Effect of Dietary Vanadium on Cecal Tonsil T Cell Subsets and IL-2 Contents in Broilers

Abstract

The purpose of this 42-day study was to investigate the effects of dietary excess vanadium on intestinal immune function by histopathological observation of cecal tonsil and changes of the cecal tonsil T cell subsets by method of flow cytometry. Four hundred twenty 1-day-old avian broilers were divided into six groups and fed on a corn-soybean basal diet as control diet or the same diet amended to contain 5, 15, 30, 45, and 60 mg/kg vanadium supplied as ammonium metavanadate. In comparison with those of control group, lymphocytes in the lymphatic nodule of cecal tonsil were apparently decreased in 45 and 60 mg/kg groups. The percentage of CD(3)(+) T cells was decreased (p < 0.05) in 45 mg/kg group at 28 and 42 days of age and significantly decreased (p < 0.01) in 60 mg/kg group at 28 and 42 days of age. The percentages of CD(3)(+)CD(4)(+) and CD(3)(+)CD(8)(+) T cells were markedly decreased (p < 0.05 or p < 0.01) in 60 mg/kg group from 14 to 28 days of age and were decreased (p < 0.05) in 45 mg/kg group at 28 and 42 days of age. However, changes of the CD(4)(+)/CD(8)(+) ratio were not significant. Meanwhile, the cecal tonsil interleukin-2 (IL-2) contents were decreased (p < 0.05 or p < 0.01) in 45 and 60 mg/kg groups from 14 to 42 days of age. It was concluded that dietary vanadium in excess of 30 mg/kg reduced the percentages of cecal tonsil T cells subsets and IL-2 contents, and caused cecal tonsil lesions, which impaired cecal tonsil function and impacted the local mucosal immune function of the intestines in broilers.

Effect of dietary vanadium on small intestinal morphology in broilers

“…Our previous studies have proven that dietary vanadium in 30, 45 and 60 mg/kg can impact the local mucosal immune function of the intestine in broilers [14] and lead to a body weight loss [16], which is consistent with the negative effect of vanadium on the small intestines in broilers in the present study.…”

“…Our previous researches have focused on the effect of vanadium in diets on the population of T cells, the content of cytokines and oxidative stress in small intestine [14][15][16], while the effect of dietary vanadium on small intestinal morphology has been rarely reported at present. The absorptive functions of the intestine are related to its morphology and any alterations in morphology may predispose the intestine to function disorder [17][18][19].…”

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

“…Other biological functions of vanadium and vanadium compounds as anti-tumor drugs, anti-parasitic agents and their estrogenic actions, reflecting recently medicinal applications of this element, and their availability and safety for clinical use have also been described recently [6]. In addition, our studies show that excessive vanadium strongly negatively affects the normal cellular immunity [7][8][9][10].…”

Effects of low-protein diets supplemented with indispensable amino acids on growth performance, intestinal morphology and immunological parameters in 13 to 35 kg pigs

“…The percentage of CD3 + T cells was decreased along with the decreasing dietary CP level. CD3 + molecules are the surface marker of mature T cells and represent the population of mature T cells (Deng et al, 2011). The decreasing CD3 + T cells in pigs fed low-CP diet suggested there were lower number of mature T cells in peripheral blood.…”