Immunity Against Avian Influenza Viruspanax Ginseng Polysaccharide (GPS) Can Improve Immunity Against H9N2 Avian Influenza Virus in Chickens

The humoral immunization potential of panax ginseng polysaccharide (GPS) against H9N2 avian influenza virus (H9N2 AIV) in chickens was investigated. The effects of GPS treatment before and during H9N2 AIV infection were determined in chicken embryo fibroblast (CEF) by MTT (3(4, 5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2, 3-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide) assays and quantitative RT-PCR analysis of MHC and cytokine expression. The percentages of CD3+, CD4+ and CD8+ T cells in peripheral blood lymphocytes and serum antibody titers were examined in vivo. High expressions of MHCII and the cytokines IL-2, IL-4, and IL-10 were observed in CEF treated with GPS before and during H9N2 infection. These results indicated that the anti-viral activity of GPS was enhanced by pretreatment of CEF and that GPS promotes early humoral immune responses in young chickens