Endocrine control of immune response to salmonella antigen in hen oviduct

家禽业最近的问题之一是鸟类和鸡蛋受到沙门氏菌的污染。通常，对外源因子的免疫应答过程包括通过主要组织相容性复合体（MHC）II类表达细胞的抗原呈递，通过该MHC信号刺激T细胞，随后激活B细胞，以及通过B细胞产生抗体。增强生殖器官的免疫功能，对预防禽自身和蛋的感染和污染具有重要意义。本研究的目的是确定生殖器官的免疫功能的调节性腺类固醇激素的机制，以及免疫功能如何发挥作用，保护生殖器官免受沙门氏菌抗原。结果表明，编码IgG和MHC Ⅱ类分子的mRNA在输卵管中均有表达。雌激素增加了IgG mRNA的表达以及T和B细胞的数量，并且还增加了卵黄IgY。雌激素对免疫功能的这种增强作用特异性地发生在雌激素作用的靶器官。此外，免疫功能对沙门氏菌抗原的应答性得到证实，因为该抗原的注射增强了卵巢中的MHC II类表达。这些结果表明，输卵管是雌激素增强免疫反应的诱导部位，这些器官也可诱导对沙门氏菌抗原的免疫反应。

One of the recent problems in poultry industry is the contamination of birds and eggs by salmonella organisms. Generally, the process of immune response to foreign agents includes, antigen presentation by major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II expressing cells, stimulation of T cells by this MHC signals followed by B cell activation, and antibody production by B cells. It is important to enhance immune functions in the reproductive organs to protect the infections and contamination of birds themselves and eggs. The aim of this study was to determine the mechanism by which immune functions in the reproductive organs are regulated by gonadal steroids and how the immune function play roles in protection of reproductive organs from salmonella antigen. The results showed that the mRNAs encoding IgG and MHC class II were expressed in the oviduct. Estrogen increased IgG mRNA expression as well as the population of T and B cells, and also it increased yolk IgY. Such enhancive effect of estrogen on immune functions occurred specifically in the target organs for estrogen. Furthermore, responsiveness of immune functions to salmonella antigen was confirmed because the injection of this antigen enhanced MHC class II expression in the ovary. These results suggested that the oviduct is the inducible site of immunoreactions that are enhanced by estrogen, and the immune response to salmonella antigen could be also induced in these organs.