Research Article

Immunology and Cell Biology (1994) 72, 115–122; doi:10.1038/icb.1994.18

Development of T cell immune responsiveness in the chicken

John W Lowenthal1, Terrie Connick1, Peter G McWaters1 and Jennifer J York1

1CSIRO Division of Animal Health, Animal Health Research Laboratory, Parkville, Victoria, Australia

Correspondence: John Lowenthal, CSIRO Division of Animal Health, Animal Health Research Laboratory, Private Bag No. 1, Parkville, Vic. 3052, Australia.

Received 13 May 1993; Accepted 24 June 1993.

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Abstract

Chickens are highly susceptible to infection by opportunistic pathogens during the first few days after hatching. This observation has generally been attributed to an immaturity of the immune system; however, the mechanisms responsible are not known.

This study investigated the ability of T cells from chickens of various ages to respond to immune stimulation. Splenic T cells were cultured in vitro and stimulated with various mitogens including Con A, PHA and monoclonal anti-CD3 antibody. T cells obtained from adult chickens proliferated extensively and produced high levels of IL-2, haemopoietic growth factors and IFN following stimulation. In contrast, it was found that T cells from I day old chickens failed to proliferate and secrete cytokines when similarly cultured. Reactivity to mitogens gradually developed between days 2 and 4, and by 1 week of age the level of responsiveness was equivalent to that observed with T cells obtained from adult chickens.

Whereas T cells from 1 day old chicks were found to be phenotypically mature and capable of binding mitogens as effectively as T cells from adult birds, they were functionally immature as assessed by their inability to proliferate or produce cytokines following immune stimulation. In addition, cells present in the spleen of 1 day old chicks constitutively produced a soluble inhibitor that prevented the proliferation of stimulated adult T cells. The production of inhibitor decreased dramatically by the second day post-hatching which coincided with an enhanced ability of T cells to respond to immune stimulation. These findings suggest that the period of transient T cell unresponsiveness to immune stimulation is mediated by a functional immaturity of T cells and the production of a soluble inhibitor(s).

Keywords:

chicken, cytokine, haemopoietic growth factor, immune response, immunofluorescence, interferon, interleiikin-2, mitogen, spleen, T cell.

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