Quantitative analyses of genes associated with mucin synthesis of broiler chickens with induced necrotic enteritis

Abstract

Clostridial infection of the intestine can result in necrotic enteritis (NE), compromising production and health of poultry. Mucins play a major role in protecting the intestinal epithelium from infection. The relative roles of different mucins in gut pathology following bacterial challenge are unclear. This study was designed to quantify the expression of mucin and mucin-related genes, using intestinal samples from an NE challenge trial where birds were fed diets with or without in-feed antimicrobials. A method for quantifying mucin gene expression was established using a suite of reference genes to normalize expression data. This method was then used to quantify the expression of 11 candidate genes involved in mucin, inflammatory cytokine, or growth factor biosynthesis (IL-18, KGF, TLR4, TFF2, TNF-α, MUC2, MUC4, MUC5ac, MUC5b, MUC13, and MUC16). The only genes that were differentially expressed in the intestine among treatment groups were MUC2, MUC13, and MUC5ac. Expression of MUC2 and MUC13 was depressed by co-challenge with Eimeria spp. and Clostridium perfringens. Antimicrobial treatment prevented an NE-induced decrease in MUC2 expression but did not affect MUC13. The expression of MUC5ac was elevated in birds challenged with Eimeria spp./C. perfringens compared with unchallenged controls and antimicrobial treatment. Changes to MUC gene expression in challenged birds is most likely a consequence of severe necrosis of the jejunal mucosa.

Gene expression and morphological changes in the intestinal mucosa associated with increased permeability induced by short‐term fasting in chickens

“…Villus height (μm), crypt depth (μm) and villus area (μm 2 ) were measured using an Olympus digital camera and Video Pro 32 imaging software (Leading Edge Pty). Quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) processes including isolation and quantification were performed according to Forder, Nattrass, Geier, Hughes, and Hynd () and Kitessa et al. () as described in detail below.…”

Intestinal microbiome of poultry and its interaction with host and diet

“…Interestingly, as the severity of necrotic enteritis becomes greater, the expression of mucin Downloaded by [New York University] at 12:25 03 December 2014 gene (e.g., MUC2) decreases. 48 Such decline in mucogenesis is probably due to the severe necrosis of the intestinal mucosa which results in extensive shedding of goblet cells.…”

“…48 This layer of mucin consists of an outer loose layer in which microorganisms can colonize and an inner compact layer which repels most bacteria. 49 As a component of the intestinal mucosal innate immune system, the mucus layer prevents gut microorganisms from penetrating into the intestinal epithelium and serves as the first line of defense against infection.…”

Inorganic or organic zinc and MUC-2, IgA, IL-17, TGF-β4 gene expression and sIgA secretion in broiler chickens

“…Not only do mucin oligosaccharides bind microbes, but in some cases, they also have either direct antimicrobial activity or carry other antimicrobial molecules. MUC2 has been shown to be important in the establishment of the mucus layer (Forder, Nattrass, Geier, Hughes, & Hynd, 2012). Secretory IgA is secreted via mucosal epithelial cells and needs to be retained in the immediate mucosal environment (Herich, 2016;Linden, Sutton, Karlsson, Korolik, & McGuckin, 2008).…”