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. 2023 Aug 13;10(8):521.
doi: 10.3390/vetsci10080521.

Effect of Penthorum Chinense Pursh Compound on AFB1-Induced Immune Imbalance via JAK/STAT Signaling Pathway in Spleen of Broiler Chicken

Qin Lu  1 , Yu Hu  2   3 , Fazul Nabi  2 , Zhenzhen Li  2   4 , Habibullah Janyaro  5 , Wenyan Zhu  6   7 , Juan Liu  1   2
Affiliations

Effect of Penthorum Chinense Pursh Compound on AFB1-Induced Immune Imbalance via JAK/STAT Signaling Pathway in Spleen of Broiler Chicken

Qin Lu et al. Vet Sci. .

Abstract

Aflatoxin B1(AFB1) is the main secondary metabolite produced by Aspergillus flavus, which is highly toxic, carcinogenic, mutagenic and teratogenic. It can induce immune imbalance in animals or humans. Penthorum chinense Pursh (PCP) is a traditional herbal plant that has been used as a hepatoprotective drug with a long history in China. Based on the theory of traditional Chinese Medicine, we prepared Penthorum chinense Pursh Compound (PCPC) by combining four herbal medicines: 5 g Penthorum chinense Pursh, 5 g Radix bupleuri, 1 g Artemisia capillaris Thunb and 1 g Radix glycyrrhizae. The role of the Penthorum chinense Pursh Compound (PCPC) in preventing AFB1-induced immune imbalance in broiler chickens was studied. A total of 180 broiler chickens were equally distributed in six groups: controls, AFB1, YCHD and high-, medium- and low-dose PCPC treatment groups. After 28 days, broilers were anesthetized, and serum spleen and thymus samples were collected for analysis. Results show that AFB1 significantly increased and decreased the relative organ weight of the spleen and thymus, respectively. Pathological section of hematoxylin/eosin (H&E) stained spleen sections showed that AFB1 resulted in splenic tissue damage. Both the serum levels of Immunoglobulin A (IgA) and Immunoglobulin G (IgG) were suppressed in the AFB1 group. IL-6 was elevated in the AFB1 group. The balance between pro-inflammatory cytokines (IFN-γ and IL-2) and anti-inflammatory cytokine (IL-4) was disturbed by AFB1. The apoptosis-related protein and JAK/STAT pathway-related gene expression indicated that AFB1-induced apoptosis via JAK/STAT pathway. PCPC has proven its immunoprotective effects by preventing AFB1-induced immune imbalance. PCPC can be applied as a novel immune-modulating medicine in broiler chickens. It can be applied as a novel immune modulator in veterinary clinical practice.

Keywords: AFB1; Broiler chicken; JAK/STAT signaling pathway; Penthorum chinense Pursh Compound; apoptosis; immune imbalance.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
The relative weight of the spleen and thymus of the immune organs. The protective effect of PCPC on spleen and thymus in broiler chickens fed a feed containing AFB1. Results were expressed as mean ± SD. (A) Spleen; (B) Thymus. (* p < 0.05, ** p < 0.01; and non-significant (ns) p > 0.05).
Figure 2
Figure 2
The figure shows H&E staining of the spleen of broiler chickens (100×). Letters “a” indicates white pith, “b” indicates red pith and “c” indicates cavities.
Figure 3
Figure 3
The level of serum immunoglobulin in AFB1-induced immune imbalance in broiler chickens. Results were expressed as mean ± SD. (A) IgA; (B) IgG. (** p < 0.01; and non-significant (ns) p > 0.05).
Figure 4
Figure 4
Cytokine levels in spleen of broiler chickens. Results were expressed as mean ± SD. (A) IFN-γ; (B) IL-2; (C) IL-4; (D) IL-6. (** p < 0.01).
Figure 5
Figure 5
Expression of the protein connected with apoptosis. Results were expressed as mean ± SD. (A) Bcl-2; (B) Bcl-xl; (C) Bax; (D) Caspase-3. (* p < 0.05, ** p < 0.01).
Figure 6
Figure 6
Protective effects of PCPC on apoptosis due to AFB1 by interfering with the JAK/STAT pathway. The JAK/STAT-associated gene mRNA expression was analyzed by real-time quantitative PCR (qPCR). Relative mRNA result expressed as mean ± SD. (A) JAK2, (B) JAK3, (C) STAT3 and (D) STAT5. (* p < 0.05, ** p < 0.01, non-significant (ns) p > 0.05).
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