Seroprevalence of brucellosis in yaks (Poephagus grunniens) in India and evaluation of protective immunity to S19 vaccine

The present study was carried out to explore the seroprevalence of brucellosis in yaks of North-Eastern hilly yak tracts of Arunachal Pradesh, India. Of 374 animals tested, 23.79, 21.11 and 18.98% were found positive for brucellosis using avidin-biotin ELISA (AB-ELISA), Rose-Bengal plate test (RBPT) and standard tube-agglutination test (STAT), respectively. The relative sensitivity and specificity for STAT were 79.77 and 100%, respectively and the same for RBPT were 88.76 and 100%, respectively in comparison to AB-ELISA. The alarming prevalence as recorded was highest among the yak cows (31.42%) followed by heifers (23.85%) and bulls (8.88%). The immune response in yaks following standard dose of calfhood vaccination with Brucella abortus strain 19 vaccine showed that protective antibody level persisted up to 210 days. This is the first report from India on prevalence of brucellosis and immunization with B abortus strain 19 vaccine in yaks. The present investigation would be a valuable guideline for future control measure and eradication programme of brucellosis in yaks.     

Effects of sodium valproate on RPMI8226 and U266 cell proliferation and IL-6/JAK/STAT signaling pathway

AIM: To investigate the effects of sodium valproate (VPA) on the proliferation of multiple myeloma cell lines RPMI8226 and U266 and the regulation of IL-6/JAK/STAT signaling pathway. METHODS: The cells were treated with different concentrations of VPA for 12 h and 24 h. The growth of RPMI8226 cells and U266 cells was detected by MTT assay. Apoptotic rates and cell cycle were analyzed by flow cytometry. The mRNA expression of STAT3, STAT5 and STAT target genes Bcl-xL, Mcl-1, c-Myc, CCND1 and VEGF was measured by RT-PCR. Western blotting analysis was used to determine the total proteins and protein phosphorylation levels of JAK2 and STAT5. RESULTS: VPA inhibited the growth and induced the apoptosis of RPMI8226 cells and U266 cells in a concentration- and time-dependent manner. The levels of IL-6 in the culture supernatants of RPMI8226 cells and U266 cells treated with VPA were significantly higher than that in negative control group. VPA down-regulated the mRNA expression of STAT3, STAT5, Bcl-xL, Mcl-1, c-Myc, CCND1 and VEGF. After treated with VPA, the protein levels of p-JAK2, JAK2, p-STAT5 and STAT5 in RPMI8226 cells and U266 cells were significantly lower than those in control group. CONCLUSION: VPA inhibits the proliferation of PRMI8226 cells and U266 cells in vitro. The modulation of IL-6/JAK/STAT signaling pathway may be involved in its potential mechanisms.     

Procaine regulates CXCR7 and affects AKT/STAT3 signaling pathway to inhibit viability,migration and invasion of bladder cancer cells

AIM To investigate the effects of procaine (PCA) and CXC chemokine receptor 7 (CXCR7) on the viability, migration and invasion of bladder cancer cells and its potential mechanism. METHODS Human bladder cancer RT4 cells were treated with PCA at different concentrations， and were divided into PBS group (without PCA treatment), PCA group (treated with 4 mmol/L PCA), siRNA negative control (si-Con) group (transfected with si-Con), CX?CR7 siRNA (si-CXCR7) group (transfected with si-CXCR7), PCA+pcDNA group (treated with 4 mmol/L PCA and transfected with pcDNA) and PCA+pcDNA-CXCR7 group (treated with 4 mmol/L PCA and transfected with pcDNA-CX?CR7). The siRNA and pcDNA were transfected into the RT4 cells by liposome method. The mRNA expression of CX?CR7 in the RT4 cells was detected by RT-qPCR. The cell viability was measured by CCK-8 assay. The invasion and migration abilities of the cells were detected by Transwell assays. The protein levels of CXCR7, AKT, STAT3, p-AKT and p-STAT3 were determined by Western blot . RESULTS Compared with PBS group, the viability, migration ability and invasion ability of the RT4 cells treated with PCA at different concentrations were significantly decreased (P<0.05), and the expression of CXCR7 at mRNA and protein levels in PCA group was also significantly decreased (P<0.05). Compared with si-Con group, the expression of CXCR7 at mRNA and protein levels in si-CXCR7 group was significantly decreased, and the viability, migration ability and invasion ability of the cells were also significantly decreased (P<0.05). Compared with PCA+pcDNA group, the expression of CXCR7 at mRNA and protein levels in PCA+pcDNA-CXCR7 group was significantly increased, and the viability, migration ability and invasion ability of the cells were also significantly increased (P<0.05). Compared with PBS group, the protein levels of p-AKT and p-STAT3 in PCA group were significantly decreased(P<0.05). Compared with PCA+pcDNA group, the protein levels of p-AKT and p-STAT3 in PCA+pcDNA-CX?CR7 group were significantly increased (P<0.05). No significant difference in the protein levels of AKT and STAT3 among the groups was observed. CONCLUSION Treatment with PCA inhibits the viability, migration and invasion of bladder cancer cells by inhibiting the expression of CXCR7. Over-expression of CXCR7 reverses this effect of PCA. Its mechanism may be related to AKT/STAT3 signaling pathway.     

Jagged1 regulates STAT3 signaling pathway and affects growth and apoptosis of multiple myeloma cells

AIM:To investigate the effect of Jagged1 on the growth and apoptosis of multiple myeloma cells. METHODS:Transfection with small interfering RNA targeting Jagged1 and negative control was carried out in multiple myeloma cell line U266, and the mRNA and protein levels of Jagged1 in the cells were determined by RT-qPCR and Wes-tern blot. The cells without transfection were used as blank control. Trypan blue staining was used to draw the cell growth curve. The cell viability was measured by MTT assay. The apoptosis was analyzed by flow cytometry. The protein levels of STAT3, p-STAT3 and Bax in the cells were determined by Western blot. STAT3 signaling pathway inhibitor AG490 was used to detect the activation level of STAT3 signaling in the cells. RESULTS:Compared with the U266 cells without transfection, the expression of Jagged1 at mRNA and protein levels decreased in the U266 cells transfeced with small interfering RNA targeting Jagged1 (P<0.05). However, the expression of Jagged1 at mRNA and protein levels did not change in the U266 cells transfected with small interfering RNA negative control. Knockdown of Jagged1 expression decreased the cell viability, increased the apoptotic rate, increased Bax levels, and decreased the protein level of p-STAT3 in the U266 cells (P<0.05). AG490 treatment decreased the protein level of p-STAT3, blocked the activation of STAT3 signaling pathway, promoted the cell apoptosis induced by Jagged1 knockdown, and inhibited the viability of the U266 cells. CONCLUSION:Knock-down of Jagged1 expression promotes the apoptosis of multiple myeloma cells by inhibiting STAT3 signaling pathway, thus suppressing cell growth.     

凡纳滨对虾JAK和STAT基因在苏云金芽孢杆菌侵染过程中的表达变化分析

为了分析凡纳滨对虾JAK(Lv-JAK)和STAT(Lv-STAT)基因应答病原菌侵染的表达变化特征,本实验利用半定量PCR技术分析了Lv-JAK和Lv-STAT基因的组织表达特征,并利用实时荧光定量PCR技术分析了其在苏云金芽孢杆菌侵染过程中的表达变化特征。结果显示,Lv-JAK和Lv-STAT基因在凡纳滨对虾的9种组织中有不同程度的表达,均在鳃、肠道和心脏中表达量较高。苏云金芽孢杆菌感染后,在鳃组织中,Lv-JAK和Lv-STAT基因的相对表达量在感染的中晚期(24~72 h)显著上调表达;在肠道组织中,Lv-JAK基因的相对表达量在感染后的6和24 h显著上调,Lv-STAT基因的相对表达量在感染后的24和72 h显著上调。综上表明,JAK和STAT基因在一定程度上参与了凡纳滨对虾体内由苏云金芽孢杆菌引发的天然免疫应答过程,探讨凡纳滨对虾JAK和STAT基因应答苏云金芽孢杆菌感染的表达变化特征,有助于研究对虾JAK/STAT通路在应答病原菌侵染过程中的功能和作用机制。     

新疆褐牛乳房炎抗性相关基因的表达及生物信息学分析

文章旨在分析新疆褐牛乳房炎抗性相关基因的分子生物学功能，为分子标记辅助育种工作在新疆褐牛乳房炎抗性性状中的研究奠定理论基础。试验采用DAVID 6.8软件对课题组前期研究及相关文献报道的乳房炎抗性相关基因（共20个基因）进行功能GO富集及KEGG信号通路分析。采用String 10.0数据库进行蛋白相互作用网络分析，结合生物信息学分析和相关文献的研究结果，挑选出JAK2和STAT5A基因，通过使用实时荧光定量PCR技术检测JAK2、STAT5A基因在不同乳房健康程度的新疆褐牛血液中的相对表达量。GO富集分析得到，20个基因主要涉及细胞膜、免疫应答和调节防御反应等生物过程；KEGG富集分析发现，这些基因主要参与JAK-STAT信号通路、趋化因子信号通路、ErbB信号通路等；PPI分析发现，20个基因中有8个基因之间存在直接或间接联系；实时荧光定量试验发现，JAK2、STAT5A基因在健康新疆褐牛血液的表达量极显著或显著高于患乳房炎新疆褐牛（P<0.01；P<0.05）。通过生物信息分析和实时荧光定量试验，进一步从分子水平探讨了不同乳房健康程度的新疆褐牛与JAK2、STAT5A基因表达之间的内在联系。