Effect of Acute Heat Stress on the mRNA Levels of Cytokines in Broiler Chickens Subjected to Embryonic Thermal Manipulation

Abstract

Heat stress significantly impacts the immunity and cytokine expression of chickens. However, the effects of embryonic thermal manipulation (TM) on cytokine expression in broiler chickens (broilers) is unclear. The objective of the current study was to evaluate the effects of TM on the splenic mRNA expression dynamics of certain cytokines-namely, IFN-α, IFN-β, IFN-γ, IL-4, IL-8, IL-15, IL-16, IL-17, and IL-18-in broilers during subsequent exposure to acute heat stress (AHS). TM was performed by elevating the incubation temperature to 39 °C at 65% relative humidity (RH) for 18 h daily during embryonic days (ED) 10-18. On post-hatch day 28, AHS was carried out for 7 h at 40 °C. At 0 h and after 1, 3, 5, and 7 h of AHS, splenic tissues were collected from all study groups to evaluate mRNA expression by relative-quantitative real-time (RT)-PCR. Plasma was collected to measure IL-4, IL-8, and IFN-γ levels. At 0 h, TM significantly reduced the basal mRNA level of IFN-β and the plasma level of IFN-γ and IL-8. Moreover, AHS significantly decreased IFN-β in control chicks, decreased IL-4 in both TM and control chicks, and increased IFN-γ and IL-16 in TM chicks. IFN-α, IL-8, IL-15, IL-17, and IL-18 expression all significantly increased during AHS in both TM and control chicks, but expression dynamics were improved in TM chicks for all cytokines (except IL-17). AHS resulted in increased plasma IFN-γ levels in TM chicks only, and increased IL-8 levels at 3 and 5 h of AHS in TM chicks, but at 7 h in control chicks. Lastly, 3 h of AHS increased IL-4 plasma levels in control chicks. The results of this study may indicate that TM has a long-term effect on cytokine expression dynamics of broilers, especially during AHS. Therefore, TM may improve heat tolerance acquisition by increasing the expression of signaling proteins important to tissue stability and to repair mechanisms that are employed during and/or after heat stress recovery.

Keywords: acute heat stress; broiler; interferons; interleukins; thermal manipulation.

Figure 1

Effect of thermal manipulation (TM) during broiler embryogenesis on post-hatch body weights. * Within the same day, values ± SD of TM and control groups are significantly different (p < 0.05).

Figure 2

Impact of AHSF at 40 °C for 1, 3, 5, and 7 h on post-hatch day 28 on splenic mRNA levels of (A) IFN-α, (B) IFN-β, and (C) IFN-γ in broiler chickens subjected to TM (n = 5). The values in the chart indicate folds changes of mRNA levels compared to the control groups at 0 h before AHS. ^a,b Within the same point of time, values ± SD of TM and control groups with different superscripts are significantly different (p < 0.05). ^x–y Within the same treatment group and between different points of time, values ± SD with different superscripts are significantly different (p < 0.05).

Figure 3

Impact of AHS at 40 °C for for 1, 3, 5, and 7 h on post-hatch day 28 on the splenic mRNA levels of (A) IL-4, (B) IL-8, and (C) IL-15 in broiler chickens subjected to TM (n = 5). The values in the chart indicate folds of mRNA levels compared to the control groups at 0 h before AHS. ^a,b Within the same point of time, values ± SD of TM and control groups with different superscripts are significantly different (p < 0.05). ^x–z Within the same treatment group and between different points of time, values ± SD with different superscripts are significantly different (p < 0.05).

Figure 4

Effects of AHS at 40 °C for 1, 3, 5, and 7 h on post-hatch day 28 on the splenic mRNA levels of (A) IL-16, (B) IL-17, and (C) IL-18 in broiler chickens subjected to TM (n = 5). The values in the chart indicate folds of mRNA levels compared to the control groups at 0 h before AHS. ^a,b Within the same point of time, values ± SD of TM and control groups with different superscripts are significantly different (p < 0.05). ^x–z Within the same treatment group and between different points of time, values ± SD with different superscripts are significantly different (p < 0.05).