Differential Expression of Key Immune Markers in the Intestinal Tract of Developing Chick Embryos

Research on the immunological development of lymphoid organs in chicks has been extensive, yet a significant gap exists in our understanding of innate immunity during embryonic life within the intestinal tract. This study investigated the developmental trajectory of intestinal immunity in chick embr...

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Main Authors: Shreeya Sharma, Mohammadali Alizadeh, Scott Pratt, Alexis Stamatikos, Khaled Abdelaziz
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-02-01
Series:Veterinary Sciences
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2306-7381/12/2/186
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author Shreeya Sharma
Mohammadali Alizadeh
Scott Pratt
Alexis Stamatikos
Khaled Abdelaziz
author_facet Shreeya Sharma
Mohammadali Alizadeh
Scott Pratt
Alexis Stamatikos
Khaled Abdelaziz
author_sort Shreeya Sharma
collection DOAJ
description Research on the immunological development of lymphoid organs in chicks has been extensive, yet a significant gap exists in our understanding of innate immunity during embryonic life within the intestinal tract. This study investigated the developmental trajectory of intestinal immunity in chick embryos by evaluating basal gene expression levels of key immune markers at embryonic days (ED) 14, 17, and 20. The results indicated variable expression levels of cytokines, antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), and Toll-like receptor (TLRs) genes throughout the intestinal tract. Most cytokines and chemokines exhibited elevated expression in the cecum, while AMPs, including avian-β-defensins (AvBDs) and cathelicidins (CATHs) genes, showed increased levels in the jejunum at ED20. The findings from the developmental trajectory analysis of these genes revealed elevated expression levels of cytokines, including interferon (IFN)-γ, interleukin (IL)-6, IL-13, and transforming-growth factor (TGF)-β in the cecum at ED20. However, no consistent patterns were observed for AvBDs, CATHs, and TLRs, as their expression varied across different developmental stages of the chick embryo. These findings significantly contribute to our understanding of intestinal immune system development in chick embryos and provide a foundation for further research aimed at enhancing immune capabilities, especially in segments with lower expression levels of immunomodulatory genes.
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spelling doaj-art-f7af2536e44e4a0f8c03aad5893c06c52025-08-20T03:12:07ZengMDPI AGVeterinary Sciences2306-73812025-02-0112218610.3390/vetsci12020186Differential Expression of Key Immune Markers in the Intestinal Tract of Developing Chick EmbryosShreeya Sharma0Mohammadali Alizadeh1Scott Pratt2Alexis Stamatikos3Khaled Abdelaziz4Department of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, Clemson University, Clemson, SC 29634, USADepartment of Pathobiology, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON N1G 2W1, CanadaDepartment of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, Clemson University, Clemson, SC 29634, USADepartment of Food, Nutrition, and Packaging Sciences, Clemson University, Clemson, SC 29634, USADepartment of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, Clemson University, Clemson, SC 29634, USAResearch on the immunological development of lymphoid organs in chicks has been extensive, yet a significant gap exists in our understanding of innate immunity during embryonic life within the intestinal tract. This study investigated the developmental trajectory of intestinal immunity in chick embryos by evaluating basal gene expression levels of key immune markers at embryonic days (ED) 14, 17, and 20. The results indicated variable expression levels of cytokines, antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), and Toll-like receptor (TLRs) genes throughout the intestinal tract. Most cytokines and chemokines exhibited elevated expression in the cecum, while AMPs, including avian-β-defensins (AvBDs) and cathelicidins (CATHs) genes, showed increased levels in the jejunum at ED20. The findings from the developmental trajectory analysis of these genes revealed elevated expression levels of cytokines, including interferon (IFN)-γ, interleukin (IL)-6, IL-13, and transforming-growth factor (TGF)-β in the cecum at ED20. However, no consistent patterns were observed for AvBDs, CATHs, and TLRs, as their expression varied across different developmental stages of the chick embryo. These findings significantly contribute to our understanding of intestinal immune system development in chick embryos and provide a foundation for further research aimed at enhancing immune capabilities, especially in segments with lower expression levels of immunomodulatory genes.https://www.mdpi.com/2306-7381/12/2/186chickensembryocytokineantimicrobial peptidesintestinetoll-like receptors
spellingShingle Shreeya Sharma
Mohammadali Alizadeh
Scott Pratt
Alexis Stamatikos
Khaled Abdelaziz
Differential Expression of Key Immune Markers in the Intestinal Tract of Developing Chick Embryos
Veterinary Sciences
chickens
embryo
cytokine
antimicrobial peptides
intestine
toll-like receptors
title Differential Expression of Key Immune Markers in the Intestinal Tract of Developing Chick Embryos
title_full Differential Expression of Key Immune Markers in the Intestinal Tract of Developing Chick Embryos
title_fullStr Differential Expression of Key Immune Markers in the Intestinal Tract of Developing Chick Embryos
title_full_unstemmed Differential Expression of Key Immune Markers in the Intestinal Tract of Developing Chick Embryos
title_short Differential Expression of Key Immune Markers in the Intestinal Tract of Developing Chick Embryos
title_sort differential expression of key immune markers in the intestinal tract of developing chick embryos
topic chickens
embryo
cytokine
antimicrobial peptides
intestine
toll-like receptors
url https://www.mdpi.com/2306-7381/12/2/186
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AT scottpratt differentialexpressionofkeyimmunemarkersintheintestinaltractofdevelopingchickembryos
AT alexisstamatikos differentialexpressionofkeyimmunemarkersintheintestinaltractofdevelopingchickembryos
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