Localization of heat shock proteins and histopathological changes in the kidneys of transported pigs

To demonstrate the expression of heat shock proteins (Hsps) in the kidney, 5 kinds of Hsps, namely, Hsp70, Hsp72, Hsp86, Hsp90, and Hsp27, were examined in pigs after 6-h-transports by using western blot analysis. All 5 Hsps were detected in the kidneys of both the transported and control pigs. Hsp expression in the control pigs indicated that Hsps have some physiological functions in addition to stress-response functions. With the exception of Hsp27, a significant reduction was observed in all the levels of Hsps in the kidneys of the transport-stressed pigs after 6 h of transport, particularly in the levels of Hsp70 and Hsp72, which belong to the HSP70 family; and Hsp86 and Hsp90, which belong to the HSP90 family. The results indicate that 6-h-transports are not only related to renal pathological injury but also to a reduction in most of Hsp levels in the kidney. However, slight Hsp27 induction (P < 0.05) indicates that Hsps that undergo different changes following transportation stress are involved in different physiological functions. Whether the decreased amount of a certain Hsp may indicate damage and/or overuse and whether Hsps actually protect kidney tissue from such overuse remain to be elucidated.     

运输应激对山羊血清和空肠中HSP27、HSP70和HSP90含量的影响

为探讨运输应激对山羊血清和空肠中HSP27、HSP70和HSP90 3种热休克蛋白含量的影响,试验选取12只赣西山羊,随机分为对照组、运输应激2 h组和运输应激6 h组,应用双抗体夹心ELISA法测定山羊血清和空肠中3种热休克蛋白浓度。结果表明:与对照组相比,运输2 h山羊血清中HSP70和HSP90极显著升高(P<0.01),空肠中HSP70和HSP90显著升高(P<0.05),血清和空肠中HSP27有升高趋势(P>0.05);与对照组相比,运输6 h后血清中HSP70和HSP90分别极显著和显著升高(P<0.05和P<0.01),血清中HSP27含量以及空肠中3种蛋白含量均无显著变化(P>0.05);与运输2 h相比,运输6 h后3种蛋白含量都极显著降低(P<0.01)。结果显示,山羊对运输应激在细胞水平的适应性调节与血清中HSP70和HSP90蛋白水平升高有密切联系,运输2 h山羊通过上调HSP70和HSP90对应激导致的空肠损伤发挥细胞保护作用。     

Distinct spatial activation of intrinsic and extrinsic apoptosis pathways in natural scrapie: association with prion-related lesions

Neurodegeneration and gliosis are the main neuropathological features of prion diseases. However, the molecular mechanisms involved in these processes remain unclear. Several studies have demonstrated changes in the expression of apoptotic factors and inflammatory cytokines in animals with experimental infection. Here we present the expression profiles of 15 genes implicated in the intrinsic and extrinsic apoptotic pathways in the central nervous systems of sheep naturally infected with scrapie. Expression changes obtained by real-time RT-PCR were also compared with the extent of classical scrapie lesions, such as prion deposition, neuronal vacuolisation, spongiosis, and astrogliosis as well as with the activation of caspase-3, using a stepwise regression. The results suggest that the factors assessed participate in apoptotic or inflammatory functions, depending on the affected area. The mitochondrial apoptosis pathway was associated with prion deposition in the prefrontal cortex (the less affected area), and with activation of caspase-3-mediated cell death via over-expression of BAK. In addition to its known association with astroglial activation, the extrinsic apoptosis pathway was also related to cell death and neuronal vacuolisation.     

Heat Shock Protein 70 and Sex Steroid Receptors in the Follicular Structures of Induced Ovarian Cysts

The purpose of this study was to estimate the expression and relative amounts of estrogen (ER) and progesterone receptors (PR) and their isoforms as well as heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) in ovaries of rats with induced cystic ovarian disease (COD). Primary, secondary, tertiary, atretic and cystic follicles were evaluated by immunohistochemistry and total ovarian proteins were analyzed by Western blot. In the granulosa layer, growing and cystic follicles in the treated group have a higher expression of ERα than growing follicles of control individuals. In the theca interna layer, tertiary follicles presented a significantly higher expression of ERα in the treated group. An increase in total ERα protein was detected in the treated group. Granulosa cells of all growing, atretic and cystic follicles show a lower expression of ERβ in animals with COD, and the total protein expression of ERβ was lower in this group. The expression of PR was lower in the granulosa cell layer of tertiary and cystic follicles in treated animals, and theca interna layer had less intense immunostaining in this group. Although there were no differences in the expression of PR-B by Western blotting, the expression of PR-A was higher and the expression of PR-C was smaller in the treated group. An intense HSP70 immunostaining was observed in the cells of cystic follicles. By Western blotting, higher protein expression of HSP70 was detected in the ovarian samples of the control group than those of the treated ones. Ovaries of animals with COD exhibited an altered steroid receptor expression and subtype balance as compared with control animals, and an increase in HSP70 immunoexpression.     

Detection of polymorphisms in the prion protein gene in the Belgian sheep population: some preliminary data

The development of clinical signs of TSE/scrapie in sheep has been linked to polymorphisms in the prion protein (PRNP) gene. The most important polymorphisms appear to be at codons 136, 154, and 171. The objective of this study was to investigate the polymorphisms at these codons in the Belgian sheep population, including clinical healthy animals, healthy animals at the slaughterhouse and animals in TSE/scrapie positive farms (including a Nor98 farm).     

Experimental transmission of sheep scrapie by intracerebral and oral routes to genetically susceptible Suffolk sheep in the United States.

Scrapie is a naturally occurring fatal neurodegenerative disease of sheep and goats. Susceptibility to the disease is partly dependent on the genetic makeup of the host. This study documents clinicopathological findings and the distribution of abnormal prion proteins (PrPres) by immunohistochemical and Western blot techniques, in tissues of genetically susceptible sheep inoculated with US sheep scrapie agents. Four-month-old Suffolk lambs (QQ or HQ at codon 171) were inoculated (5 intracerebrally and 19 orally) with an inoculum (#13-7) consisting of a pool of scrapie-affected sheep brains. Intracerebrally inoculated animals were euthanized when advanced clinical signs of scrapie were observed. Orally inoculated animals were euthanized at predetermined time points (4, 9, 12, 15, and 21 months postinoculation [PI]) and thereafter when the animals had terminal signs of disease. All intracerebrally inoculated animals exhibited clinical signs of scrapie and were euthanized between 13 and 24 months PI. Spongiform lesions in the brains and PrPres deposits in central nervous system and lymphoid tissues were present in these sheep. In orally inoculated sheep, clinical signs of scrapie were seen between 27 and 43 months PI in 5/9 animals. The earliest detectable PrPres was observed in brainstem and lymphoid tissues of a clinically normal, orally inoculated sheep at 15 months PI. Three of the 4 clinically normal sheep were positive at 15, 20, and 49 months PI by PrPres immunohistochemistry.     

夏季奶牛血液中热休克蛋白的表达量

选择40头体质健康的中国荷斯坦奶牛,根据胎次和泌乳天数,按照随机区组试验设计分为Ⅰ组（30kg/d）、Ⅱ组（30～35kg/d）、Ⅲ组（35～40kg/d）和Ⅳ组（40kg/d）。热应激前、热应激前期、热应激中期、热应激后期和热应激后分别于尾静脉采血,用ELISA试剂盒测定热休克蛋白（HSP）27,70,90的表达量。结果显示,Ⅳ组HSP27表达量最高,Ⅱ组表达量最低,Ⅳ组、Ⅲ组和Ⅰ组均显著高于Ⅱ组（P〈0.05）。HSP70表达量各组间没有明显差异,但随产奶量呈线性增加（P〈0.05）。HSP90的表达量,Ⅳ组和Ⅲ组明显高于Ⅱ组（P〈0.05）。HSP27的表达量热应激后差异较大;HSP70的表达量各组整个过程差异较大;HSP90的表达量在热应激前、热应激前期和热应激后差异较大。总之,在热应激过程,高产奶牛血清中热应激蛋白的表达量较高,HSP70表达量随产奶量呈线性增加,而不同热应激蛋白的变化规律差异较大。     

Experimental transmission of abnormal prion protein (PrPsc) in the small intestinal epithelial cells of neonatal mice

Using an immunohistochemical method, we attempted to detect the transmission of abnormal prion protein (PrPsc) to the enterocytes of the small intestine of neonatal mice by oral exposure with sheep brain affected by scrapie. Five 1-day-old neonatal mice were exposed by oral inoculation to the homogenized brain of a scrapie-affected sheep. In the small intestine of all mice 1 hour after inoculation, immunoreactivity with antinormal prion protein (PrPc) antibody was seen in the cytoplasm of villus enterocytes. This finding suggests transmission of abnormal PrPsc into the cytoplasm of enterocytes. In control mice treated with normal sheep brain, no PrPc signal was seen in enterocytes of the small intestine. Immunopositivity for neurofilament protein and glial fibrillary acidic protein was seen in the cytoplasm of enterocytes of mice inoculated with scrapie and normal sheep brain. This suggests that the enterocytes of neonatal mice can absorb PrPsc and other macromolecular proteins of the sheep brain affected by scrapie and may be more important than previously thought as a pathway for PrPsc transmission in neonatal animals.     

The expressions of HSP70 and ��B-crystallin in myocarditis associated with foot-and-mouth disease virus in lambs

This study describes the expression of heat shock protein70 (HSP70) and alpha-basic-crystallin (α-BC) and their association with apoptosis and some related adaptor proteins in the pathogenesis of foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV)-induced myocarditis in lambs. HSP70 was generally overexpressed in the myocardial tissues and inflammatory cells of FMDV-induced myocarditis with differential accumulation and localization in same hearts when compared to non-foot-and-mouth disease control hearts. α-BC immunolabeling showed coarse aggregations in the Z line of the cardiomyocytes in FMDV-infected hearts in contrast to control hearts. Overall, the results of this study show that the anti-apoptotic proteins, HSP70 and α-BC, were overexpressed with increased apoptosis in FMDV-infected heart tissues. Both proteins failed to protect the cardiomyocytes from apoptosis as defense mechanisms to the FMDV during the infection, suggesting that the virus is able to increase apoptosis via both downregulation and/or upregulation of these anti-apoptotic proteins.     

PrP polymorphisms in Basque sheep breeds determined by PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism and real-time PCR

Two new PCR-based methods were developed to decode prion protein (PrP) gene polymorphisms at codons 136, 154 and 171: a PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis consisting of two PCR reactions followed by three enzymatic digestions, and a real-time PCR consisting of four reactions with seven fluorogenic probes. Both methods were used to study the distribution of PrP gene polymorphisms in a representative sample (1297 animals) of the populations of the two native breeds of sheep of the Spanish Basque Country, Latxa and Carranzana. Fourteen genotypes were found in the Latxa breed, in which ARQ/ARQ was the genotype most frequently observed (49.3 per cent), followed by ARR/ARQ (32.6 per cent) and ARQ/ARH (5.8 per cent). The genotype associated with the highest resistance to scrapie (ARR/ARR) was present in 5 per cent of the animals analysed. Similar results were observed in the Carranzana sheep.     

牛环形泰勒虫HSP70基因的克隆表达、特性分析及互作蛋白网络构建

为了表达牛环形泰勒虫(Theileria annulata)截短HSP70基因编码蛋白并研究该蛋白的结构与功能特性,本研究扩增牛环形泰勒虫HSP70目的基因并构建重组质粒pMD18-T-HSP70,选取其他种的同源HSP70蛋白序列构建系统进化树;利用生物信息学方法分析HSP70基因编码蛋白的氨基酸组成、基本理化性质、亲疏水性、跨膜区结构、信号肽、可能的磷酸化位点、亚细胞定位及蛋白的二级结构和三级结构;对重组蛋白HSP70进行蛋白互作网络分析;构建原核表达载体pET28a-HSP70,筛选诱导表达条件,镍柱纯化重组蛋白及检测反应原性。结果显示,牛环形泰勒虫HSP70蛋白序列与小泰勒虫的序列同源性较高,蛋白分子质量为42 ku,理论等电点(pI)为5.61,属于酸性亲水性蛋白,无跨膜区及信号肽;蛋白功能预测结果显示,HSP70包含32个可能的磷酸化位点,亚细胞定位分析显示该蛋白主要分布于细胞质。蛋白质二级结构中α-螺旋、β-转角、无规则卷曲、延伸链分别占39.18%、8.51%、30.41%和21.91%。蛋白互作网络构建结果显示,与HSP70相互作用的蛋白主要为HSP90家族成员,另外还有伴侣蛋白GrpE同系物,预示着HSP70可能在细胞内与HSP90形成复合体发挥作用。本试验成功构建原核表达载体,获得了大小约为48 ku的融合蛋白,以0.6 mmol/L IPTG于37℃诱导5 h,蛋白表达较好;点状印迹及Western blotting结果表明,表达产物可被自然感染的牛环形泰勒虫阳性血清识别,具有良好的反应原性。本试验结果为进一步探讨牛环形泰勒虫HSP70功能机制提供了理论依据。     

Experimental transmission of US scrapie agent by nasal, peritoneal, and conjunctival routes to genetically susceptible sheep

Scrapie is a naturally occurring fatal neurodegenerative disease of sheep and goats. This study documents incubation periods, pathologic findings, and distribution of abnormal prion proteins (PrP(Sc)) by immunohistochemistry in tissues of genetically susceptible sheep inoculated with US sheep scrapie agent. Four-month-old Suffolk lambs (QQ at codon 171) were inoculated by 1 of 3 different routes (nasal, peritoneal, and conjunctival) with an inoculum (No. 13-7) consisting of a pool of scrapie-affected sheep brains. Except for 3 sheep, all inoculated animals were euthanized when advanced clinical signs of scrapie were observed between 19 and 46 months postinoculation (MPI). Spongiform lesions in the brains and labeling of PrP(Sc) in central nervous system and lymphoid tissues were present in these sheep. One intranasally inoculated sheep euthanized at 12 MPI had presence of PrP(Sc) that was confined to the pharyngeal tonsil. These results indicate that the upper respiratory tract, specifically the pharyngeal tonsil, may serve as a portal of entry for prion protein in scrapie-infected environments.     

Prospects of HSP70 as a genetic marker for thermo-tolerance and immuno-modulation in animals under climate change scenario

Heat stress induced by long periods of high ambient temperature decreases animal productivity, leading to heavy economic losses. This devastating situation for livestock production is even becoming worse under the present climate change scenario. Strategies focused to breed animals with better thermo-tolerance and climatic resilience are keenly sought these days to mitigate impacts of heat stress especially in high input livestock production systems. The 70-kDa heat shock proteins (HSP70) are a protein family known for its potential role in thermo-tolerance and widely considered as cellular thermometers. HSP70 function as molecular chaperons and have major roles in cellular thermotolerance, apoptosis, immune-modulation and heat stress. Expression of HSP70 is controlled by various factors such as, intracellular pH, cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cyclic AMP), protein kinase C and intracellular free calcium, etc. Over expression of HSP70 has been observed under oxidative stress leading to scavenging of mitochondrial reactive oxygen species and protection of pulmonary endothelial barrier against bacterial toxins. Polymorphisms in flanking and promoter regions in HSP70 gene have shown association with heat tolerance, weaning weight, milk production, fertility and disease susceptibility in livestock. This review provides insight into pivotal roles of HSP70 which make it an ideal candidate genetic marker for selection of animals with better climate resilience, immune response and superior performance.     

Prevalence of vacuolar lesions consistent with scrapie in the brains of healthy cull sheep of the Shetland Islands

To determine the levels of background scrapie-like pathology in the brains of clinically normal adult sheep, the brains of 1106 sheep from 28 known scrapie-infected flocks and nine apparently uninfected flocks were examined during 1998 and 1999. One per cent of the brains had vacuolar pathology and disease-specific accumulations of prion protein consistent with a diagnosis of scrapie. All the positive animals had at least one allele of the prion protein gene encoding valine at codon 136, and originated from flocks in which cases of clinical scrapie had been confirmed within the last four years. The parasympathetic nucleus of the vagal nerve was the most consistently and severely affected nucleus in the medulla oblongata, suggesting that the infection enters the brain via ascending fibres of the vagus nerve.     

Effects of heat stress on proliferation, protein turnover, and abundance of heat shock protein messenger ribonucleic acid in cultured porcine muscle satellite cells

It is well established that heat stress (HS) negatively affects growth rate in swine. Although reduced feed intake undoubtedly plays a significant role in this reduction, studies in laboratory animals and other nonswine species indicate muscle growth also is affected by HS-related alterations in muscle physiology. Evidence is now emerging that heat shock proteins (Hsp), produced in response to HS and other types of cellular stress, may play an important role in regulating the rate and efficiency of muscle growth. Because muscle satellite cells play a crucial role in postnatal muscle growth, the effects of HS on rates of satellite cell proliferation, protein synthesis, and protein degradation play an important role in determining the rate and extent of muscle growth. Consequently, in the current study we have examined the effects of mild HS (40.5°C for 48 h) on the rates of proliferation, protein synthesis, and protein degradation and on quantities of Hsp90, Hsp70, and Hsp25/27 mRNA and protein in cultured porcine muscle satellite cells (PSC). Mild HS of PSC cultures resulted in 2.5-, 1.4-, and 6.5-fold increases (P < 0.05) in the abundance of Hsp90, Hsp70, and Hsp25/27 mRNA, respectively, relative to control cultures. Abundance of Hsp 90, 70, and 25/27 proteins was also increased in HS PSC cultures compared with those in control cultures. Proliferation rates in HS PSC cultures were 35% less (P < 0.05) than those in control cultures. Protein synthesis rates in HS-fused PSC cultures were 85% greater (P < 0.05) than those in control cultures, and protein degradation rates in HS-fused PSC were 23% less (P < 0.05) than those in control cultures. In light of the crucial role satellite cells play in postnatal muscle growth, the HS-induced changes we have observed in rates of proliferation, protein turnover, and abundance of Hsp mRNA and Hsp protein in PSC cultures indicate that mild HS affects the physiology of PSC in ways that could affect muscle growth in swine.     

Effects of transport stress on pathological injury and main heat shock protein expression in the respiratory system of goats

The aim of the present study was to investigate the pathological injury and the expression of heat shock proteins in the caprine lung, trachea and bronchus under transport stress. 12 healthy male goats were selected and randomly divided into three groups. The control group (non-transported group), 2 hr transport-treated group and 6 hr transport-treated group. Morphological changes as well as the expression of heat shock proteins (HSPs, mainly HSP27, HSP70 and HSP90) in three parts of the respiratory tract were examined. Our results showed swollen mucosa and congestive blood vessels in mucous layer and submucosa, inflammatory cell infiltration as well as degeneration and necrosis of mucosal epithelial cells in trachea and bronchus of the transport-treated groups. The epithelial cells were degenerated, and the exfoliated cells and debris could be seen in the alveolar cavity. The results of immunohistochemistry showed that HSP27 and HSP70 were strongly expressed in tracheal and bronchial epithelium, glandular epithelium, vascular endothelium and bronchiole epithelium. And the amount of positive inflammatory cells was increased in transport-treated groups. Western blot results indicated that the expression of all three proteins had no obvious difference among the three groups in bronchi (p > .05). In trachea, there was no significant difference in the expression of heat shock proteins among the three groups except that the expression of HSP70 which was obviously higher in the two transported groups than the control group (p < .05). The expression level of HSP70 in the 2 hr transport-treated group was significantly higher than the 6 hr group (p < .05) and control groups (p < .05). However, there was no significant difference in the expression level of HSP27 and HSP90 in three groups (p > .05). In conclusion, our data showed that transport stress could damage the caprine respiratory system.     

目录

为了表达牛环形泰勒虫（Theileria annulata）截短HSP70基因编码蛋白并研究该蛋白的结构与功能特性,本研究扩增牛环形泰勒虫HSP70目的基因并构建重组质粒pMD18-T-HSP70,选取其他种的同源HSP70蛋白序列构建系统进化树;利用生物信息学方法分析HSP70基因编码蛋白的氨基酸组成、基本理化性质、亲疏水性、跨膜区结构、信号肽、可能的磷酸化位点、亚细胞定位及蛋白的二级结构和三级结构;对重组蛋白HSP70进行蛋白互作网络分析;构建原核表达载体pET28a-HSP70,筛选诱导表达条件,镍柱纯化重组蛋白及检测反应原性。结果显示,牛环形泰勒虫HSP70蛋白序列与小泰勒虫的序列同源性较高,蛋白分子质量为42 ku,理论等电点（pI）为5.61,属于酸性亲水性蛋白,无跨膜区及信号肽;蛋白功能预测结果显示,HSP70包含32个可能的磷酸化位点,亚细胞定位分析显示该蛋白主要分布于细胞质。蛋白质二级结构中α-螺旋、β-转角、无规则卷曲、延伸链分别占39.18%、8.51%、30.41%和21.91%。蛋白互作网络构建结果显示,与HSP70相互作用的蛋白主要为HSP90家族成员,另外还有伴侣蛋白GrpE同系物,预示着HSP70可能在细胞内与HSP90形成复合体发挥作用。本试验成功构建原核表达载体,获得了大小约为48 ku的融合蛋白,以0.6 mmol/L IPTG于37 ℃诱导5 h,蛋白表达较好;点状印迹及Western blotting结果表明,表达产物可被自然感染的牛环形泰勒虫阳性血清识别,具有良好的反应原性。本试验结果为进一步探讨牛环形泰勒虫HSP70功能机制提供了理论依据。     

PrP gene polymorphisms in Cyprus goats and their association with resistance or susceptibility to natural scrapie

In contrast to scrapie in sheep, the genetic basis of susceptibility to scrapie in goats is not well understood. To study the association of prion protein (PrP) alleles with susceptibility to scrapie in goats in Cyprus, the coding sequence of the caprine PrP gene was determined in 717 goats, including 218 scrapie positive animals. Several novel polymorphisms were detected, such as a novel octarepeat variant and a stop codon mutation. Amino acids at codons 146 and 154 were associated with susceptibility to goat scrapie. Animals heterozygous for serine (S) and aspartate (D) at codon 146 were significantly under-represented in scrapie positive animals and no positive animals were found that were homozygous for these amino acids at codon 146. These results might provide the basis for genetic control of scrapie in Cypriot goats.     

Application of temperature-gradient gel electrophoresis for detection of prion protein gene polymorphisms in Polish Swiniarka sheep.

This study presents preliminary data on the polymorphism in the prion protein gene of Swiniarka sheep using temperature gradient gel electrophoresis (TGGE). Available data indicate that sensitivity to scrapie is associated with polymorphisms in three codons of prion protein gene: 136,154, and 171. The TGGE method was used to detect point mutations in these codons responsible for sensitivity or resistance to scrapie. This study revealed presence of an allele encoding valine (V) in codon 136, which is associated with high sensitivity to scrapie and occurred in the form of heterozygous allele together with alanine (AV). The highest variability was observed in codon 171, with presence of arginine (R) and glutamine (Q) in the homozygous (RR or QQ) as well as the heterozygous form (RQ). The results of examination of fifty sheep DNA samples with mutations in codons 136, 154, and 171 demonstrated that TGGE can be used as a simple and rapid method to detect mutations in the PrP gene of sheep. Several samples can be run at the same time, making TGGE ideal for the screening of large numbers of samples.