Local intestinal immune response including NLRP3 inflammasome in broiler chicken infected with Campylobacter jejuni after administration of Lactobacillus reuteri B1/1

Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of Lactobacillus reuteri B1/1 on the local intestinal immune response in the cecum of chickens experimentally infected by C. jejuni CCM6189. Day-old chicken were divided into four groups: control (C), L. reuteri B1/1 (LR), C. jejuni CCM6189 (CJ), and combined L. reuteri B1/1+ C. jejuni CCM6189 (LRCJ). Cecal samples were collected during necropsy 12, 24, 48 hours after infection by C. jejuni (relative expression of NLRP3, caspase-1, interleukins, TLR4) and 4 as well as 7 day post infection (relative percentage of CD4+, CD8+, IgM). L. reuteri B1/1 significantly stimulated gene expression of NLRP3 inflammasome and other selected molecules, thereby increasing the capacity of the immune system to react more effectively to the infection of C. jejuni in chicken. In addition, an increase of IgM and the percentage of CD8+ influenced by L. reuteri was observed.