Premium
Enhanced cytokine expression and upregulation of inflammatory signaling pathways in broiler chickens affected by wooden breast myopathy
Author(s) -
Xing Tong,
Luo Dan,
Zhao Xue,
Xu Xinglian,
Li Jiaolong,
Zhang Lin,
Gao Feng
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
journal of the science of food and agriculture
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.782
H-Index - 142
eISSN - 1097-0010
pISSN - 0022-5142
DOI - 10.1002/jsfa.10641
Subject(s) - inflammation , myopathy , immune system , broiler , proinflammatory cytokine , tumor necrosis factor alpha , downregulation and upregulation , systemic inflammation , signal transduction , biology , endocrinology , cytokine , medicine , immunology , microbiology and biotechnology , biochemistry , zoology , gene
Abstract Background Wooden breast (WB) myopathy in broiler chickens is a growing challenge for the poultry industry. Previous multi‐omic data have implied that the pathogenesis of WB is associated with the activation of immune system and inflammatory response. However, the intricate mechanisms are not fully understood. This study was therefore conducted to systematically investigate the morphology, expression of cytokines as well as the underlying signaling pathways regulating the inflammatory response in pectoralis major (PM) muscle of WB myopathic broilers. Results wHistopathological changes, increased plasma creatine kinase and lactate dehydrogenase activities, elevated myeloperoxidase activity and overproduction of nitric oxide in muscle indicated the enhancement of muscle damage and inflammation in WB broilers. The messenger RNA (mRNA) expressions of inflammatory cytokines were dysregulated in PM muscle and contents of interleukin (IL)‐1β, IL‐8 and tumor necrosis factor‐α were increased in serum of WB myopathic broilers, indicating this myopathy was associated with immune disorder and systemic inflammation response. Additionally, toll‐like receptor (TLR) levels were upregulated, the nuclear factor kappa‐light‐chain‐enhancer of activated B cells (NF‐κB) signaling pathway was activated and the mRNA expression levels of downstream inflammatory mediators were enhanced in PM muscle of WB myopathy affected birds. Conclusion The results indicated an immune disorder and a systemic inflammation response in WB myopathic broilers, which might be related to a synergetic effect of TLRs and NF‐κB pathway. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry