The Antibacterial Activity of Erythrocytes From Goose (Anser domesticus) Can Be Associated With Phagocytosis and Respiratory Burst Generation.

Youcheng Yang,Minxuan Yang,Feng Li,Jiajun Chen,Linqing Lu,Zizheng Xu,Zhendong Qin,Jun Li,Li Lin

doi:10.3389/fimmu.2021.766970

Abstract

In the lumen of blood vessels, there are large numbers of erythrocytes, which are approximately 95% of the total blood cells. Although the function of erythrocytes is to transport oxygen in the organism, recent studies have shown that mammalian and teleost erythrocytes are involved in the immune response against bacterial infections. However, the immune mechanisms used by avian erythrocytes are not yet clear. Here, we demonstrated that erythrocytes from goose have the ability to phagocytose as well as conduct antimicrobial activity. Firstly, we revealed the phagocytosis or adhesion activity of goose erythrocytes for latex beads 0.1-1.0 μm in diameter by fluorescence microscopy, and scanning and transmission electron microscopy. The low cytometry results also proved that goose erythrocytes had a wide range of phagocytic or adhesion activity for different bacteria. Followed, the low cytometry analysis data further explored that the goose erythrocytes contain the ability to produce reactive oxygen species (ROS) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) in response to bacterial stimulation, and also up-regulated the expression of NOX family includes NOX1 and NOX5. Finally, we also found that goose erythrocytes showed a powerful antibacterial activity against all the three bacteria, meanwhile the stimulation of three kinds of bacteria up-regulated the expression of inflammatory factors, and increased the production of antioxidant enzymes to protect the cells from oxidative damage. Herein, our results demonstrate that goose Erythrocytes possess a certain phagocytic capacity and antioxidant system, and that the antimicrobial activity of erythrocytes can occurred through the production of unique respiratory burst against foreign pathogenic bacteria, which provides new clues to the interaction between bacteria and avian erythrocytes.

Highlights

As an herbivorous waterfowl, goose meat and eggs are rich in nutritional value and have a unique taste
The scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis was performed to characterize the phagocytosis of goose erythrocytes, and the results showed that some 0.8 mm latex spheres attached to the surface of individual erythrocytes and formed invaginations, which were partially phagocytosed (Figure 2C)
The ability to phagocytose large foreign bodies or invasive microorganisms can protect the organism from foreign pathogenic microorganisms and harmful particulate matter

Summary

Introduction

Goose meat and eggs are rich in nutritional value and have a unique taste. Goose is reared in Central Europe and Asia due to the economic importance of their meat, eggs, and down feathers [1, 2]. The annual global consumption of goose meat is approximately 2.23 million tons [3]. As human demand for eggs and meat are increased, and the scale and density of global livestock are increased rapidly. A series of bacterial are increased, and the environmental pollution caused by high density of goose, which all compromise animal health and immune response, already caused severe economic losses [5]. It is of great research significance to study the mechanisms of prevention and control of bacterial infectious diseases in goose populations

Methods

Results

Conclusion