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Cadmium is a highly toxic metal threatening human and animal health. N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC) was reported to play a positive role in disease treatment and immune regulation. The present study aimed to explore the effect of NAC administration on Cd-induced cytotoxicity and abnormal immune response on chicken peritoneal macrophages. Peritoneal macrophages isolated from Isa Brown male chickens were exposed to CdCl 2 (20 or 50 μ M) and/or NAC (500 μ M) for different time periods. Results showed that Cd caused dose-dependent damage on chicken peritoneal macrophages characterized by morphologic and ultrastructural alterations, increased cell apoptosis, reactive oxygen species accumulation and mitochondrial injury. Cd exposure inhibited phagocytic activity of chicken peritoneal macrophages, and promoted transcriptional status of pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-1 β , IL-6 and TNF-α) in both unactivated macrophages and cells in response to lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimuli. Pretreatment with 500 μ M NAC did not affect growth of normal chicken peritoneal macrophages, while remarkably inhibiting Cd-caused cell death, oxidative stress, and mitochondrial membrane depolarization. NAC pretreatment significantly prevented intracellular Cd2+ accumulation in the Cd-exposed macrophages. Inhibitory effects of NAC on Cd-induced ROS accumulation and mitochondrial injury on chicken macrophages were confirmed in HD-11 macrophage cell line. In addition, NAC pretreatment promoted the phagocytic activity of Cd-exposed chicken peritoneal macrophages, and significantly inhibited expression of pro-inflammatory factors (IL-1 β , IL-6 and TNF-α) in both Cd-exposed macrophages and Cd-treated cells in response to LPS stimuli. In conclusion, the present study firstly demonstrated the antagonistic effect of NAC against Cd-caused damage and abnormal immune response on chicken peritoneal macrophages. Protective effect of NAC on chicken macrophages was highly related to its suppression on Cd-induced ROS overproduction, pro-inflammatory reaction and intracellular Cd2+ accumulation. • Cadmium (Cd) exposure led to dose-dependent cytotoxicity and abnormal immune response in chicken peritoneal macrophages. • N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC) pretreatment antagonized Cd cytotoxicity in both chicken peritoneal macrophages and HD-11 cells. • NAC pretreatment protected the immune response in Cd-exposed chicken peritoneal macrophages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chicken erythrocytes participated in immunity, but the role of erythrocytes in the immunity of Marek's disease virus (MDV) has not been reported related to the immunity genes. The purpose of this study was to screen and verify the immune-related genes of chicken erythrocytes which could be proven as a biomarker in MDV. The datasets (GPL8764-Chicken Gene Expression Microarray) were downloaded from the GEO profile database for control and MDV infected chickens to obtain differentially expressed genes (DEGs) through bioinformatics methods. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) was performed to find enriched pathways, including Gene Ontology (GO). Based on enriched pathways, the top 19 immune-related genes were screened-out and process further to construct the protein-protein interaction (PPI) networks. The screened genes were validated on RT-PCR and qPCR. Results suggested that the mRNA transcription of Toll-like receptors 2, 3, 4, 6 (TLR2, TLR3, TLR4, TLR6), major histocompatibility complex-II (MHCII), interleukin-7 (IL-7), interferon-βeta (IFN-β), chicken myelomonocytic growth factor (cMGF) and myeloid differentiation primary response 88 (MyD88) were significantly up-regulated. The expression of toll-like receptor 5, 7 (TLR5, TLR7) interleukin-12 (IL-12 p40), interleukin-13 (IL-13), and interferon-αlpha (IFN-α) were significantly down-regulated in the erythrocytes of the infected group (P < 0.05). In contrast, the expression of toll-like receptor-1, 15, 21 (TLR1, TLR15, TLR21), major histocompatibility complex I (MHCI) and Tumor necrosis factor receptor (TNFR)-associated factor 6 (TRAF6) were not significant. In conclusion, it has been verified on qRT-PCR results that 19 immune-related genes, which included TLRs, cytokines and MHC have immune functions in MDV infected chickens. Image 1 • Role of erythrocytes in the immunity of Marek's disease virus (MDV) has not been reported related to the immunity genes. • Integrated bioinformatics methods identified the important genes expressed in MDV. • Based on enriched pathways, the top 19 immune-related genes were screened-out. • The expression of 19 immune-related genes verified on qRT-PCR. • Immune genes, including TLRs, cytokines and MHC, have immune functions in MDV infected chickens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]