence that dexamethasone, a powerful glucocorticoid-based drug, can exert its anti-inflammatory effects by interfering with the energy metabolism of immune cells, but the mechanisms are not yet fully understood. To address these knowledge gaps, we explored the connection between the energy metabolism of porcine peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and their response to pro- and anti-inflammatory stimulation with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and dexamethasone (DEX) in vitro. Interventions in the metabolism of PBMCs with the glycolysis inhibitor 2-deoxy-D-glucose or the HIF-1α inhibitor KC7F2 reduced the LPS-induced TNF-α production, but the mitochondrial ATP synthesis inhibitor oligomycin showed no significant effect. The anti-inflammatory action of DEX was not affected by any of the inhibitors. To investigate the metabolic actions of LPS and DEX in PBMCs, we evaluated glycolysis and mitochondrial respiration following 24 hours stimulation using the Seahorse XFe96 flux analyzer. Our results revealed significantly higher glycolysis in LPS-treated PBMCs, but provided no evidence for a change in mitochondrial respiration. In contrast, DEX reduced LPS-induced glycolysis and, especially when administered alone, significantly lowered mitochondrial respiration. Pretreatment with KC7F2 counteracted the effects of LPS and DEX on glycolysis, and reduced mitochondrial respiration regardless of the inflammatory state of the PBMCs. Gene expression analysis identified the glucose transporter SLC2A3, and the tricarboxylic acid cycle genes IDH1 and SDHB as the main switches for the antagonistic metabolic actions of LPS and DEX, which are closely associated with the inflammatory state of PBMCs.

Exploring the impact of 2-hydroxyestradiol on heme oxygenase-1 to combat oxidative stress in rheumatoid arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease characterized by joint inflammation driven by complex signaling pathways. Recent therapeutic approaches focus on small molecules targeting intracellular signaling to address specific physiological aspects of the disease. Previously we identified a small molecule, 2-hydroxyestradiol (2-OHE2), an inhibitor of TNF-α by an in-silico study. In the present study, our aim was to explore the efficacy of 2-OHE2 by studying the proteome profile of rheumatoid arthritis fibroblast-like synoviocytes (RA-FLS) using SWATH-MS and validate its therapeutic potential in RA by in-vitro studies. Oxidative stress was assessed using various biochemical assays, and cellular bioenergetics were analyzed with the Seahorse XFe96 Analyzer. We identified 396 differential proteins by SWATH-MS, and 82 showed significant changes. PharmMapper analysis revealed the association of 2-OHE2 with HMOX1 (HO-1), confirmed by SWATH-MS data. Also, we revealed that 2-OHE2 enhanced the expression of HO-1 and lowered oxidative stress via activating the Nrf2/KEAP1/HO-1 pathway. Further, 2-OHE2 has been found to boost cellular respiration and ATP production. Our findings thus suggest that 2-OHE2 possesses therapeutic potential as an antioxidant for RA treatment, effective at low dosages.

Evaluating a Salmonella Typhimurium, Eimeria maxima, and Clostridium perfringens coinfection necrotic enteritis model in broiler chickens: repeatability, dosing, and immune outcomes

Coccidiosis and necrotic enteritis negatively impact poultry production, making challenge model repeatability important for evaluating mitigation strategies. Study objectives were: 1) evaluate Salmonella Typhimurium-Eimeria maxima-Clostridium perfringens necrotic enteritis coinfection model repeatability and 2) investigate E. maxima dose and early S. Typhimurium challenge on immune responses. Three trials using Ross 308 chicks assigned to 12 cages/trial (7 chicks/cage) in wire-floor brooders were completed. Trials 1 and 2 determined E. maxima dose for necrotic enteritis challenge in trial 3. Chicks in trials 1 and 2 were inoculated with 0 (control), 5, 15, or 25,000 sporulated E. maxima M6 oocysts on d 14 and jejunal lesion scores evaluated on d 20. In trial 3, chicks were assigned to control or necrotic enteritis challenge (42 chicks/group). Necrotic enteritis challenge chicks were inoculated with 1 × 105 colony forming units (CFU) S. Typhimurium on d 1, 15,000 E. maxima oocysts on d 14, and 1 × 108 CFU C. perfringens on d 19 and 20 with lesion scoring on d 22. Bird and feeder weights were recorded throughout each trial. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) were isolated from 1 chick/cage at baseline (all trials), 4 chicks/dose (trials 1 and 2) or 8 chicks/challenge (trial 3) 24 h post-inoculation (pi) with E. maxima for immunometabolic assays and immune cell profiling. Data were analyzed by mixed procedure (SAS 9.4) with challenge and timepoint fixed effects (P ≤ 0.05, trends 0.05 ≤ P ≤ 0.01). Inoculating chicks with 15,000 E. maxima oocysts increased d 14 to 20 FCR 79 points (trials 1 and 2; P = 0.009) vs. unchallenged chicks and achieved a target lesion score of 2. While C. perfringens challenge reduced trial 3 performance, average lesion scores were <1. Salmonella inoculation on d 1 tended to increase PBMC ATP production 41.6% 24 hpi with E. maxima vs. chicks challenged with E. maxima only (P = 0.06). These results provide insight for future model optimization and considerations regarding S. Typhimurium's effect on E. maxima immune response timelines.

Implementing real-time immunometabolic assays and immune cell profiling to evaluate systemic immune response variations to Eimeria challenge in three novel layer genetic lines

Introduction

Evaluating differences in immune responses to Eimeria spp. between poultry genetic lines could be valuable for understanding favorable traits to address coccidiosis, a costly poultry disease. The objective was to compare peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) immunometabolism and composition during Eimeria challenge in three distinct and highly inbred genetic lines; Leghorn Ghs6, Leghorn Ghs13, and Fayoumi M5.1.

Methods

At hatch, 180 chicks (60/ line) were placed in wire-floor cages (10 chicks/cage) and fed a commercial diet. Baseline PBMC were isolated on d21 (10 chicks/line) and 25 chicks/line were inoculated with 10X Merck CocciVac®-B52 (Kenilworth, NJ), creating 6 genetic line × Eimeria groups total. Chicks were euthanized on 1, 3, 7, and 10d post-inoculation (pi; 5 chicks/ line × Eimeria group) for PBMC isolation with body weight and feed intake recorded throughout. Immunometabolic assays to determine PBMC ATP production profiles and glycolytic activity were implemented along with flow cytometric immune cell profiling. Genetic line × Eimeria challenge, and line´challenge fixed effects were analyzed using the MIXED procedure (SAS 9.4; P ≤ 0.05).

Results and Discussion

Before inoculation, M5.1 chicks had 14.4-25.4% greater average daily gain (ADG) with 19.0-63.6% increased monocyte/macrophage⁺, Bu-1⁺ B cell, and CD3⁺ T cell populations compared to both Ghs lines (P < 0.0001) but similar immunometabolic phenotype. The Eimeria main effect reduced ADG by 61.3% from 3-7dpi (P = 0.009) except in M5.1 chicks, where no ADG difference due to challenge was found. At 3dpi, Eimeria-challenged M5.1 chicks had 28.9 and 33.2% reduced PBMC CD3⁺ T cells and CD3⁺CD8α⁺ cytotoxic T cells than unchallenged chicks, suggesting early and preferential recruitment from systemic circulation to tissues local to Eimeria challenge (i.e., intestine; P ≤ 0.01). Both Ghs lines displayed 46.4-49.8% T cell reductions at 10dpi with 16.5-58.9% recruitment favoring underlying CD3⁺CD4⁺ helper T cells. Immunometabolic responses in Eimeria-challenged Ghs6 and Ghs13 chicks were characterized by a 24.0-31.8% greater proportion of ATP from glycolysis compared to unchallenged counterparts at 10dpi (P = 0.04). These results suggest that variable T cell subtype recruitment timelines in addition to altered systemic immunometabolic requirements may work synergistically to determine favorable immune responses to Eimeria challenge.

Advances on genetic and genomic studies of ALV resistance

Avian leukosis (AL) is a general term for a variety of neoplastic diseases in avian caused by avian leukosis virus (ALV). No vaccine or drug is currently available for the disease. Therefore, the disease can result in severe economic losses in poultry flocks. Increasing the resistance of poultry to ALV may be one effective strategy. In this review, we provide an overview of the roles of genes associated with ALV infection in the poultry genome, including endogenous retroviruses, virus receptors, interferon-stimulated genes, and other immune-related genes. Furthermore, some methods and techniques that can improve ALV resistance in poultry are discussed. The objectives are willing to provide some valuable references for disease resistance breeding in poultry.