ARS | Publication request: MOLECULAR AND FUNCTIONAL CHARACTERIZATION OF A NOVEL CHICKEN CYTOKINE: ITS ROLE IN GAMMA/DELTA T-CELL GROWTH AND COCCIDIA DISEASE RESISTANCE

Submitted to: American Association of Avian Pathologists
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: June 30, 1998
Publication Date: N/A

Technical Abstract: Since cell-mediated immunity is regulated by various cytokines, the identification of the nature of the cytokine which is involved in the host immune response to coccidia is crucial for the development of an immunological control strategy. To this end, we have recently cloned and characterized a T-cell growth factor (TCGF) which promotes the proliferation of gamma,delta TCR+ lymphocytes. The RT-PCR demonstrated that the TCGF-encoding gene is expressed in many tissues including the spleen, intestine, and muscle. The activation of spleen cells with Con A enhanced the expression of the TCGF gene transcripts in a time-dependent manner. In order to investigate the role of TCGF in coccidiosis, the normal chickens were treated with various doses of recombinant TCGF and challenged with live E. acervulina. The results indicated that TCGF enhances the host resistance to a coccidia challenge infection.