Establishment of a novel probe-based RT-qPCR approach for detection and quantification of tight junctions reveals age-related changes in the gut barriers of broiler chickens

Tight junctions (TJs) play a dominant role in gut barrier formation, therefore, resolving the structures of TJs in any animal species is crucial but of major importance in fast growing broilers. They are regulated in molecular composition, ultrastructure and function by intracellular proteins and the cytoskeleton. TJ proteins are classified according to their function into barrier-forming, scaffolding and pore-forming types with deductible consequences for permeability. In spite of their importance for gut health and its integrity limited studies have investigated the TJs in chickens, including the comprehensive evaluation of TJs molecular composition and function in the chicken gut. In the actual study sequence-specific probes to target different TJ genes (claudin 1, 3, 5, 7, 10, 19, zonula occludens 1 (ZO1), occludin (OCLN) and tricellulin (MD2)) were designed and probe-based RT-qPCRs were newly developed. Claudin (CLDN) 1, 5, ZO1 and CLDN 3, 7, MD2 were engulfed in multiplex RT-qPCRs, minimizing the number of separate reactions and enabling robust testing of many samples. All RT-qPCRs were standardized for chicken jejunum and caecum samples, which enabled specific detection and quantification of the gene expression. Furthermore, the newly established protocols were used to investigate the age developmental changes in the TJs of broiler chickens from 1–35 days of age in the same organ samples. Results revealed a significant increase in mRNA expression between 14 and 21days of age of all tested TJs in jejunum. However, in caecum, mRNA expression of some TJs decreased after 1 day of age whereas some TJs mRNA remained constant till 35 days of age. Taken together, determining the segment-specific changes in the expression of TJ- proteins by RT-qPCR provides a deeper understanding of the molecular mechanisms underpinning pathophysiological changes in the gut of broiler chickens with various etiologies.