The chicken upper respiratory tract is the portal of entry for respiratory pathogens including avian influenza virus (AIV). There is a paucity of information about the role of airway epithelial cells in the induction of antiviral responses in the chicken trachea. A better understanding of the role of these cells in the initiation of innate responses may improve prophylactic or therapeutic strategies for control of viral infections. The present study aimed to characterize antiviral innate responses in chicken tracheal epithelial cells (cTECs) induced by TLR ligands. The results demonstrated that stimulation of cTECs with TLR ligands induced antiviral responses, and subsequently reduced the replication of AIV in cTECs. Additionally, stimulated cTECs were able to influence the function of other cells such as macrophages. Overall, these results provided evidence that cTECs mount antiviral responses after stimulation with TLR ligands through IRF7 and NF-κB signaling pathways, leading to activation of other cells, such as macrophages.
Keywords: Avian influenza; Chicken; Epithelial cells; Innate immunity; Trachea.
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