Immunologic synergism with IL-2 and effects of cCHMIs on mRNA expression of IL-2 and IFN-γ in chicken peripheral T lymphocyte

Two compound Chinese herbal medicinal ingredients (cCHMIs) were prepared, respectively, with epimedium polysaccharide plus propolis flavone (cCHMIs 1) and astragalus polysaccharide plus ginsenoside (cCHMIs 2). In animal immune experiment, Newcastle disease vaccine was mixed, respectively, with two cCHMIs and IL-2 to vaccinate 15-day-old chicken in experimental groups. On days 7, 14, 21 and 28 after vaccination, the dynamic changes of serum antibody titers were tested by micro-method. In gene expression experiment, each cCHMIs, at three concentrations, was added into cultured chicken peripheral T lymphocyte. After cultivation of 7 h, the expression of IL-2 mRNA in the cell, 24 h, IFN-γ mRNA, were determined by semi-quantitative RT-PCR assay. The results showed that two cCHMIs, whether single or cooperative injection with IL-2, could significantly raise the antibody titers, while immunologic synergisms of two cCHMIs with IL-2 were unconspicuous. cCHMs 1 at three doses and cCHMIs 2 at high dose could remarkably promote the expression of IL-2 mRNA in chicken T lymphocyte, two cCHMIs at three doses, the expression of IFN-γ mRNA, which could explain why the immunologic synergism of cCHMIs with IL-2 was not obvious.