The Relevance of Cytokines for Mucosal Immunity Induced By Dietary Vanadium in the Intestine of Broilers

Yuanxin Deng,Hengmin Cui,Xi Peng

doi:10.4172/2161-0444.1000114

Abstract

Cytokines are key regulators of the immune system that shapes both the innate and adaptive immune responses. Present knowledge allows a deeper understanding of the cytokine network and their complex roles in the development of immune responses. The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of dietary vanadium on the contents of cytokines such as interleukin-2 (IL-2), interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-10 (IL-10), interferon gamma (IFN-γ) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) in the mucosa of different parts of intestines (duodenum, jejunum and ileum) by Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA). A total of 420 one-day-old avian broilers were divided into six groups and fed on a corn-soybean basal diet (control diet) or the same basal diet supplemented with 5 mg/kg, 15 mg/kg, 30 mg/kg, 45 mg/kg and 60 mg/kg vanadium in the form of ammonium metavanadate, respectively. During the experimental period of 42 days, the results showed that the IL-2, IL-10, IFN-γ and TNF-α contents were significantly lower (p<0.05 or p<0.01) in the 30 mg/kg, 45 mg/kg and 60 mg/kg groups than those in the control group, and the IL-6 contents were significantly decreased (p<0.05 or p<0.01) mainly in the 45 mg/kg and 60 mg/kg groups in comparison with those of the control group. It was concluded that dietary vanadium in excess of 30 mg/kg significantly reduced the contents of above cytokines in the intestinal mucosa of broilers, which could impact the function of intestinal mucosal immunity by affecting the pathways that reduced the lymphocyte population and / or lymphocyte activation.

Highlights

Vanadium is a trace element well known as an inhibitor or stimulator of many enzymes and as an insulin-enhancing agent [1,2,3,4]
We have investigated the effects of dietary vanadium on the immune responses in intestines and cecal tonsil
The results show that dietary vanadium in excess of 30 mg/kg reduces T cells population and interleukin-2 (IL-2) contents in the cecal tonsil, and cause cecal tonsil lesions and intestinal oxidative damage [10,16]

Summary

Introduction

Vanadium is a trace element well known as an inhibitor or stimulator of many enzymes and as an insulin-enhancing agent [1,2,3,4]. Lymphocytes produce cytokines and growth factors that play roles in stimulation and regulation of intestinal immune responses. Numerous pathologic processes may disturb immune cell function and lead to endotoxemia, which is one of the strongest factors to stimulate the production of proinflammatory cytokines and growth factors [15]. T- and B-lymphocytes are highly sensitive to cytokines that play a crucial role on the effector functions and homing properties of T and B cells, as well as on their differentiation into memory cells at the immunological synapse [14]. The results show that dietary vanadium in excess of 30 mg/kg reduces T cells population and interleukin-2 (IL-2) contents in the cecal tonsil, and cause cecal tonsil lesions and intestinal oxidative damage [10,16]

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Conclusion