Evaluation of the cytotoxic effect of Newcastle disease virus in mouse spleen cells and induction of mouse T-helper cell responses

Gharari, Kia; Keyvanfar, Hadi; Monadi Sefidan, Alireza; Farashi Bonab, Samad

doi:10.22092/ari.2026.371997.4025

Evaluation of the cytotoxic effect of Newcastle disease virus in mouse spleen cells and induction of mouse T-helper cell responses

Articles in Press

Document Type : Original Articles

Authors

¹ Department of Pathobiology, SR,C., Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran

² Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Faculty of Allied Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.

³ Department of Hematology and Transfusion Sciences, Faculty of Allied Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

10.22092/ari.2026.371997.4025

Abstract

Introduction: Newcastle disease (ND) is a highly lethal and contagious disease affecting a diverse range of avian species, caused by the Newcastle disease virus (NDV). This study aims to evaluate the cytotoxic effects of NDV on mouse spleen cells and to assess the activation of specific immune responses against NDV mediated by helper T cells.
Material and Methods: Newcastle disease viruses evaluated in this study were collected from broiler farms with disease symptoms in Alborz province. Newcastle disease virus isolates are replicated by inoculation in the allantoic cavity of ten-day old embryonated eggs. Varying concentrations of the virus were introduced to the leukocytes in the first and second groups, while the third group served as a control, receiving no NDV. Following incubation, the gene expression levels were quantified using Real-time RT-PCR, and the cytotoxicity of the virus on the cells was assessed through the MTT assay.
Result: The expression levels of the genes gata3, t-bet, interleukin-4, and interferon-gamma did not exhibit significant changes in the group of spleen cells exposed to lower viral concentrations. The evaluation of cytotoxic effects of NDV on spleen cells revealed no cytotoxic impact in the first passage of the NDV treatment group; however, cytotoxic effects were noted during the second passage, although these results were not statistically significant (p<0.05).
Conclusion: NDV is capable of activating both cellular and humoral immune responses by stimulating the activation of type 1 and type 2 helper T lymphocytes. Moreover, it exerts influence over the survival and proliferation of leukocytes.

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