This experimental study investigated the effect of Agaricus blazei Murill
polysaccharide (ABP) on
cadmium (Cd)
poisoning on the
melanoma differentiation-associated gene 5 (MDA5) signaling pathway and
antioxidant function of peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBLs) in chickens. The experiments were divided into four groups: 7-day-old chickens with
normal saline (0.2 mL single/day), Cd (140 mg/kg), ABP (30 mg/mL, 0.2 mL single/day), and Cd + ABP(140 mg/kg/day + 0.2 mL ABP). Peripheral blood was collected on the 20th, 40th, and 60th days for each group, and PBLs were separated. We attempted to detect the expression of MDA5, downstream signaling molecules, and convergence
protein (
interferon promoter-stimulating factor 1);
transcription factors (IRF3 and NF-κB); the content of
cytokines (IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α, and IFN-β) in PBLs; and the
antioxidant index of
superoxide dismutase (SOD), malondialdhyde (MDA), and
glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px). The results showed that ABP can reduce the accumulation of Cd in the peripheral blood of chickens; reduce the expression of MDA5 and downstream signaling molecules; and reduce the content of IL-1β,
IL-6, TNF-α, and IFN-β in PBLs of chickens. The activity of
antioxidant enzymes (SOD and GSH-Px) significantly increased, and the content of MDA decreased. These results showed that they have a certain protective effect of ABP on Cd
poisoning in chicken PBLs caused by injury.