The Activity of Immunoglobulin Y Anti‑Mycobacterium tuberculosis on Proliferation and Cytokine Expression of Rat Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells

Objective: It has long been known that chickens, like mammals, are capable of producing antigen‑specific immunoglobulin Y (IgY), which functions similar to IgG. The present study was performed to investigate the activity of IgY anti‑Mycobacterium tuberculosis on proliferation, interleukin (IL)‑2, and interferon (IFN)‑γ expression of rat peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). Materials and Methods: The activity of IgY anti‑M. tuberculosis in different doses (25, 50, and 100 μg/ml) on rat PBMCs proliferation was determined by 3‑(4,5‑dimethylthiazol‑2‑yl)‑2,5‑diphenyl tetrazolium bromide assay. The production of IL‑2 and IFN‑γ in the PBMC supernatant was determined using enzyme‑linked immunosorbent assay. Investigation was performed on mRNA expression of IL‑2 and IFN‑γ by reverse transcription‑polymerase chain reaction (RT‑PCR). Results: IgY anti‑M. tuberculosis significantly increased the proliferation of rat PBMC. Furthermore, IgY anti‑M. tuberculosis dose dependently increased IL‑2 and IFN‑γ production in PBMC, suggesting that pharmacological activities of IgY anti‑M. tuberculosis in PBMC may be mediated by regulating the production of cytokines. In the RT‑PCR, expression of cytokines such as IL‑2 and IFN‑γ in PBMC cultures was increased by IgY anti‑M. tuberculosis. Conclusions: We concluded that increasing IL‑2 and IFN‑γ productions in PBMC was related to IgY anti‑M. tuberculosis, stimulating the mRNA transcription (gene expression) of these cytokines which can induce proliferation of PBMC.