The Activity of Immunoglobulin Y Anti-Mycobacterium tuberculosis on Proliferation and Cytokine Expression of Rat Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells

OBJECTIVE: It has long been known that chickens, like mammals, are capable of producing antigen-specific immunoglobulin Y (IgY), which functions similar to IgG. The present study was performed to investigate the activity of IgY anti-Mycobacterium tuberculosis on proliferation, interleukin (IL)-2, and interferon (IFN)-γ expression of rat peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). MATERIALS AND METHODS: The activity of IgY anti-M. tuberculosis in different doses (25, 50, and 100 μg/ml) on rat PBMCs proliferation was determined by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide assay. The production of IL-2 and IFN-γ in the PBMC supernatant was determined using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Investigation was performed on mRNA expression of IL-2 and IFN-γ by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). RESULTS: IgY anti-M. tuberculosis significantly increased the proliferation of rat PBMC. Furthermore, IgY anti-M. tuberculosis dose dependently increased IL-2 and IFN-γ production in PBMC, suggesting that pharmacological activities of IgY anti-M. tuberculosis in PBMC may be mediated by regulating the production of cytokines. In the RT-PCR, expression of cytokines such as IL-2 and IFN-γ in PBMC cultures was increased by IgY anti-M. tuberculosis. CONCLUSIONS: We concluded that increasing IL-2 and IFN-γ productions in PBMC was related to IgY anti-M. tuberculosis, stimulating the mRNA transcription (gene expression) of these cytokines which can induce proliferation of PBMC. SUMMARY: Lohman laying hens immunized intramuscularly with antigens of M. tuberculosis can produce specific IgY anti-Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex. IgY anti-M. tuberculosis significantly increased the proliferation of rat peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC). IgY anti-M. tuberculosis dose dependently increased interleukin 2 (IL-2) and interferon (IFN)-γ production in PBMC. In the reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction, expression of cytokines such as IL-2 and IFN-γ in PBMC cultures was increased by IgY anti-M. tuberculosis. The increasing IL-2 and IFN-γ productions in PBMC were related to stimulation on mRNA transcription which can induce proliferation of PBMC. [Image: see text] Abbreviations Used: IgY anti-M. tuberculosis: Immunoglobulin Y anti-Mycobacterium tuberculosis; IL-2: Interleukin-2; IFN-γ: Interferon-γ; PBMCs: Peripheral blood mononuclear cells.