Immune-related gene expression in the kidneys and spleens of goslings infected with goose nephritic astrovirus

Wankun Wu; Siyu Qiu; Han Huang; Rong Xu; Endong Bao; Yingjun Lv

Poultry Science (Apr 2021)

Immune-related gene expression in the kidneys and spleens of goslings infected with goose nephritic astrovirus

Wankun Wu,
Siyu Qiu,
Han Huang,
Rong Xu,
Endong Bao,
Yingjun Lv

Affiliations

Wankun Wu: MOE Joint International Research Laboratory of Animal Health and Food Safety, College of Veterinary Medicine, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
Siyu Qiu: MOE Joint International Research Laboratory of Animal Health and Food Safety, College of Veterinary Medicine, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
Han Huang: MOE Joint International Research Laboratory of Animal Health and Food Safety, College of Veterinary Medicine, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
Rong Xu: MOE Joint International Research Laboratory of Animal Health and Food Safety, College of Veterinary Medicine, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
Endong Bao: MOE Joint International Research Laboratory of Animal Health and Food Safety, College of Veterinary Medicine, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
Yingjun Lv: Corresponding author:; MOE Joint International Research Laboratory of Animal Health and Food Safety, College of Veterinary Medicine, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China

Journal volume & issue: Vol. 100, no. 4
p. 100990

Abstract

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Goose nephritic astrovirus (GNAstV) was first isolated in 2018, causing great economic losses to the goose industry. However, little is known about host immune response to GNAstV infection. In this study, forty 2-day-old goslings were randomly divided into 2 groups: infection and negative control groups. Each gosling in the infection group was challenged with 0.5 mL GNAstV-JSHA intramuscularly, whereas the gosling in the negative control group was inoculated with the same amount of PBS. Histopathological changes and virus location in the spleen and kidney were examined, and the expression of immune-related genes was determined by qPCR at 7 and 14 d after infection. Our results showed that GNAstV infection induced degeneration and necrosis of splenic lymphocytes and renal epithelial cells, and these cells were positive for the virus. In addition, GNAstV infection induced the activation of pattern recognition receptors (RIG-I, MDA-5, and TLR3) and key adaptor molecules (MyD88, MAVS, and IRF7) in the spleen and kidney, and upregulated the gene expression of interferon-α in the spleen and antiviral proteins (MX1, OASL, and IFITM3) in the spleen and kidney. Moreover, high expression levels of interleukin (IL)-1β and IL-8 in the spleen and iNOS in the spleen and kidney were found. These results indicated that GNAstV infection activated host innate immune response. Furthermore, GNAstV infection increased the expression levels of CD8+, MHCI, and MHCII, indicating that adaptive immune response was activated. Besides, TGF-β was highly expressed in the spleen and kidney, which may be an immune evasion strategy of GNAstV to cause infection. Interestingly, both IL-1β and IL-6 mRNA levels were decreased in the kidney, which may help reduce kidney lesions. This is the first study to report changes in immune-related gene expression in response to GNAstV infection, and our results provide insights into viral pathogenesis.

Published in Poultry Science

ISSN: 0032-5791 (Print); 1525-3171 (Online)
Publisher: Elsevier
Country of publisher: United States
LCC subjects: Agriculture: Animal culture
Website: https://www.journals.elsevier.com/poultry-science

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