Impact of CpG oligodeoxynucleotide stimulation on percentage of T and B cells in chicken

TLR stimulation in chickens has been shown to play a role in the initiation and regulation of innate and adaptive immune responses. The aim of this study was to use flow cytometry to establish the percentage of T and B subset in blood and lymphoid organs in chicks after CpG oligodeoxynucleotide (ODN) stimulation. It was demonstrated that the percentages of CD3(+), CD4(+), TCR gamma delta(+) cells and Bu-1(+)MHC class II+ cells in blood 24 h post-injection were significantly higher than in the control groups. It was also shown that the percentages of CD3(+) and CD4(+) cells in the spleen at 48 h post-injection were significantly higher than in control groups. The percentage of Bu-1(+) cells in the bursa of Fabricius after CpG ODN stimulation (98.38 +/- 0.84) was significantly higher than that found in the non-CpG ODN control group (94.54 +/- 2.51) (p <= 0.05). The results indicate that class B CpG ODN increases the percentage of both T (especially CD4(+) cells) and B cells.