Tissue-specific expression pattern and histological distribution of NLRP3 in Chinese yellow chicken

Pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) play important role in inflammation which means response of the host to stimuli. NOD-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome is involved in the onset and development of inflammation. NLRP3, as one of the most important inflammasome sensors, has significant effect on the regulation of inflammasome activation to avoid the consequences of over activation. Up to date, there are no detailed tissue specific expression and distribution data about NLPR3 in chicken. Here, NLRP3 of Chinese yellow chicken was cloned and sequence analyzed, the polyclonal antibody was produced by purified protein of recombinant prokaryotic expression. Relative expression levels and tissue distribution of NLRP3 were investigated by real-time quantitative PCR and immunohistochemical analysis, respectively. The results showed that NLRP3 gene is highly variable between mammalian and avian. The nucleotide homology of NLRP3 between yellow chicken and Bos taurus, Hainan black goat, Sus scrofa, Callithrix jacchus, Homo sapiens, Macaca mulatta, Mus musculus and Rattus norvegicus were 54.2%, 53.9%, 53.7%, 55.4%, 54.3%, 54.5%, 53.5% and 53.7%. NLRP3 expressed in all detected tissues and higher in the trachea are lung than in other tissues. Cytoplasmic expression of NLRP3 was detected in ciliated epithelial cells, basal cells and cells in lamina propria of trachea, alveolar epithelial cells, cardiac muscle cells, cerebral cortex neurons, epithelial reticular cells of the spleen, and lymphocytes of medulla in stannius follicle, liver cells and the renal tubule epithelial cells. The results will help to elucidate the role of NLRP3 of different tissues in inflammatory diseases of chicken and provide a basis for further investigations in the function and evolution of NLRP3 in different species, which would be helpful for further research on avian inflammatory diseases.