Primordial germ cell-derived macrophages as a platform to study host-pathogen interactions

Chickens play a crucial role in global food security but are susceptible to a plethora of avian and zoonotic pathogens. Understanding the contribution of pathogen and host factors during infection is important for the design of strategies to control avian diseases, but it is hampered by the lack of reliable and varied avian cell lines for in vitro studies. Macrophages are key components of the innate immune system. They serve as a first line of defense against many infectious agents and help to orchestrate adaptive immune responses. Primary macrophages derived from chickens are limited in number, short-lived in culture, and difficult to genetically manipulate.

Here, we established a protocol where chicken primordial germ cells are differentiated into macrophage-like cells, which provide a continuous in vitro supply of functionally active macrophages.

Chicken primordial germ cell-derived macrophages (PGCdMs) had similar molecular, transcriptional, and functional characteristics to chicken bone-marrow-derived macrophages (BMDMs). PGCdMs phagocytosed and killed Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium, a zoonotic pathogen commonly transmitted to humans via contaminated poultry products. Moreover, gene-edited PGCdMs were produced by applying CRISPR/Cas9 to the parental PGCs. The knockout of the major signaling molecule MyD88 in PGCdMs revealed that PGCdMs underwent rapid apoptosis after stimulation with lipopolysaccharide.

Taken together, chicken PGCdMs will be a valuable cellular resource for studying mechanisms underlying resistance to avian and zoonotic diseases.