University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

The effect of dietary neonicotinoid supplementation on innate and adaptive immune responses to porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus

Hernandez, Jessica

Content Files
HERNANDEZ-THESIS-2017.pdf

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https://hdl.handle.net/2142/99202

Description

Title
The effect of dietary neonicotinoid supplementation on innate and adaptive immune responses to porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus
Author(s)
Hernandez, Jessica
Issue Date
2017-11-20
Director of Research (if dissertation) or Advisor (if thesis)
Steelman, Andrew
Committee Member(s)
  • Johnson, Rodney
  • Dilger, Ryan
Department of Study
Animal Sciences
Discipline
Animal Sciences
Degree Granting Institution
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Degree Name
M.S.
Degree Level
Thesis
Date of Ingest
2018-03-13T15:21:08Z
Keyword(s)
  • Imidacloprid
  • Neonicotinoids
  • Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus
  • Innate immunity
  • Adaptive immunity
  • α-Bungarotoxin
Abstract
Neonicotinoids are currently the most widely used insecticides in the world to treat crops and seeds in the commercial agricultural industry. Acting as nicotine analogues neonicotinoids signal to α-bungarotoxin (α-BT) sensitive insect nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChR), which are expressed throughout the insect nervous system. The predominant nAChR in the mammalian brain is the α4β2 subunit that is resistant to α-BT but the α7nAChR, which is expressed at much lower levels and has been characterized on immune cells, is α-BT sensitive. Activation of nAChRs can initiate the cholinergic anti-inflammatory pathway (CAP) that has immunosuppressive capabilities. Cultures of porcine bone marrow derived dendritic cells (BMDC) stained with α-BT indicated that CD172a+SLA DR+ dendritic cells expressed the α7nAChR. We hypothesized that exposure to a 5 mg/kg body weight/day diet of the neonicotinoid imidacloprid (IMI) would activate the α7nAChR and the CAP causing suppression of virus-specific immunity to porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV). Over the course of 14 days blood samples were collected and analyzed by flow cytometry, qRT-PCR, and ELISA for cell populations, cytokines, humoral response, α7nAChR expression, and viral RNA. Hypothermia and reductions in body weight were observed in both PRRSV infected and uninfected groups receiving dietary supplementation with IMI. Serum cytokine production of IL-10 was increased in those groups receiving dietary IMI supplementation over the course of the experiment. Furthermore, CD172a+SLA DR+SSClo monocytes had reduced expression of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II (SLA DR) in infected piglets receiving IMI. Finally, elevated levels of virus-specific antibodies were measured at day 14 post infection (p.i.) in IMI treated groups. Infection with PRRSV increased production of virus-specific antibodies, circulating IL-10, and percentage of circulating monocytes and helper T-cells (CD3+CD4+). Additionally, the ability for T-cells (CD3+) to produce interferon (IFN)-γ was increased at day 7 p.i. compared to day 3 p.i. as a result of infection and regardless of dietary IMI supplementation. This is the first study, to our knowledge, to characterize the effects of neonicotinoids on the immune response to a viral pathogen in pigs. Our data indicates that IMI may adversely affect the generation of Type I immunity and increase virus-specific antibody production and promote viremia and viral dissemination.
Graduation Semester
2017-12
Type of Resource
text
Permalink
http://hdl.handle.net/2142/99202
Copyright and License Information
Copyright 2017 Jessica Hernandez

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Graduate Dissertations and Theses at Illinois PRIMARY
Graduate Theses and Dissertations at Illinois
Dissertations and Theses - Animal Sciences