捻转血矛线虫重组磷脂酰肌醇转移蛋白对山羊外周血单个核细胞模式识别受体和细胞因子转录水平的影响

本文旨在研究捻转血矛线虫(Haemonchus contortus)磷脂酰肌醇转移蛋白(phosphatidylinositol transfer protein, HCPITP)对山羊的免疫调节功能。构建了原核表达重组质粒pET-28a-HCPITP并获得重组蛋白;分析HCPITP基因在虫卵、第三期幼虫、雌虫和雄虫中转录水平的变化;将重组蛋白与山羊外周血单个核细胞(peripheral blood mononuclear cells, PBMCs)共孵育,研究重组蛋白对山羊PBMCs增殖、模式识别受体(pattern recognition receptors, PRRs)表达和细胞因子分泌的影响。结果显示,HCPITP基因在雌虫、雄虫、第三期幼虫和虫卵中相对转录水平分别为1、10.2、0.47和0.58。Western blot分析发现该重组蛋白具有较好的反应原性。该重组蛋白能够显著抑制ConA对PBMCs的增殖作用,重组HCPITP显著促进山羊PBMCs的IL-2、IL-4、IL-6和IL-17转录水平,主要促进模式识别受体TLR1与TLR10的转录。综上,HCPITP基因转录水...     

花椒窄吉丁气味结合蛋白AzanOBP5的克隆与表达

为进一步明确花椒窄吉丁Agrilus zanthoxylumi气味结合蛋白AzanOBP5在昆虫嗅觉识别过程中的功能,基于花椒窄吉丁转录组数据(SUB6796283)利用cDNA末端快速扩增技术对花椒窄吉丁气味结合蛋白基因AzanOBP5进行全长克隆并进行生物信息学分析;通过实时荧光定量检测技术测定基因AzanOBP5在成虫不同组织中的表达情况。结果显示,克隆获得基因AzanOBP5全长740bp(GenBank登录号为MT318834),5''端非编码区为172bp,3''端非编码区114bp,开放阅读框453bp,编码150个氨基酸。序列分析表明,AzanOBP5氨基酸序列与苹果小吉丁Agrilus mali AmalOBP5的氨基酸序列一致性最高。成功构建pET-21a-AzanOBP5重组质粒并在大肠杆菌Escherichia coli中表达,经过诱导和纯化条件的优化及Western blot鉴定,得到的融合蛋白His-AzanOBP5大小符合预期。基因AzanOBP5在雌雄成虫的不同组织中均有表达,其中在成虫腹部的表达量最高。表明花椒窄吉丁气味结合蛋白基因AzanOBP5除参与嗅觉识别过程外,还可能具有其他生理功能。     

Muscovy duck reovirus infection rapidly activates host innate immune signaling and induces an effective antiviral immune response involving critical interferons

Muscovy duck reovirus (MDRV) is a highly pathogenic virus in waterfowl and causes significant economic loss in the poultry industry worldwide. Because the host innate immunity plays a key role in defending against virus invasion, more and more attentions have been paid to the immune response triggered by viral infection. Here we found that the genomic RNA of MDRV was able to rapidly induce the production of interferons (IFNs) in host. Mechanistically, MDRV infection induced robust expression of IFNs in host mainly through RIG-I, MDA5 and TLR3-dependent signaling pathways. In addition, we observed that silencing VISA expression in 293T cells could significantly inhibit the secretion of IFNs. Remarkably, the production of IFNs was reduced by inhibiting the activation of NF-κB or knocking down the expression of IRF-7. Furthermore, our study showed that treatment of 293T cells and Muscovy duck embryo fibroblasts with IFNs markedly impaired MDRV replication, suggesting that these IFNs play an important role in antiviral response during the MDRV infection. Importantly, we also detected the induced expression of RIG-I, MDA5, TLR3 and type I IFN in Muscovy ducks infected with MDRV at different time points post infection. The results from in vivo studies were consistent with those in 293T cells infected with MDRV. Taken together, our findings reveal that the host can resist MDRV invasion by activating innate immune response involving RIG-I, MDA5 and TLR3-dependent signaling pathways that govern IFN production.     

雏鸡不同组织TLR3、TLR7和TLR21 mRNA转录水平研究

参考GenBank登录的ChTLRs基因序列设计实时定量PCR特异性引物,建立检测鸡T011样受体（ChTLR）mRNA相对转录水平的实时定量PCR方法,分析ChTLR3、ChTLR7和ChTLR21在雏鸡不同器官组织中的转录水平。3种ChTLRs在脾脏、法氏囊、胸腺和各段肠道组织中均有转录。其中,ChTLR3 mRNA在肾脏、胸腺、盲肠、空肠、肝脏和十二指肠转录水平较高,在皮肤中未检测到转录;chTLR7 mRNA在脾脏、肾脏、盲肠、胸腺和十二指肠转录水平较高,在肝脏和皮肤中转录水平很低;ChTLR21 mRNA在所检测组织中均有转录,其中在脾脏转录水平最高,其次为法氏囊、胸腺和十二指肠。结果表明,ChTLRs mRNA在雏鸡各器官组织中转录水平差异较大,可能与雏鸡各器官组织对病原的识别和抵抗能力有关。     

Effect of P53 binding site on regulation of human NOD8 gene

AIM: To investigated the characterization and biological function of P53 binding element in the regulation of NOD8 gene. METHODS: Using the method of bioinformatics, we found a completely preserved P53 binding site in NOD8 core promoter both in humans and chimpanzees. NOD8 gene was amplified by PCR from human cDNA and correctly connected into the vector p NOD8 (760 bp)-EGFP-C2/ mp NOD8 (750 bp)-EGFP-C2. The constructed plasmids p NOD8 (760 bp)-EGFP- NOD8 and mp NOD8 (750 bp)-EGFP- NOD8 were transiently transfected into the cell line HEK293 by JetPei^TM and treated with pifithrin alpha (PFT-α,an inhibitor of P53) at different concentrations for 24 h. The mRNA and protein expression levels of NOD8 were detected by RT-PCR and Western blotting. In addition, chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) assay was performed to determine the binding of P53 to the NOD8 promoter after recombinant plasmid p NOD8 (760 bp)-EGFP was transfected into HEK293 cells. RESULTS: The plasmids p NOD8 (760 bp) -EGFP- NOD8 and mp NOD8 (750 bp)-EGFP- NOD8 were successfully constructed and conformed by restriction digestion and sequence analysis. The results of ChIP confirmed that P53 bound to the promoter of NOD8 . The mRNA expression of NOD8 in the cells transfected with p NOD8 (760 bp)-EGFP- NOD8 was stronger than that in the cells transfected with control vector pEGFP-C2 (P<0.05). Furthermore, the mRNA expression of NOD8 was reduced in HEK293 cells transfectnt with the mutant plasmid mp NOD8 (750 bp)-EGFP- NOD8 compared with the cells transfected with p NOD8 (760 bp)-EGFP- NOD8 . Meanwhile, PFT-α inhibited the mRNA expression of NOD8 in the cells transfected with p NOD8 (760 bp)-EGFP- NOD8 in a concentration-dependent manner, and PFT-α at concentration of 90 μmol/L was the most effective in inhibiting NOD8 mRNA expression (P<0.01). As expected, the protein expression of NOD8 in pNOD8 (760 bp)-EGFP- NOD8 group significantly increased compared with that in pNOD8 -C2 group, the protein expression of NOD8 in mp NOD8 (750 bp)-EGFP- NOD8 group or pNOD8 (760 bp)-EGFP- NOD8 + PFT-α group was dramatically decreased compared with that in p NOD8 (760 bp) -EGFP- NOD8 group. CONCLUSION: The results suggest that the P53 binding site is critical for the regulation of NOD8 gene and there is positive feedback regulation between P53 binding site and NOD8 , which may maintain efficient balance between defense and self-inflicted injury in response to the invasion of pathogen.     

Pharmacokinetics of dexmedetomidine during administration of vatinoxan in male neutered cats anesthetized with isoflurane

Dexmedetomidine is an alpha-2 adrenoceptor agonist, and vatinoxan is an alpha-2 antagonist believed to poorly cross the blood–brain barrier in cats. Dexmedetomidine–vatinoxan combinations are of interest in anesthetized cats because the anesthetic sparing effect of dexmedetomidine may be preserved while vatinoxan attenuates the adverse cardiovascular effects of dexmedetomidine. The aim of this study was to characterize the pharmacokinetics of dexmedetomidine in cats during administration of isoflurane and vatinoxan. Six healthy adult male castrated cats were anesthetized with isoflurane in oxygen. Vatinoxan was administered using a target-controlled infusion system intended to maintain a plasma concentration of 4 µg/ml. Dexmedetomidine, 35 µg/kg was administered intravenously over 5 min. Plasma dexmedetomidine and vatinoxan concentrations were measured at selected time points ranging from prior to 8 hr after dexmedetomidine administration using liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry. Compartment models were fitted to the time-concentration data using nonlinear mixed-effect modeling. A three-compartment model best fitted the data. Typical value (% interindividual variability) for the three-compartment volumes (ml/kg), the metabolic clearance and the two intercompartment distribution clearances (ml min⁻¹kg⁻¹) were 168 (259), 318 (35), 1,425 (18), 12.4 (31), 39.1 (18), and 29.6 (17), respectively. Mean ± standard deviation plasma vatinoxan concentration was 2.6 ± 0.6 µg/ml.     

Pacific-Ciguatoxin-2 and Brevetoxin-1 Induce the Sensitization of Sensory Receptors Mediating Pain and Pruritus in Sensory Neurons

Ciguatera fish poisoning (CFP) and neurotoxic shellfish poisoning syndromes are induced by the consumption of seafood contaminated by ciguatoxins and brevetoxins. Both toxins cause sensory symptoms such as paresthesia, cold dysesthesia and painful disorders. An intense pruritus, which may become chronic, occurs also in CFP. No curative treatment is available and the pathophysiology is not fully elucidated. Here we conducted single-cell calcium video-imaging experiments in sensory neurons from newborn rats to study in vitro the ability of Pacific-ciguatoxin-2 (P-CTX-2) and brevetoxin-1 (PbTx-1) to sensitize receptors and ion channels, (i.e., to increase the percentage of responding cells and/or the response amplitude to their pharmacological agonists). In addition, we studied the neurotrophin release in sensory neurons co-cultured with keratinocytes after exposure to P-CTX-2. Our results show that P-CTX-2 induced the sensitization of TRPA1, TRPV4, PAR2, MrgprC, MrgprA and TTX-r NaV channels in sensory neurons. P-CTX-2 increased the release of nerve growth factor and brain-derived neurotrophic factor in the co-culture supernatant, suggesting that those neurotrophins could contribute to the sensitization of the aforementioned receptors and channels. Our results suggest the potential role of sensitization of sensory receptors/ion channels in the induction or persistence of sensory disturbances in CFP syndrome.     

花椒窄吉丁气味结合蛋白AzanOBP3与其寄主挥发物的分子对接

为明确花椒窄吉丁Agrilus zanthoxylumi气味结合蛋白AzanOBP3与其寄主花椒Zanthoxylum bungeanum主要气味挥发物的结合模式及结合能力,利用Signal P 5.0和ProParam Tool-ExPASy软件对AzanOBP3的基本理化性质进行生物信息学分析,采用Swiss-Model对AzanOBP3序列进行同源建模,通过SAVES 5.0软件中Verify-3D、ERRAT以及ProCheck模块评价模型,应用AutoDock Tool 1.5.6软件对AzanOBP3模型和46种主要寄主挥发物进行分子对接分析。结果显示,花椒窄吉丁气味结合蛋白AzanOBP3同源建模所得模型质量较好,其Verify-3D、ERRAT以及ProCheck得分均符合同源建模要求。AzanOBP3与46种花椒气味挥发物主要以氢键、疏水作用和范德华力相结合,其中, 13种链状配体与AzanOBP3的结合能力总体上弱于33种环状配体,链状配体中的芳樟醇和环状配体中的荜澄茄油烯与AzanOBP3表现出较好的结合能力,自由结合能分别为-5.2 kJ/mol和-6.6 kJ/mol。最终筛选出4种链状配体（乙酸芳樟酯、芳樟醇、乙酸香叶酯和别罗勒烯）和10种环状配体（乙酸松油酯、β-石竹烯、葎草烯、3-蒈烯、荜澄茄油烯、右旋大根香叶烯、β-榄香烯、乙酸叶醇酯、可巴烯和倍半水芹烯）可与AzanOBP3稳定结合。表明花椒窄吉丁气味结合蛋白AzanOBP3能与寄主植物花椒的多种挥发性物质结合,推测AzanOBP3可能在其寻找寄主与取食行为中发挥着重要作用。     

西花蓟马FoccOBP3的分子克隆、序列分析及表达特征

鉴定昆虫嗅觉相关蛋白基因并对其序列和时空表达进行研究,可为阐明昆虫与寄主间的化学通讯机制提供依据。本文新克隆并鉴定获得一个西花蓟马OBP基因FoccOBP3（GenBank登录号：MT682352）,cDNA序列全长1226 bp,读码框全长432 bp,编码143个氨基酸残基。氨基酸序列中六个保守的半胱氨酸位点排列方式为C₁—X₂₆—C₂—X₃—C₃—X₃₇—C₄—X₁₀—C₅—X₈—C₆,完全符合典型气味结合蛋白所具有的六个保守的半胱氨酸位点结构模型。氨基酸序列中有5个亲脂性区域,其中第62～75位的氨基酸残基形成明显的亲脂性口袋。预测该蛋白分子量为15.50 kD,等电点为5.24,N—末端包含21个氨基酸组成的信号肽序列。FoccOBP3与横缝茧蜂Diachasma alloeum的DallGOBP（GenBank登录号为XP_015125081.1）、赤拟谷盗Tribolium castaneum 的TcasPBP（GenBank登录号为XP_015835846.1）和TcasOBP07（GenBank登录号为EFA04593.1）的氨基酸序列一致性较高。FoccOBP3与埋葬甲虫Nicrophorus vespilloides的NvesGOBP（GenBank登录号为XP_017781594.1）聚在最小的一个分支,表明与该基因亲缘关系最近。FoccOBP3蛋白含有组成α—螺旋的氨基酸残基127个,形成β—折叠的氨基酸残基58个,形成β—转角的氨基酸残基15个。FoccOBP3蛋白骨架是由 6 个α—螺旋和连接这些螺旋的回折构成,其中5个α—螺旋形成一个结合口袋。FoccOBP3在西花蓟马1龄若虫中高表达,其次是羽化5 d的雌虫,其余发育阶段的表达量均较低;且在雌、雄性成虫中的表达量亦有差异,除了羽化10 d的,羽化1、5、15 d雌虫的表达量均比同发育阶段雄虫的高。该基因在西花蓟马成虫触角中高表达,其次是头部,在腹、足中的表达较低,在胸部微表达。本研究克隆获得西花蓟马气味结合蛋白基因FoccOBP3,明确了其核苷酸、氨基酸序列特征,预测了该蛋白的二级、三维结构,测定了FoccOBP3在西花蓟马中的时空表达,推测该基因可能在西花蓟马气味识别、寄主定位等方面发挥重要作用。