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High dietary arginine levels increase arginine utilization by thymocytes and peripheral blood mononuclear cells in broiler chicks
Author(s) -
D'Amato Jennifer L,
Humphrey Brooke D
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.23.1_supplement.907.11
Subject(s) - peripheral blood mononuclear cell , thymocyte , broiler , messenger rna , immune system , medicine , arginine , endocrinology , biology , chemistry , immunology , t cell , biochemistry , amino acid , zoology , gene , in vitro
Arginine (ARG) is utilized by immune cells for protein and nitric oxide synthesis and has a regulatory role in T cell development. In aves, ARG cannot be synthesized de novo, so immune cells are dependent upon acquiring dietary ARG. Therefore, the effect of dietary ARG levels on ARG utilization by thymocytes and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) was determined in broiler chicks. Chicks were fed diets containing low (1.2%) or high (1.35%) dietary ARG. On d 3, 7, 14 and 21 posthatch, ARG transporter mRNA abundance was measured in thymocytes and PBMC by quantitative real‐time PCR. Thymocyte CAT‐1/3 and y+LAT1 mRNA abundance decreased from d3 to d21 (P<0.05). Thymocyte y+LAT2 mRNA abundance was dependent upon the dietary ARG level (P<0.05). Between d3 and d14, 1.2% ARG increased thymocyte y+LAT2 mRNA abundance 2.5‐fold (P<0.05) while 1.35% ARG did not change. PBMC CAT‐3, y+LAT1, and ATB0,+ mRNA abundance decreased from d7 to d21 (P<0.05). PBMC CAT‐1 mRNA abundance was dependent upon the dietary ARG level (P<0.05). On d7, PBMC CAT‐1 mRNA abundance was 2‐fold higher in chicks fed 1.35% ARG than in those fed 1.2% ARG (P<0.05). Thymocytes reduce the abundance of ARG exporter y+LAT2 mRNA and PBMC increase the abundance of ARG importer CAT‐1 mRNA when fed high ARG diets (1.35%). These results suggest that high dietary ARG levels (1.35%) increase ARG availability for immunity. Funds: California Agricultural Research Initiative.