溶菌酶——先天性免疫系统中的重要防御物质

先天性免疫系统被认为是机体的第一道防线,能抵抗多数病原菌。溶菌酶在生物体内普遍存在,其水平或活性是先天性免疫力的一个重要指标。溶菌酶存在于黏液、淋巴组织、血浆等体液中,也在多种组织中表达,可溶解革兰氏阳性菌和阴性菌细胞,本质上具有调理作用,能激活补体系统和吞噬细胞。随性别、年龄、季节、环境及疾病感染、压力程度的不同,溶菌酶活性也不同。本文综述了溶菌酶在先天性免疫系统中的作用。     

线粒体自噬在神经退行性疾病中调控的研究进展

神经退行性疾病是一种以神经元发生进行性变性和坏死为基础的中枢神经系性疾病,其普遍特征是错误折叠蛋白质的积累和线粒体损伤。线粒体作为细胞能量产出的中心,是神经元的主要能量来源,对维持神经元的结构和功能至关重要。受损的线粒体导致细胞中的三磷酸腺苷(ATP)供给不足和氧化应激损伤,甚至引起细胞死亡。线粒体自噬是细胞通过自噬-溶酶体途径选择性地清除衰老或受损线粒体的过程,是线粒体质量控制机制的重要组成部分,在维持细胞稳态方面发挥重要的作用。诸多研究表明,线粒体自噬与神经退行性疾病的发生和发展密不可分,激活线粒体自噬或改善线粒体自噬异常能在一定程度上缓解错误折叠蛋白积聚导致的神经损伤。笔者就线粒体自噬的发生机制、线粒体自噬的调控及其在神经退行性疾病发生发展中的作用进行综述,以期为神经退行性疾病的研究和治疗提供参考。     

cGAS-STING信号通路在先天性免疫中的作用研究进展

先天性免疫是动物抵抗外界病原微生物入侵的第一道防线.当病原微生物入侵时,机体可通过模式识别受体识别病原体相关分子模式,启动抵抗外源微生物感染的免疫反应.环磷酸鸟苷-腺苷合成酶(cGAS)是一种DNA感受器,可感知外源DNA并激活cGAS-STING信号通路.而cGAS-STING信号通路的激活可诱导产生干扰素,这是先天...     

Toll样受体的研究进展

Toll样受体(TLRs)在机体的先天性免疫和获得性免疫中作为重要的调节器对病原体的识别发挥着非常重要的作用.TLRs作为一类病原模式识别受体在免疫应答和炎症反应中发挥着重要作用,TLRs信号失调会引起多种疾病.在机体的免疫系统中,先天性免疫作为免疫应答的始动环节,通过抗原递呈细胞（APC）主要以MHC2抗原肽复合物的形式递呈给T细胞来启动获得性免疫应答.获得性免疫应答的启动需要双信号,即特异性抗原的刺激和来自APC的共刺激信号.通过疾病模型发现,TLR信号级联的靶向作用将会给传染性疾病带来新的治疗方案.文章就TLRs与先天性免疫的关系、TLRs的配位子及TLRs在传染性疾病治疗中的靶向作用进行了简单概述.     

线粒体DNA损伤及其碱基切除修复的研究进展

DNA对于细胞有氧代谢和外源性化合物产生的活性氧(reactive oxygen species,ROS)极其敏感。大量研究表明,ROS可引起多种类型的DNA氧化损伤,形成种类繁多的具有致突变作用的碱基氧化产物。线粒体DNA接近线粒体自由基的合成区域,因此氧化应激是诱导线粒体DNA突变的主要因素之一。线粒体DNA突变或损伤与机体衰老及肿瘤等生理及病理过程有关,其修复机制尤其是碱基切除修复是保证线粒体DNA完整性的重要途径。本文就其功能及在线粒体功能障碍相关疾病中的研究热点作一综述。     

家禽DNA模式识别受体研究进展

天然免疫系统在检测外来入侵物质和激发特异性免疫系统中发挥至关重要的作用，机体利用DNA模式识别受体（PRRs）识别入侵的DNA病毒或细菌的病原分子相关模式配体（PAMPs），与下游接头蛋白连接，引发干扰素、促炎细胞因子和其他抗病毒细胞因子，以此来保护机体免受相应病原体的侵害。其中，病原体释放到细胞中DNA是最主要的PAMPs。随着对DNA PRRs研究不断的深入，DNA PRRs介导天然免疫的机制已逐渐明朗。文章结合哺乳动物DNA PRR相关研究重点对家禽DNA PRRs(cGAS、IFI16、AIM2、DDX41、TLR21等)介导抗DNA病毒天然免疫的机制进行探讨，对于研究和开发新型抗病毒和抗菌药物具有显著意义，此外，也有助于深入研究哺乳动物天然免疫系统的演化历程和发展过程。     

中性粒细胞细胞外诱捕网的研究进展

中性粒细胞是机体先天性免疫系统中的重要组成成分,是外周血中数量最多的免疫细胞,在非特异性免疫中至关重要,是构成机体内抵御微生物入侵的第一道防线。近年来,人们发现中性粒细胞除了经典的通过胞吞作用吞噬病原微生物、释放嗜天青颗粒及产生并分泌抑菌杀菌物质外,还具有抵抗微生物入侵的新机制--中性粒细胞细胞外诱捕网（neutrophil extracellular traps,NETs）。该机制主要通过活性氧和肽酰基精氨酸脱亚氨酶4等影响因子刺激中性粒细胞形成以DNA为骨架的网状结构,内含有多种蛋白酶,能非特异性捕获杀伤病原体,还能在机体某些疾病的产生和发展中起到协同作用。作者就NETs的形成、影响因素及与病原、疾病的相互关系作一概述,为进一步研究中性粒细胞的功能提供依据。     

中性粒细胞细胞外诱捕网的研究进展

中性粒细胞是机体先天性免疫系统中的重要组成成分,是外周血中数量最多的免疫细胞,在非特异性免疫中至关重要,是构成机体内抵御微生物入侵的第一道防线。近年来,人们发现中性粒细胞除了经典的通过胞吞作用吞噬病原微生物、释放嗜天青颗粒及产生并分泌抑菌杀菌物质外,还具有抵抗微生物入侵的新机制——中性粒细胞细胞外诱捕网(neutrophil extracellular traps,NETs)。该机制主要通过活性氧和肽酰基精氨酸脱亚氨酶4等影响因子刺激中性粒细胞形成以DNA为骨架的网状结构,内含有多种蛋白酶,能非特异性捕获杀伤病原体,还能在机体某些疾病的产生和发展中起到协同作用。作者就NETs的形成、影响因素及与病原、疾病的相互关系作一概述,为进一步研究中性粒细胞的功能提供依据。     

MAVS介导的抗病毒天然免疫信号通路的调控

先天性免疫通路作为抵御入侵的病原微生物第一道屏障,在宿主抗病毒反应中发挥重要的作用。细胞质中最重要的识别病毒RNA的模式识别受体是维甲酸诱导基因蛋白I和黑色素瘤分化相关基因5,它们有着相同的下游信号接头分子线粒体抗病毒信号蛋白(mitochondrial antiviral-signaling protein,MAVS),MAVS在介导的先天性免疫中起中枢作用。MAVS介导的信号通路的激活是重要的抗病毒反应,但在长期的共存过程中,病毒进化出一系列拮抗MAVS的机制。同时,在静息状态下,为了防止过度免疫反应,细胞还具备一系列调控MAVS的机制。MAVS的精细调控对于行使细胞功能和发挥抗病毒反应至关重要。本文简单介绍了MAVS的结构和功能,总结了细胞对MAVS的转录和翻译后调控,最后阐述了病毒如何通过调控MAVS拮抗宿主先天性免疫,为细胞的免疫调节和控制病毒感染提供新的思路。     

Viperin在抗病毒免疫中的作用研究进展

病毒感染激活宿主细胞先天性免疫信号通路级联反应,通过产生干扰素、抗病毒蛋白等来限制病毒复制和防止感染。Viperin是一种在物种间相对保守、参与先天性免疫的内质网相关抗病毒蛋白,通过与病毒蛋白、某些细胞内蛋白的相互作用调节信号转导过程,发挥抑制多种病毒增殖的广谱抗病毒作用。目前,对Viperin蛋白发挥抗病毒和免疫调节作用的功能域、作为自由基SAM酶家族成员发挥作用的机制有了新的认识,但对Viperin能够在不同病毒感染细胞内发挥广泛作用的确切机制仍不是很清楚。论文就Viperin的基本生物学特性、发挥不同抗病毒机制的研究进展进行综述。     

SIGIRR对IL-1R/TLRs信号通路的负性调控作用研究进展

单免疫球蛋白白介素1受体相关蛋白（SIGIRR）是TIR超家族成员,最新研究表明它可负性调节IL-1R/TLRs受体介导的固有免疫应答,且在感染性疾病、肿瘤及自体免疫病诱导的炎症反应调节上所起的重要作用已经被阐明。作者主要综述了SIGIRR基因和蛋白表达模式在人、小鼠、牛等物种间的差异性,因其结构特异性所具有的对IL-1R/TLRs炎性信号通路的负性调控和具体的调控机理,以及在不同炎性相关疾病的发生和发展中抑制炎性反应的机制,进而为临床的炎性相关疾病治疗提供理论借鉴,同时也拓宽了SIGIRR基因在动物疾病治疗中的应用范围。     

Research Progress on the Negative Regulatory Function of SIGIRR to IL-1R/TLRs Signal Pathway

Single immunoglobulin IL-1 related receptor (SIGIRR) is a member of TIR superfamily.Recent evidences suggested that it could negatively modulate ILRs/TLRs-mediated innate immune response,and in particular its important role focused from infectious and intestinal inflammation to autoimmunity or cancer-related inflammation had been illuminated.Here,we summarized our current understanding of the expression patterns of SIGIRR gene and protein in different specises including human,mouse and bovine,its downregulate function of the IL-1/TLRs singal pathway and specific negative regulation mechanism ascribed to its structure specificity,and also its elaborate regulating process related to the occurrence and development of different pathogen condition.And then it can not only provide theoretical references for clinical inflammatory related disease,but also broaden the application scope of SIGIRR gene in the treatment of animal diseases.     

病原感染后鸡miRNAs调控的研究进展

microRNAs(miRNAs)是一种短的单链非编码小分子RNAs，无论是在正常发育还是疾病的发生发展过程中，都能够与靶mRNA结合，参与到基因的转录后调控过程，并在其中发挥重要的调节作用。近年来随着miRNAs研究的深入，越来越多的证据表明，病原感染后会引起宿主miRNAs表达水平发生变化，这些差异表达的miRNAs能够积极地参与到疾病的发生发展过程中，并通过调控靶基因的表达参与免疫功能、自噬、炎症反应、代谢等多种生物学过程来抑制或促进疾病的发展。此外，宿主miRNAs作为一种参与转录后调节的小分子RNAs，在病原感染过程中，鸡miRNAs除了可以靶向自身的基因来调控鸡先天免疫信号，也可以靶向病原的基因从而影响病原的吸附、入侵、增殖等过程。作者主要介绍了miRNAs的生物合成、功能以及鸡miRNAs在部分病毒、细菌、寄生虫等病原侵袭过程与致病过程中的调控作用及其机制，简述了不同病原感染后鸡miRNAs的调控策略，以期从miRNAs的角度为鸡病的诊断、治疗和防控提供一定的参考。     

Characterization of turkey inducible nitric oxide synthase and identification of its expression in the intestinal epithelium following astrovirus infection

The inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) enzyme has long been recognized as a key mediator of innate immune responses to infectious diseases across the phyla. Its role in killing or inactivating bacterial, parasitic, and viral pathogens has been documented in numerous host systems. iNOS, and its innate immune mediator NO has also been described to have negative consequence on host tissues as well; therefore understanding the pathogenesis of any infectious agent which induces iNOS expression requires a better understanding of the role iNOS and NO play in that disease. Previous studies in our laboratory and others have demonstrated evidence for increased levels of iNOS and activity of its innate immune mediator NO in the intestine of turkeys infected with astrovirus. To begin to characterize the role iNOS plays in the innate immune response to astrovirus infection, we identified, characterized, developed tkiNOS specific reagents, and demonstrated that the intestinal epithelial cells induce expression of iNOS following astrovirus infection. These data are the first to our knowledge to describe the tkiNOS gene, and demonstrate that astrovirus infection induces intestinal epithelial cells to express iNOS, suggesting these cells play a key role in the antiviral response to enteric infections.     

Toll样受体研究进展

Toll样受体(Toll-like receptors, TLRs)家族在病原体的识别和激活天然免疫方面发挥着非常重要的作用.激活TLRs不仅可以诱导天然免疫应答,而且有利于特异性免疫反应的发生,因而TLRs是天然免疫与获得性免疫之间的桥梁.不同TLRs可以有相同的功能,例如诱导炎性因子的产生或者上调辅助刺激分子的表达,也可以有特异的作用,例如具有诱导IFN-I产生的能力.这些作用不但在抗菌免疫反应中非常关键,而且也表现在自身免疫反应中.因而了解TLRs结构、分布、分类及功能可促进天然免疫机制研究的进一步深入,有利于对变态反应和自身免疫性疾病治疗措施的改进,也有利于解决诸如 CpG佐剂、DNA疫苗、预防过敏反应等实际应用过程中存在的问题.     

黄芪多糖对巨噬细胞天然免疫调节的研究进展

天然免疫系统是机体的第一道免疫防御屏障，在抵抗病原微生物感染的过程中起着关键性作用。如何通过药物或饲料添加剂激发畜禽天然免疫防御功能，从而最大程度地诱导机体保护性机制和减轻感染引起的炎症损伤，已成为应对当下养殖环境中病原微生物肆虐、抗生素耐药的可持续性解决方案之一。黄芪多糖(Astragalus polysaccharides，APS)作为一类生物大分子成分，是免疫活性最强的一类物质，具有免疫调节、抗病毒、抗应激、抗氧化、抗肿瘤等多种生物学作用，在临床应用中可有效提高幼龄动物的天然免疫防御功能，增强多种疫苗的保护效力及生长性能，因而其对机体天然免疫系统的调节作用及机制是近年来的研究热点。然而受产地、提取纯化方法及复杂化学结构的影响，对APS活性作用的深入研究与开发利用受到了一定的限制。作者介绍了APS现有的提取技术及存在的单糖组分，重点阐述了其对天然免疫主要效应细胞-巨噬细胞极化、功能、炎症因子表达的双向调节作用及对巨噬细胞相关Toll 样受体(Toll-like receptors，TLRs)信号通路干预的研究进展，并指出了当前研究存在的问题与不足，以期为APS免疫调节机制的深入研究提供参考，为其在畜禽养殖中的推广应用提供科学依据。     

Development of molecular immunoassay system for probiotics via toll-like receptors based on food immunology

Recent interest has focused on the importance of intestinal immunity for the host defense, but to date, not much is known about the underlying mechanisms. The toll‐like receptor (TLR) family plays an important role in host defense through recognizing bacterial pathogen‐associated molecular patterns. Our recent research on the physiological function of food products has investigated the immunoregulatory effects of probiotic lactic acid bacteria (LAB) via TLR. Studies of swine, which often substitute for a human model, have demonstrated intestinal immunoregulation by the probiotic LAB mediated by TLR in the gut. On the basis of our study, efforts have also been made to develop a molecular immunoassay system for probiotic LAB and find novel immunostimulatory DNA sequences from probiotics and high potential immunobiotic LAB strains via TLR signaling. These findings may provide important clues at the molecular level on TLR signal transduction pathways and recognition mechanisms for the ligands. They also provide impetus to further delineate the activation mechanism of the innate immune response. In addition to identifying immunoregulatory factor immunogenics from LAB, a better understanding of intestinal immune regulation through cytokine networks holds out promise for basic food immunology research and the development of immunobiotic foods to prevent specific diseases.     

Overview of the Immune Dynamics of the Digestive System

The digestive tract of the chicken is a major site of pathogen exposure. Although the bird has a multifaceted set of tools to prevent or resist infection, any activation of the immune system can divert nutrients away from production. Therefore, prevention of pathogenic exposure is preferred. However, it is unlikely that the bird can escape exposure to all pathogens during its life, thus the ability to respond to immunologic challenges is essential. The immune system of birds is similar to that of mammals in terms of structure and function, although some differences do exist, particularly in regulatory aspects. The innate immune system responds nonspecifically to foreign molecules and is essential for the induction of the specific (acquired) immune response. Cells of the innate immune system include macrophages, dendritic cells, heterophils, and natural killer cells. The acquired immune response involves recognition of a specific antigen and response by lymphocytes. Cytotoxic T lymphocytes are especially effective at inducing cells infected with intracellular pathogens to undergo apoptosis. Helper T lymphocytes increase the effectiveness of innate immune cells in combating extracellular pathogens and are also essential for activating B lymphocytes, which produce antibodies specific to the invading pathogen. All aspects of the immune system function together, although one aspect will often dominate, depending on the type and severity of the infection. This paper reviews the basics of avian immune function in general and discusses the immune system in the digestive tract in particular in birds. The consequences of activation of the immune system are presented.Currently, growth-promoting antibiotics are not used in poultry in many countries; the North American industry may be moving in that direction as well, either through legislation or consumer pressure. Several nonantibiotic means of manipulating the immune system to prevent the health- and performance-suppressing effects of immune system activation are presented here.     

Update on the role of innate immune receptors during Brucella abortus infection

The innate immune system constitutes an efficient defense mechanism against invading microbial pathogens. Recent studies have revealed the intracellular signaling cascades involved in the TLR-initiated immune response to Brucella spp. infection. However, there is a piece of the puzzle missing that is the role of non-TLR receptors in innate immunity. The involvement of TLR receptors in brucellosis has been investigated by different research groups. It was demonstrated that TLR2 clearly does not play any role in controlling Brucella abortus infection in vivo, whereas TLR9 has been shown to be required for clearance of this bacterium in infected mice. The participation of adaptor molecules, such as MyD88 and TRIF has also been discussed. Recently, we and others have reported the critical role of MyD88- and not TRIF-mediated signaling in dendritic cell maturation and in vivo resistance during B. abortus infection. However, the relationship between specific Brucella molecules and non-TLR receptors and signal transduction pathways needs to be better understood. It is now clear that the interaction between TLRs and recently identified cytosolic innate immune sensors is crucial for mounting effective immune responses. Finally, this review discusses the mechanisms used by Brucella to escape detection by the host innate immune system.     

Immune response to fungal infections

The immune mechanisms of defence against fungal infections are numerous, and range from protective mechanisms that were present early in evolution (innate immunity) to sophisticated adaptive mechanisms that are induced specifically during infection and disease (adaptive immunity). The first-line innate mechanism is the presence of physical barriers in the form of skin and mucous membranes, which is complemented by cell membranes, cellular receptors and humoral factors. There has been a debate about the relative contribution of humoral and cellular immunity to host defence against fungal infections. For a long time it was considered that cell-mediated immunity (CMI) was important, but humoral immunity had little or no role. However, it is accepted now that CMI is the main mechanism of defence, but that certain types of antibody response are protective. In general, Th1-type CMI is required for clearance of a fungal infection, while Th2 immunity usually results in susceptibility to infection. Aspergillosis, which is a disease caused by the fungus Aspergillus, has been the subject of many studies, including details of the immune response. Attempts to relate aspergillosis to some form of immunosuppression in animals, as is the case with humans, have not been successful to date. The defence against Aspergillus is based on recognition of the pathogen, a rapidly deployed and highly effective innate effector phase, and a delayed but robust adaptive effector phase. Candida albicans, part of the normal microbial flora associated with mucous surfaces, can be present as congenital candidiasis or as acquired defects of cell-mediated immunity. Resistance to this yeast is associated with Th1 CMI, whereas Th2 immunity is associated with susceptibility to systemic infection. Dermatophytes produce skin alterations in humans and other animals, and the essential role of the CMI response is to destroy the fungi and produce an immunoprotective status against re-infection. The resolution of the disease is associated with a delayed hypersensitive response. There are many effective veterinary vaccines against dermatophytoses. Malassezia pachydermatis is an opportunistic yeast that needs predisposing factors to cause disease, often related to an atopic status in the animal. Two species can be differentiated within the genus Cryptococcus with immunologic consequences: C. neoformans infects predominantly immunocompromised hosts, and C. gattii infects non-immunocompromised hosts. Pneumocystis is a fungus that infects only immunosupressed individuals, inducing a host defence mechanism similar to that induced by other fungal pathogens, such as Aspergillus.