Quercetin improves immune function in Arbor Acre broilers through activation of NF-κB signaling pathway

Abstract

Quercetin, the main component of flavonoids, has a wide range of biological actions. Quercetin can be made into a variety of additives for practice, because of the stable chemical structure and water-soluble derivatives. This study was intended to explore the effects of quercetin on immune function and its regulatory mechanism in Arbor Acre broiler to provide a practical basis for improving poultry immune function and figure out the optimum supplementation as functional feed additives. A total of 240 one-day-old healthy Arbor Acre broilers, similar in body weight, were randomly allotted to 4 treatments with 6 replicates, 10 broilers in each replicate and fed with diets containing quercetin at 0, 0.02, 0.04, and 0.06% for 6 wk. Blood and immune organs (spleen, thymus, and bursa) were collected from chickens at the end of the experiment. Growth performance, immune organs indexes, contents of serum immune molecules, splenic T lymphocyte proliferative responses, and expression of immune related genes were evaluated. The results showed that dietary quercetin had no significant effect ( P > 0.05) on growth performance of broilers. Compared with control, 0.06% quercetin supplementation in diet significantly increased spleen index and thymus index ( P < 0.05). It also increased the secretion of immune molecules including immunoglobulin A (IgA), interleukin-4 (IL-4) ( P < 0.001), immunoglobulin M (IgM) ( P = 0.007), complement component 4 (C4) ( P = 0.001), and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) ( P < 0.05). On the other hand, 0.02% quercetin supplementation significantly increased complement component 3 (C3) ( P < 0.05). Additionally, both 0.04 and 0.06% quercetin supplementation significantly increased expression of TNF-α, TNF receptor associated factor-2 (TRAF-2), TNF receptor superfamily member 1B (TNFRSF1B), nuclear factor kappa-B p65 subunit (NF-κBp65), and interferon-γ (IFN-γ) mRNA ( P < 0.05), and expression of NF-κB inhibitor-alpha (IκB-α) mRNA were significantly decreased ( P < 0.05). Thus, quercetin improved immune function via NF-κB signaling pathway triggered by TNF-α.

Redox Homeostasis in Poultry: Regulatory Roles of NF-κB

“…It also increased the proportion of B cells, leading to promotion of Ig secretion with increased serum IgA and IgG levels and serum ND virus antibody titers [ 355 ]. In healthy Arbor Acre broilers, quercetin supplementation (0.04% and 0.06% for 6 weeks) was shown to significantly increase the expression of TNF-α, TNF receptor associated factor-2 (TRAF-2), TNF receptor superfamily member 1B (TNFRSF1B), nuclear factor kappa-B p65 subunit (NF-κBp65), and interferon-γ (IFN-γ) mRNA, while expression of NF-κB inhibitor-alpha (IκB-α) mRNA was significantly decreased [ 356 ]. Ginsenosides, the major constituents of ginseng with unique biological activities, were shown to promote proliferation of chicken primordial germ cells through protein kinase C (PKC)-involved activation of NF-κB [ 357 ].…”

Effect of walnut ( Juglans sigillata ) oil on intestinal antioxidant, anti‐inflammatory, immunity, and gut microbiota modulation in mice

“…Mice in all four groups were weighed using standard electronic balance on day 0, 14, and 28, respectively, and observations were recorded. Later on, the weight of each euthanized mouse was first recorded, then, spleen was dissected, dried with filter paper, weighed, and the immune organ (spleen) index was calculated using the recommended formula: Immune organ index (spleen: %) = immune organ weight/ carcass weight × 100, (Yang et al, 2020).…”

Microwave-Assisted Enzymatic Extraction of Flavonoids from Armeniaca mume Sieb. Blossom and Their Immunomodulating Effect in Mice with DSS-Induced Colitis

“…IFN-γ can also stimulate the expression of a range of inflammatory mediators and immune mediators. IFN-γ induces the expression of MHC molecules, inhibits viral replication, and activates macrophages [ 30 ]. IL-2 can participate in autoimmune reaction or inflammatory processes [ 31 ].…”