Differential activation of intraepithelial lymphocyte-natural killer cells in chickens infected with very virulent and vaccine strains of infectious bursal disease virus

• Published in: Developmental and comparative immunology 2018-10, Vol.87, p.116-123
• Main Authors: Jahromi, Mohammad Zareian, Bello, Muhammad Bashir, Abdolmaleki, Mostafa, Yeap, Swee Keong, Hair-Bejo, Mohd, Omar, Abdul Rahman
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Activating receptors; Animal diseases; Animal vaccines; CD3 antigen; CD3-/28.4+ IEL-NK cells; CD69 antigen; Cell activation; Cells; Chickens; Infections; Infectious bursal disease; Infectious bursal disease virus; Infectious diseases; Inhibitory receptors; Interleukin 18; Ionomycin; Lymphocytes; Natural killer cells; Pathogenesis; Poultry; Strains (organisms); Vaccination; Vaccines; Viruses
• ISSN: 0145-305X; 1879-0089
• DOI: 10.1016/j.dci.2018.06.004

To gain insights into the role of CD3-/28.4+ intraepithelial lymphocytes-natural killer (CD3-/28.4+IEL-NK) cells during infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV) infection, characterisation of the cells was performed following infection with different strains of the virus. In vitro treatment with IL-18 or ionomycin/PMA successfully stimulated and activated the cells via a significant increase in the expression of CD69, B-Lec, CHIR-AB1 and NK-lysin. Similarly, chickens infected with the vaccine strain of IBDV also up-regulated the expression of CD69, B-Lec, CHIR-AB1 and NK-lysin in CD3-/28.4+ IEL-NK cells up to 3 days post infection (dpi) and down-regulated the expression of the inhibitory receptor B-NK at 3 dpi. On the contrary, infection with the very virulent IBDV (vvIBDV) strain lead to a reduced activation of the cells by down-regulating the expression of the CD69, CHIR-AB1 and NK-lysin especially at 1 dpi. These findings altogether demonstrate the differential activation of CD3-/28.4+IEL-NK cells in chicken following infection with the vaccine or very virulent strains of IBDV. The study therefore provides an important clue into the differential pathogenesis of IBDV infection in chicken. Further studies are however required to determine the functional importance of these findings during IBDV vaccination and infection. •15% of the total Intraepithelial lymphocytes (IELs) in the chicken duodenum are CD3− and 28.4+.•Very virulent and vaccine stains of IBDV differentially activate CD3-/28.4+ avian IEL-NK cells.•Activation of avian IEL-NK cells is associated with increased expression of activating receptors.•CD3-/28.4+ avian IEL-NK cells do not support the replication of IBDV.