Heterophil functional responses to dietary immunomodulators vary in genetically distinct chicken lines

The effect of dietary supplementation of immunomodulators on in vitro chicken heterophil function was investigated using three diverse genetic lines of chickens (broiler, Fayoumi, and Leghorn). Dietary supplementation with β-glucan, ascorbic acid, and corticosterone was fed from 8 to 11 weeks of age. Heterophil function was evaluated weekly during supplementation using phagocytosis, bacterial killing, and heterophil extracellular traps (HETs)-DNA release. Fayoumis fed the basal diet had significantly higher HETs-DNA release (P = 0.002) than Leghorns and broilers. Both genetic line and immunomodulator diet supplementation had significant effects on bacterial killing (line and diet effect: P < 0.001) and HETs-DNA release (line: P < 0.001; diet: P = 0.043). Dietary supplementation with immunomodulators, therefore, shows potential to affect and augment heterophil function in chickens. The current results also suggest the important role of genetics in innate immune responses.