Role of B cells in the expression of genetic resistance to growth of Rous sarcoma in the chicken

Cancer-Associated B Cells in Sarcoma

Despite being one of the first types of cancers studied that hinted at a major role of the immune system in pro- and anti-tumor biology, little is known about the immune microenvironment in sarcoma. Few types of sarcoma have shown major responses to immunotherapy, and its rarity and heterogeneity makes it challenging to study. With limited systemic treatment options, further understanding of the underlying mechanisms in sarcoma immunity may prove crucial in advancing sarcoma care. While great strides have been made in the field of immunotherapy over the last few decades, most of these efforts have focused on harnessing the T cell response, with little attention on the role B cells may play in the tumor microenvironment. A growing body of evidence suggests that B cells have both pro- and anti-tumoral effects in a large variety of cancers, and in the age of bioinformatics and multi-omic analysis, the complexity of the humoral response is just being appreciated. This review explores what is currently known about the role of B cells in sarcoma, including understanding the various B cell populations associated with sarcoma, the organization of intra-tumoral B cells in tertiary lymphoid structures, recent trials in immunotherapy in sarcoma, intra-tumoral immunoglobulin, the pro-tumor effects of B cells, and exciting future areas for research.

Nutritional modulation of immune function in broilers

Collaborative research efforts across disciplines typically result in more insight toward the hypothesis being tested due to the omnibus nature of the projects. For example, nutritional experiments evaluating a nutrient response will benefit greatly by incorporating biochemical, physiological, and immunological endpoints for measurement. Clearly, commercial poultry producers do not have the luxury of focusing on specific disciplines when field problems occur. Hence, in practice interplay exists among nutrition, genetics, management, and diseases. Dietary composition impacts immune function of the chicken. As research in the area of nutritional immunology has increased, it is becoming apparent that nutrient needs for immunity do not coincide with those for growth or skeletal tissue accretion. This review is not a comprehensive assessment of nutrient needs for immunity in the chicken. Rather, this review is concerned with nutritional modulation of immunity in broilers that offers insight for nutritionists and researchers to implement nutritional regimens to reduce the severity of disease and to test or validate nutritional regimens that heighten immunity. Nutritional modulation of the hen diet and in ovo nutrient modulation to improve chick immunity and disease resistance are discussed.

Parabiosis between avian embryos selected for high and low competences of the graft-versus-host reaction

Parabiosis of chicken embryos was conducted to determine if changes in immunological competences could occur by parabiosis between lines of chickens selected for high (H) and low (L) graft-versus-host reaction (GVHR). Eggs of the B9B9 genotype from the H line (H-B9B9) were parabiosed to eggs of the B11B11 from the L line (L-B11B11) and also the H-B11B11 were parabiosed to the L-B9B9. There were significant differences in hatchability between the line-genotype groups. The percentage of blood chimerism of parabionts showed also significant genetic differences. Chimerism was the highest in the H-B11B11 birds and the lowest in the L-B11B11. All chimeric parabionts showed immunological tolerance and almost all nonchimeric parabionts did not. Immunological competence was measured by splenomegaly index (SI) based on GVHR. The SI value of parabionts changed in the direction of the SI value of the partner. The SI value of chimeric parabionts differed significantly from those of nonchimeric parabionts and controls. Antibody response to bovine serum albumin was tested only for the H-B11B11. Antibody titers of parabionts were significantly lower than those of controls.

Parabiosis between avian embryos resistant and susceptible to Rous sarcoma virus

Parabiosis of chicken embryos was used to determine if resistance or susceptibility to Rous sarcoma virus (RSV) tumors could be transferred between RSV-resistant (R) and RSV-susceptible (S) embryos. Eggs from RSV-R and RSV-S lines were parabiosed at 12 days of incubation. One week after hatching the chicks were inoculated in the wing web with RSV. Birds were examined for tumor lesions through 9 weeks of age. Lesion scores of the nonparabiosed RSV-S line were significantly higher than nonparabiosed RSV-R lines. Lesion scores of RSV-R chicks that had been parabiosed to RSV-S chicks were higher than nonparabiosed RSV-R chicks. Lesion scores of RSV-S chicks parabiosed to RSV-R chicks were not different from nonparabiosed RSV-S chicks. These results suggest that the resistance to RSV was not transferred between parabionts but that there was significant transfer of susceptibility from the RSV-S embryos to the RSV-R embryos.

B-haplotype influence on Marek's disease, Rous sarcoma, and lymphoid leukosis virus-induced tumors in chickens

Experiments were conducted to establish whether B-haplotype genes that determine resistance to RSV-induced tumors would also influence resistance to Marek's disease and lymphoid leukosis. Matings of line 6(3) x 15(1) F3 or F4 breeders segregating for the Ea-B locus antigens that are markers for B2 and B5 haplotypes of the B major histocompatibility complex were made to produce B2B2, B2B5, and B5B5 chicks. The chicks were infected with a standard inoculum of one of the three tumor viruses in separate experiments. The B2 haplotype from 6(3) conveyed greater resistance to tumors induced by all three viruses than the B5 from 15(1) chickens. This finding suggests that some gene(s) in the B-haplotype may determine a general ability to resist tumor formation or cause tumor regression.