Journal
MOLECULAR IMMUNOLOGY
Volume 46, Issue 7, Pages 1517-1526Publisher
PERGAMON-ELSEVIER SCIENCE LTD
DOI: 10.1016/j.molimm.2008.12.015
Keywords
Antimicrobial peptide; Cathelicidin; Chicken; Heterophils; Innate Immunity; Salmonella enteritidis
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The biological functions of avian cathelicidins are poorly defined. In mammals, cathelicidins have shown to possess potent broad-range antimicrobial activity as well as immunomodulatory activities. Therefore, we investigated the microbicidal activities and localization of Cathelicidin-2 in non-infected and Salmonella-challenged broiler chickens. Using immunohistochemistry, Cathelicidin-2 was shown to be abundantly present in heterophils, localized in the large rod-shaped granules, but absent in other peripheral blood cells and intestinal epithelial cells. Cathelicidin-2 synthesis was observed to be initiated at the early promyelocyte stage. Considerable infiltration of Cathelicidin-2 containing heterophils was observed in the jejunum of Salmonella enteritidis-challenged broilers within 8 h post-infection. Heterophils were shown to release mature Cathelicidin-2 peptide upon stimulation with Solmonello-derived LPS in a time-dependent way. Processing of the Cathelicidin-2 precursor was mediated by serine proteases with a divalent cation dependency. Cathelicidin-2 peptide showed potent bactericidal and fungicidal activity against all tested microorganisms, including chicken-specific Salmonella isolates. These results underscore the importance of avian heterophils as a first line of defence against invading pathogens and implicate that via heterophilmediated release, cathelicidins may greatly contribute to avian innate immunity. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
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