Chicken dendritic cells are susceptible to highly pathogenic avian influenza viruses which induce strong cytokine responses

Infection with highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in birds and mammals is associated with severe pathology and increased mortality. We hypothesize that in contrast to low pathogenicity avian influenza (LPAI) infection, HPAI infection of chicken dendritic cells (DC) induces a cytokine deregulation which may contribute to their highly pathogenic nature. Infection of DC with LPAI H7N1 and H5N2 resulted in viral RNA and NP expression without...