Tissue expression and developmental regulation of chicken cathelicidin antimicrobial peptides

Abstract

Cathelicidins are a major family of antimicrobial peptides present in vertebrate animals with potent microbicidal and immunomodulatory activities. Four cathelicidins, namely fowlicidins 1 to 3 and cathelicidin B1, have been identified in chickens. As a first step to understand their role in early innate host defense of chickens, we examined the tissue and developmental expression patterns of all four cathelicidins. Real-time PCR revealed an abundant expression of four cathelicidins throughout the gastrointestinal, respiratory, and urogenital tracts as well as in all primary and secondary immune organs of chickens. Fowlicidins 1 to 3 exhibited a similar tissue expression pattern with the highest expression in the bone marrow and lung, while cathelicidin B1 was synthesized most abundantly in the bursa of Fabricius. Additionally, a tissue-specific regulatory pattern was evident for all four cathelicidins during the first 28 days after hatching. The expression of fowlicidins 1 to 3 showed an age-dependent increase both in the cecal tonsil and lung, whereas all four cathelicidins were peaked in the bursa on day 4 after hatching, with a gradual decline by day 28. An abrupt augmentation in the expression of fowlicidins 1 to 3 was also observed in the cecum on day 28, while the highest expression of cathelicidin B1 was seen in both the lung and cecal tonsil on day 14. Collectively, the presence of cathelicidins in a broad range of tissues and their largely enhanced expression during development are suggestive of their potential important role in early host defense and disease resistance of chickens.

Chicken cathelicidins as potent intrinsically disordered biocides with antimicrobial activity against infectious pathogens

“…Our analysis revealed that cathelicidins in local chickens are expressed in many organ and tissues, and these results were compatible with data reported in earlier studies (Achanta et al, 2012;Lynn et al, 2004;van Dijk et al, 2008;Wang et al, 2011;Xiao et al, 2006a;Zhao et al, 2001). In fact, CATH-1, -2 and -3 were shown to be expressed in a wide range of tissues, including the respiratory tract, gastrointestinal tract and multiple lymphoid organs.…”

“…In fact, CATH-1, -2 and -3 were shown to be expressed in a wide range of tissues, including the respiratory tract, gastrointestinal tract and multiple lymphoid organs. Expression for all three genes was found to be high in lung, bone marrow, bursa and cecal tonsils (Achanta et al, 2012;Lynn et al, 2004;van Dijk et al, 2005). CATH-1 and -3 also showed high expression levels in the testis, and abundant expression for CATH-2 was found in the uropygial gland.…”

Effects of Virus-associated Molecular Patterns on the Expression of Cathelicidins in the Hen Vagina

“…The expression level of CATH1, -2 and -3 was high in the lung and digestive tract, whereas the high expression of CATHB1 was identified in the bursa of Fabricius (Goitsuka et al, 2007;Achanta et al, 2012). Thus, it is likely that the differences in the expression profiles between CATHB1 and the other CATHs in the vagina resemble to the patterns of CATHs expression in other organs.…”

Different effect of doxycycline and enrofloxacin on cathelicidin-3 mRNA expression in chickens with or without probiotics supplementation

“…Broad spectrum antibiotics have a significant impact on the microbiota in the gastro-intestinal tract but their effect on the innate immunity of poultry in terms of antimicrobial peptides was not evaluated. CATH3 mRNA was described in many tissues of broilers (Achanta et al, 2012). In the cited study the highest expression levels were found in the lungs, caecal tonsils, proventriculus and the Fig.…”

“…Administration of doxycycline did not provoke changes in the levels of CATH3 mRNA. Statistically significant up-regulation of mRNA of the studied gene was found in the jejunum of enrofloxacin Ross 308 chickens in com- (Achanta et al, 2012); H6PD -gene, encoding hexose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase; HPRT -gene, encoding hypoxanthine phosphoribosyltransferase 1; NCBI -the National Centre for Biotechnology Information; Ta -optimal annealing temperature.…”