Inflammatory responses and barrier disruption in the trachea of chicks following Mycoplasma gallisepticum infection: a focus on the TNF-α-NF-κB/MLCK pathway.

ABSTRACT: Mycoplasma gallisepticum (MG) can induce persistent inflammatory damage to the tracheal mucosa of poultry and cause chronic respiratory diseases in chickens. To further investigate the mechanism of MG-induced injury to the tracheal mucosa, we used chick embryo tracheal organ culture (TOC) as a model to study the invasion and reproduction of MG, the effect of MG on tracheal morphology, and the potential factors that promote MG tissue invasion. The results showed that MG infection significantly damaged the tracheal epithelial structure and weakened tracheal epithelial barrier function; MG also increased the occurrence of bacterial displacement, with a significant (p < 0.05) increase in the bacterial load of the infected TOCs at 5 and 7 days post-infection. In addition, MG significantly (p < 

SUBMITTER: Zhong L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10790558 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature