Effect of a Cultures of Aspergillus oryzae on Inflammatory Response and mRNA Expression in Intestinal Immune-Related Mediators of Male Broiler Chicks

Abstract

Effect of Aspergillus oryzae (CAO) culture on systemic inflammatory response and mRNA expression of immune-related mediators in intestine was studied in male broiler chicks. Feeding CAO alleviated enhancement of early inflammatory response such as changes in acute phase substance and growth performance during immunological stress induced by lipopolysaccharide and Sephadex. Furthermore, changes in mRNA expression of immune-related mediators in the upper and lower intestine at 5 and 14 days of age were investigated in chicks fed a diet with antibiotics, CAO or without both as control. The CAO and antibiotic feeding lowered interferon (IFN)-γ and interleukin (IL)-1β mRNA expression compared to the control group. The expressions of toll like receptor (TLR)-4 mRNA in the antibiotic and CAO fed group were greater than that of the control group at 5 days of age, but not at 14 days of age. The findings suggest that CAO has anti-inflammatory effect and changes in IFN-γ, IL-1β and TLR-4 mRNA in immune-related cells of the gut in the CAO fed chicks appears to be similar to that of the antibiotics fed group. These immune-related mediators in the intestine may be a useful marker to select alternative to antibiotics.