Rough virulent strain of Brucella ovis induces pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines in reproductive tissues in experimentally infected rams

The ovine brucellosis caused by Brucella ovis has tropism for reproductive tissues but until now the mechanism of bacterial persistence is not understood. Cytokine expression profiles were studied for 8 months in rams after being experimentally infected with the rough virulent strain of B. ovis (R-B. ovis) to study the pathogenesis of B. ovis and immune mechanism possibly associated to bacteria tropism and persistence. The messenger RNA (mRNA) expression levels of interleukin-1α (IL-1α), IL-1β, IL-6, IL-10, IL-12, interferon-γ (INF-γ) and tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) cytokines were quantified by real-time quantitative RT-PCR (qRT-PCR) in reproductive tissues (epididymus, testicles, ampolae, vesicular glands and bulbourethral glands), and non-reproductive (liver, spleen and kidneys) tissues at 30, 60, 120 and 240 days post infection (dpi). During the acute phase of infection at 30 dpi, the host immune response was most notable demonstrating an up-regulation of several cytokines in reproductive tissues, including the epididymus (IL-6, IL-1β and IL-1α), testicles (INF-γ and IL-12), bulbourethral glands (IL-6 and TNF-α) and ampolae (INF-γ, IL-10, IL-1β and IL-1α). During the development of infection, cytokine gene expression levels decreased, providing evidence of immunosuppression and evidence of immune evasion that favoured persistence of chronic R-B. ovis infection. During the chronic phase of R-B. ovis infection (120 and 240 dpi), cytokine production was down-regulated in the epididymus (IL-1β and IL-1α), testicles (INF-γ and IL-12), and ampolae (INF-γ, IL-10, IL-1β and IL-1α), with the exception of the bulbourethral glands (IL-6 and TNF-α) and epididymus (IL-6); in these tissues, R-B. ovis infection resulted in up-regulation of the pro-inflammatory cytokine IL-6. Herein, we report cytokine expression profiles in tissues of rams experimentally infected with the rough strain of B. ovis, which are associated with bacterial persistence and macrophage activation.     

猪接种PRRSV Nsp2Δ1882-2241弱毒株后血清细胞因子的变化特征

为了解Nsp2Δ1882-2241缺失后弱化的高致病性PRRSV（TJM株）对宿主免疫学应答的刺激机理,本研究分析了免疫猪血清中的细胞因子及变化规律。将14头4周龄易感仔猪随机分为3组：第1组接种PRRSV TJM-F92株,为免疫组;第2组接种高致病性PRRSV TJ-F5毒株,为攻毒组;第3组不接种疫苗及病毒,为对照组。接种后28d,用TJ-F5毒株攻击试验猪,于不同时间点采集血样,用ELISA法测定血清中的PRRSV抗体、IL-2、IL-10、IL-12p40、TNF-α、IFN-α和IFN-β水平。结果显示：（1）与对照组和攻毒组相比,免疫组猪IL-12p40水平持续上调,于免疫后28d受PRRSV强毒攻击后,其水平开始缓慢降低,但仍高于攻毒后的对照组。（2）免疫组IL-2水平在接种疫苗后的前21d内无明显升高且低于攻毒组,在受到强毒攻击后其IL-2水平却有明显升高。（3）免疫组IL-10水平与对照组无明显差别,并在免疫14d后一直显著低于攻毒组（P〈0.01）。（4）免疫组接种疫苗后的前21d内,TNF-α水平保持稳定,28d明显上调。攻毒组TNF-α水平0～28d一直低于对照组,且在21d达到最低（P〈0.01）。免疫组在28d受强毒攻击后,其TNF-α水平下降且在攻毒7d时最为明显（P〈0.01）,此后恢复到正常水平。（5）免疫组免疫后28d时IFN-α水平升高,在受到强毒攻击后再次显著降低（P〈0.01）。免疫组IFN-β水平一直低于对照组和攻毒组,不因强毒攻击而变化。以上结果提示,IL-12上调在PRRSV免疫保护中起明显作用;另外,上调TNF-α及下调IL-10都是基因缺失疫苗发挥效力的潜在机制。     

荷斯坦泌乳牛4种炎性细胞因子随胎次变化规律的研究

本试验选择北京地区5个牛场不同胎次(1胎、3胎、5胎及以上)、无临床疾病记录的150头荷斯坦泌乳牛,于2017年7月至8月测定促炎细胞因子肿瘤坏死因子-α(TNF-α)、白细胞介素-6(IL-6)和抑炎细胞因子白细胞介素-10(IL-10)、转化生长因子-β(TGF-β)4种血液炎性细胞因子浓度,利用SAS 9.4软件GLM过程分析血液炎性细胞因子浓度随胎次变化的规律,所用固定模型考虑了牛场、胎次、泌乳阶段等因素影响,同时进行各细胞因子间Pearson相关性分析;利用GLM过程分析炎性细胞因子对产奶性能的影响,产奶性能指标包括日产奶量、校正日产奶量、乳蛋白率、乳脂率、乳糖率,所用固定模型考虑了牛场、胎次、泌乳阶段、炎性细胞因子水平等因素的影响。结果显示:荷斯坦牛血液IL-6和TGF-β浓度随胎次升高显著降低;整体来说,IL-6和TGF-β显著正相关,IL-10和TGF-β显著负相关;5胎及以上胎次奶牛各细胞因子间相关关系均不显著;5胎及以上胎次奶牛日产奶量、校正日产奶量和乳糖率显著降低;高TNF-α组的奶牛日产奶量显著低于低TNF-α组,高IL-10组奶牛乳脂率和校正日产奶量显著高于低IL-10组。综上,高胎次奶牛生产性能的降低可能与炎性细胞因子的变化有关。     

Anti-inflammatory effects of several plant extracts on porcine alveolar macrophages in vitro

Certain plant extracts are bioactive substances of some foods or traditional herbs, known to possess antioxidant, antibacterial, and perhaps immunoregulatory effects. This study investigated the in vitro anti-inflammatory effects of 7 plant extracts (anethol, capsicum oleoresin, carvacrol, cinnamaldehyde, eugenol, garlicon, and turmeric oleoresin) on porcine alveolar macrophages collected from weaned pigs (n = 6 donor pigs) by bronchoalveolar lavage. The experimental design for this assay was a 2 [with or without 1 μg lipopolysaccharide (LPS)/mL] × 5 (5 different amounts of each plant extract) factorial arrangements in a randomized complete block design. The application of plant extracts were 0, 25, 50, 100, and 200 μg/mL, except for cinnamaldehyde and turmeric oleoresin, which were 0, 2.5, 5, 10, and 20 μg/mL. The 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5 diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay was used to determine the number of live cells, Griess assay was applied to detect nitric oxide (NO) production, and ELISA was used to measure tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), IL-1β, transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β), and IL-10 in the cell culture supernatants of macrophages. The LPS increased (P < 0.001) the secretion of TNF-α, IL-1β, and TGF-β. Without LPS, anethol and capsicum oleoresin increased (linear, P < 0.001) cell viability of macrophages, whereas other plant extracts reduced (linear, P < 0.001) it. Anethol, capsicum oleoresin, and carvacrol enhanced (linear, P < 0.001) the cell proliferation of LPS-treated macrophages. Without LPS, anethol, capsicum oleoresin, cinnamaldehyde, or turmeric oleoresin stimulated TNF-α secretion, whereas all plant extracts except eugenol enhanced IL-1β concentration in the supernatants of macrophages. However, all plant extracts suppressed (linear, P < 0.001) TNF-α, and all plant extracts except turmeric oleoresin decreased (linear, P < 0.05) IL-1β secretion from LPS-treated macrophages. Anethol and capsicum oleoresin decreased (linear, P < 0.001) TGF-β from macrophages in the absence of LPS, but the other plant extracts increased it. Anethol, capsicum oleoresin, and carvacrol also suppressed (linear, P < 0.001) TGF-β from macrophages with LPS stimulation; the other plant extracts enhanced or did not affect it. The anti-inflammatory cytokine, IL-10, was not detected in any supernatants. Only very low amounts of NO were detected in the supernatants of macrophages. In conclusion, the TNF-α results indicate all plant extracts tested here may have anti-inflammatory effects to varying degrees.     

Changes in endocrine and immune responses of neonatal pigs exposed to a psychosocial stressor

The aim of the study was to determine the effects of a single social isolation (4 h) of piglets on immediate changes in stress hormones and immune responses at 7, 21 or 35 days of age. This social stressor caused an increase in plasma ACTH and cortisol concentrations and a decrease in plasma TNF-α. The percentage of CD8⁺ cells increased and the CD4⁺ cell percentage decreased, resulting in decreasing CD4⁺/CD8⁺ ratio. The observed changes were consistent for all days studied. Further, the isolation treatment resulted in diminished LPS-stimulated IL-1β and IL-10 production in whole-blood cultures. In isolated piglets, positive correlations were estimated between changes in percentage of CD8⁺ cells and cortisol, and negative ones between changes in plasma TNF-α and culture supernatant IL-1β with ACTH and cortisol. The data suggest that psychosocial stress in neonatal pigs induced immune alterations to maintain adaptive stability, but reflecting also negative emotions experienced by this treatment.     

Effects of mannan oligosaccharide on cytokine secretions by porcine alveolar macrophages and serum cytokine concentrations in nursery pigs

This study explored the hypothesis that mannan oligosaccharide (MOS) acts to reduce systemic inflammation in pigs by evaluating cytokine production of alveolar macrophages (AM) and serum cytokine concentrations. A total of 160 pigs were fed diets containing 0.2 or 0.4% MOS for 2 or 4 wk postweaning compared with control diets without MOS. Dietary MOS did not affect the serum concentration of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α and tended (P = 0.081) to increase that of IL-10. These cytokine concentrations also changed over time (P < 0.001). After 2-wk feeding of the control or MOS diets, AM were collected and stimulated ex vivo with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) or polyinosinic:polycytidylic acid (PLIC) as infection models. The LPS-stimulated AM from MOS-fed pigs (n = 12) secreted less TNF-α (P < 0.001) and more IL-10 (P = 0.026) than those from control-fed pigs (n = 6). However, dietary MOS had less effect on ex vivo TNF-α and IL-10 production by PLIC-stimulated AM (P = 0.091 and P > 0.10, respectively. Further, effects of MOS were examined in 4 in vitro experiments. In Exp. 1 (n = 4 pigs), MOS and mannan-rich fraction (MRF), when added to AM cultures, were able to increase TNF-α production. This direct effect of MOS was not due to endotoxin contamination as verified in Exp. 2 (n = 6 pigs) using polymyxin B, an inhibitor of LPS activation of toll-like receptor 4. Polymyxin B inhibited production of TNF-α by AM after treatment with LPS (P < 0.001), but not after treatment with MOS in the absence of LPS (P > 0.70). In Exp. 3 (n = 6 pigs), when MOS was directly applied in vitro, the pattern of cytokine production by LPS-activated AM was similar to that observed ex vivo, as MOS suppressed LPS-induced TNF-α (P < 0.001) and enhanced LPS-induced IL-10 (P = 0.028). In Exp. 4 (n = 6 pigs), when MRF replaced MOS, AM-produced TNF-α induced by LPS or PLIC was suppressed by MRF (P = 0.015 or P < 0.001, respectively). These data establish that MOS and MRF suppress LPS-induced TNF-α secretions by AM. Generally, the study suggests that MOS may be a potent immunomodulator because it directly activates AM to secrete TNF-α and alters the cytokine responses of bacterial endotoxin-induced AM in both ex vivo and in vitro systems. In particular, feeding MOS to pigs for 2 wk reduces TNF-α and increases IL-10 concentrations after ex vivo treatment of AM with LPS. These immunomodulatory properties of MOS may have important implications for both host defense and avoidance of harmful overstimulation of the immune system.     

基于RAGE-TLR4串扰的高糖影响牛肺泡巨噬细胞促炎细胞因子释放的分子机制

本试验旨在研究高浓度葡萄糖对牛肺泡巨噬细胞（BAMs）促炎细胞因子IL-1β、IL-6及TNF-α释放的影响及其机制是否与RAGE-TLR4相关信号通路串扰有关。将BAMs随机分为正常糖组（NG）、高糖组（HG）、高糖+RAGE抑制剂组（H+F）、高糖+TLR4抑制剂组（H+T）及DMSO组,处理12 h后收集上清及下层细胞。采用qRT-PCR和Western blot检测细胞RAGE、TLR4、MyD88、NF-κB p65的mRNA及蛋白表达情况,ELISA检测上清TNF-α、IL-1β、IL-6浓度。结果表明,高糖极显著上调RAGE、TLR4、MyD88和NF-κB p65基因、蛋白表达水平以及上清液中IL-1β、IL-6、TNF-α浓度（P<0.01）;RAGE抑制剂与TLR4抑制剂均极显著抑制高糖引起的RAGE、TLR4、MyD88和NF-κB p65基因、蛋白表达水平上调以及IL-1β、IL-6、TNF-α释放（P<0.01）,即RAGE与TLR4均在激活RAGE/TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB炎症信号通路中发挥调控作用。综上所述,高糖能够通过RAGE-TLR4串扰引起牛肺泡巨噬细胞释放促炎细胞因子IL-1β、IL-6及TNF-α,进一步阐明了高糖促进牛肺泡巨噬细胞炎症反应的分子机制。     

Divergent cytokine responses of macrophages to Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis strains of Types II and III in a standardized in vitro model

Based on epidemiological and clinical observations, different strains of Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (MAP) are suspected to significantly differ in their virulence for ruminants. In the pathogenesis of paratuberculosis, macrophages represent the principal target cell for MAP. In order to judge the ability of different MAP-genotypes to modulate macrophage responses, the cytokine responses of the monocyte cell line THP-1 were studied after challenge with three different MAP strains under standardized conditions. The bovine field isolate J1961 (major Type II) and the ovine field isolate JIII-86 (Type III) were compared with the laboratory adapted reference strain ATCC 19698 (Type II). Strains were shown by three different typing methods (IS900-RFLP-, MIRU-VNTR-, and SSR-analysis) to substantially differ in several genotypic features. Macrophage function was assessed by quantifying mRNA of the cytokines TNF-α, IL-1?, and IL-10 by quantitative RT-PCR. Secreted TNF-α protein was measured by a cytotoxicity test, IL-1? and IL-10 using ELISA tests. The three MAP strains of various genotypes differ in their effect on human macrophages depending on challenge dose and infection time. These differences concerned both the mRNA level and secreted protein amounts of proinflammatory cytokines TNF-α, IL-1β and anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10. Type III strain produced less IL-10 and IL-1β mRNA and protein but more TNF-α protein at 2h than the Type II strains. In summary, our results support the hypothesis that strain characteristics might have relevance for the host response towards MAP and, consequently, for the pathogenesis of paratuberculosis.     

β-羟丁酸抑制脂多糖诱导奶牛中性粒细胞核因子-κB信号通路的激活

高酮血症造成奶牛中性粒细胞先天免疫机能受到抑制,本研究探讨 β-羟丁酸(BHBA)是否抑制脂多糖(LPS)诱导的奶牛中性粒细胞核因子-κB(NF?κB)信号通路的激活.分离健康奶牛中性粒细胞,采用LPS(100 ng/mL)和不同浓度(0.5、1.0、2.0和4.0 mmol/L)BHBA作用于中性粒细胞,收集细胞,应...     

甘草查尔酮A对LPS诱导的奶牛蹄真皮细胞炎性反应的抑制作用

采用10,50,100 mg/L甘草查尔酮A处理蹄真皮炎性细胞24 h后,测定细胞上清液中TNF-a、IL-1β、IL-6水平及SOD、MDA含量,Western blot法检测ERK、JNK、p38、IκBα及p65蛋白表达水平.结果 显示,甘草查尔酮A可显著降低TNF-a、IL-1β、IL-6水平,提高SOD活性并...     

孕酮对LPS诱导小鼠腹腔巨噬细胞表达TNF-α、IL-1β、TLR4、CD14和MD2的影响

先分离培养小鼠腹腔巨噬细胞,经差速贴壁法纯化后,随机分为6组：空白对照组、0.5mg/L脂多糖（LPS）组、10-6 mol/L孕酮（P4）组、LPS＋10-5 mol/L P4组、LPS＋10-6 mol/L P4组、LPS＋10-7 mol/L P4组。各组在处理12、24h分别提取上清液,ELISA法测TNF-α和IL-1β的含量;各组在处理24h分别提取细胞总RNA,用RT-PCR法测TLR4、CD14、MD2mRNA的表达。结果显示,处理12、24h,0.5mg/L LPS组TNF-α和IL-1β的含量均极显著高于对照组（P〈0.01）;10-6 mol/L P4组与对照组差异不显著（P〉0.05）;LPS＋10-5 mol/L P4组极显著低于对照组（P〈0.01）;LPS＋10-6 mol/L P4组显著低于对照组（P〈0.05）;而LPS＋10-7 mol/L P4组TNF-α的表达差异不显著（P〉0.05）,IL-1β的表达差异显著（P〈0.05）。说明P4可降低LPS刺激小鼠腹腔巨噬细胞TNF-α和IL-1β的分泌,且呈剂量依赖关系。LPS单独处理,TLR4和CD14mRNA的表达极显著高于对照组（P〈0.01）;10-6 mol/L P4单独处理与对照组无显著差异（P〉0.05）;分别添加1-5、10-6、10-7 mol/L P4组均极显著降低LPS诱导TLR4和CD14mRNA的表达（P〈0.01）,而MD2mRNA的表达差异不显著（P〉0.05）。说明P4可极显著降低LPS刺激小鼠腹腔巨噬细胞TLR4和CD14mRNA表达,但对MD2mRNA表达影响不显著。结果显示,P4能抑制LPS刺激的小鼠腹腔巨噬细胞TNF-α和IL-1β的分泌,此过程与细胞TLR4和CD14表达下降相关,而与MD2的表达无关。     

紫花地丁总黄酮体外抗炎活性研究

试验研究了紫花地丁总黄酮（TFV）对脂多糖（LPS）诱导的小鼠RAW264.7巨噬细胞活力、细胞中炎症介质含量以及相关基因表达的影响,以期探讨其体外抗炎活性的作用。试验采用MTT法筛选出TFV对小鼠RAW264.7巨噬细胞活力具有促进作用的最佳添加浓度;用酶联免疫吸附法（ELISA）检测了TFV对LPS诱导的小鼠RAW264.7巨噬细胞释放到细胞培养液中NO、肿瘤坏死因子α（TNF-α）、白介素1β（IL-1β）、白介素6（IL-6）含量的影响;运用实时荧光定量PCR法检测了TFV对LPS诱导的炎性小鼠RAW264.7巨噬细胞TNF-α、诱导型一氧化氮合酶（iNOS）和环氧合酶2（COX-2）相对表达水平的影响;研究并分析了TFV的体外抗炎活性。试验结果表明,TFV在5~50 μg/mL浓度范围内能提高小鼠RAW264.7巨噬细胞的活力（P<0.05）;与LPS模型组比较,TFV能显著降低LPS诱导的小鼠RAW264.7巨噬细胞产生NO、TNF-α、IL-6、IL-1β的含量,并能显著降低LPS诱导的小鼠RAW264.7巨噬细胞内TNF-α、COX-2等炎症因子的mRNA表达量（P<0.05）。综上,TFV能显著下调LPS诱导的小鼠RAW264.7巨噬细胞IL-1β、IL-6、TNF-α等细胞因子的释放量和下调TNF-α、COX-2 mRNA的表达量,说明抑制促炎性细胞因子基因的表达可能是实现其抗炎作用的原因之一。     

3种猪细胞因子mRNA实时荧光定量RT-PCR检测方法的建立与应用

为建立猪细胞因子SYBR Green Ⅰ实时荧光定量RT-PCR检测方法,根据GenBank中3种重要的猪细胞因子即猪白细胞介素-2(interleukin-2,IL-2)、α-干扰素(interferon α,IFN-α)和肿瘤坏死因子-α(tumor necrosis factor,TNF-α)的基因序列,设计特异引物扩增目的基因.将3种基因克隆至pMD18-T载体上,得到各自阳性克隆质粒,以3种阳性质粒为标准品建立标准曲线并进行熔解曲线分析以及灵敏性、特异性和重复性试验.结果表明,当标准品稀释度为1×10¹~1×10⁶ 拷贝/μL时,3种基因的Ct值与浓度间具有良好的线性关系,相关系数均≥0.992.熔解曲线分析表明,产物为特异性单峰且重复性较好.应用建立的方法对猪繁殖与呼吸综合征病毒(PRRSV)TJM-F92株免疫的30日龄猪外周血单核细胞(PBMC)中IL-12、IFN-α和TNF-α表达量进行检测,结果发现,免疫了PRRSV TJM-F92株的猪PBMC细胞内3种细胞因子表达量均极显著升高(P< 0.01).研究结果为IL-12、IFN-α和TNF-α的定量分析提供了技术平台.     

Protective effects of rapamycin induced autophagy on CLP septic mice

Sepsis is a life-threatening condition that may develop to multiple organ failure and septic shock. Autophagy is considered to play an important role in the regulation of inflammation. The present study aims to investigate the protective role of mTORC1 inhibitor, rapamycin, on septic death using cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) mice model. Here, results showed that pretreatment with rapamycin reduced the pyroptosis of peritoneal macrophages stimulated by cecal contents and the release of inflammatory factors such as interleukin-1β (IL-1β), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α); In septic mice, rapamycin treatment decreased the activation of inflammasome in lung, and alleviated the pathological injuries in lung, liver and spleen tissues during acute stage of sepsis. Treatment of rapamycin rescued animals from septic death significantly. Our results indicated that activation of autophagy is a potential strategy to regulate the excessive inflammation in acute stage of sepsis.     

黄体期注射PGF2α对母羊血清生殖激素及相关细胞因子的影响

旨在研究黄体期不同阶段注射前列腺激素(PGF2α)对育成母羊生殖激素和生殖相关细胞因子的影响。本研究选择健康、体况良好、体重相近、发情周期正常的湖羊育成母羊60只,用“孕酮栓(MAP)+PMSG”法进行发情周期同步化处理后,选择发情正常的48只母羊随机均分为6组。发情当天记为第0天,黄体前期试验组、中期试验组和末期试验组母羊分别在第6(黄体前期)、11(黄体中期)、16天(黄体末期)注射1 mL PGF2α(0.1 mg),黄体前期对照组、中期对照组和末期对照组母羊分别在第6、11、16天注射1 mL生理盐水,每次注射后0.5、1、2、3 h采血,用于血液指标检测。结果表明,所有试验组和对照组母羊于注射后的0.5~3 h间血清中FSH、LH、PRL、P₄、E₂水平以及TNF-α、IL-1β、IL-6、IFN-β无显著变化(P＞0.05);母羊在黄体期不同阶段注射PGF2α对0.5、1、2、3 h血清中FSH、LH、PRL及IL-1β、IFN-β无显著影响(P＞0.05),前期试验组注射后3 h P₄水平显著低于前期对照组,E₂和IL-6水平显著高于前期对照组(P＜0.05),前期试验组注射后2和3 h TNF-α水平显著高于前期对照组(P＜0.05);中期试验组注射后1 h P₄水平显著低于中期对照组(P＜0.05)。黄体前期注射PGF2α后,前期试验组0.5~ 3 h内FSH、E₂、TNF-α、IL-6整体水平显著高于前期对照组(P＜0.05),P₄整体水平显著低于前期对照组(P＜0.05),对LH、PRL、IL-1β和IFN-β无显著影响(P＞0.05);黄体中期注射PGF2α后,中期试验组0.5~3 h内E₂整体水平显著高于中期对照组(P＜0.05),P₄整体水平显著低于中期对照组(P＜0.05),对FSH、LH、PRL、TNF-α、IL-1β、IL-6和IFN-β无显著影响(P＞0.05);黄体末期注射PGF2α对生殖激素与相关细胞因子没有显著性影响(P＞0.05)。本研究结果表明,PGF2α对黄体的溶解作用存在阶段性差异,母羊在黄体前期对PGF2α的短期应答反应强于黄体中、末期,且黄体前期时,卵巢可以响应PGF2α为卵泡发育营造更佳的发育环境。     

Intratesticular expression of mRNAs of both interferon γ and tumor necrosis factor α is significantly increased in experimental autoimmune orchitis in mice

Experimental autoimmune orchitis (EAO) is one of the models of immunological male infertility. Murine EAO is CD4+T cell-dependent and classically induced by immunization with a testicular homogenate and adjuvants. We previously established that immunization with viable syngeneic testicular germ cells (TGC) can also induce murine EAO with no use of any adjuvant. Analyses of this EAO model have already revealed that cultured spleen cells of immunized mice secreted interferon (IFN)-γ and that treatment of the immunized mice with anti-IFN-γ monoclonal antibodies significantly suppressed the EAO. It is known that both IFN-γ and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α are representative cytokines of Th1 cells and exhibit local toxicity toward the seminiferous epithelium in vivo. However, changes in these two cytokines in EAO-affected testes have not yet been investigated. Therefore, in the present study, we investigated the expression of intratesticular IFN-γ and TNF- α mRNAs in TGC-induced EAO using real-time RT-PCR. The results demonstrated that the intratesticular mRNAs for both IFN-γ and TNF-α significantly increased, while other cytokines such as IL-1α, IL-1β, IL-6 and TGF-β did not show dramatic changes in the immunized mice. These results suggest that secretion of significant amounts of IFN-γ and TNF-α in situ contributes to the spermatogenic disturbance in EAO.     

褪黑素对LPS致大鼠海马炎性损伤的保护作用

本研究旨在探究褪黑素（MT）对脂多糖（LPS）致大鼠海马炎性损伤的保护作用。选取40只4周龄健康雄性SD大鼠,随机分为4组：空白组（CON组）、模型组（LPS组）、褪黑素干预组（LPS+MT组）及褪黑素组（MT组）。通过腹腔注射的方式给予大鼠10 mg·kg^-1MT和/或10 mg·kg^-1LPS,4 h后,采用旷场试验对各组大鼠进行行为学测试;试验结束称大鼠体重,解剖取海马称重并计算海马体系数;苏木精-伊红（HE）染色观察脑切片中海马区域病理变化;RT-PCR技术检测海马中小胶质细胞激活标记物Iba-1和CD11b mRNA表达;Western blot法检测海马中炎性因子IL-1β、TNF-α、IL-6、IL-10及TGF-β蛋白表达。结果表明,与CON组相比,LPS组大鼠自主探索行为减少、运动能力下降,海马组织神经细胞排列松散、细胞间隙增大、胞质固缩深染、胶质细胞浸润,小胶质细胞激活标志物Iba-1和CD11b mRNA表达极显著升高（P<0.01）,促炎因子IL-1β、TNF-α及IL-6蛋白表达极显著升高（P<0.01）,抗炎因子IL-10和TGF-β蛋白表达极显著降低（P<0.01）。而与LPS组相比,LPS+MT组大鼠自主探索行为增加、运动能力增强,海马组织神经细胞排列紧密,未见明显病变,小胶质细胞激活标记物Iba-1和CD11b mRNA表达极显著降低（P<0.01）,促炎因子IL-1β、TNF-α及IL-6蛋白表达极显著降低（P<0.01）,抗炎因子IL-10和TGF-β蛋白表达极显著增加（P<0.01）。此外,MT组与CON组相比,所有指标差异均不显著（P>0.05）。结果提示,MT可抑制小胶质细胞激活,减轻海马炎症反应,从而改善LPS造成的大鼠海马炎性损伤。