单细胞转录组测序技术及其在肌内脂肪细胞研究中的应用

单细胞转录组测序(single-cell RNA sequencing,scRNA-seq)技术在单细胞水平对转录组进行测序,可从表达量、细胞量及细胞组成等多种角度描述样本,主要包括单细胞分离、mRNA反转录、文库构建、转录组测序和数据分析等步骤。单细胞分离是scRNA-seq技术操作的第一步,常用的细胞分离方法有连续稀释法、显微操作法、荧光激活流式细胞术、激光捕获显微切割术和微流控技术。基于不同细胞捕获、cDNA扩增和文库构建开发了许多scRNA-seq方法,如CEL-seq2、Drop-seq、MARS-seq、SCRB-seq、Smart-seq、Smart-seq2等。与传统测序方法相比,scRNA-seq可识别单个细胞的基因表达信息、记录细胞的空间位置、跟踪不同细胞谱系在分化过程中的轨迹,这为研究难以大量提取的肌内脂肪细胞分子特异性和发生分化过程带来极大便利。作者简要介绍了scRNA-seq技术的关键步骤,比较分析了单细胞分离和转录组测序方法的优缺点,综述了肌内脂肪细胞的起源以及scRNA-seq在肌内脂肪细胞的亚群和标记基因鉴定以及细胞分化轨迹追踪中的应用,以期为肌内脂肪细胞的深入研究提供参考依据。     

The second-generation curcumin analogue RL71 elicits G2/M cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in canine osteosarcoma cells

Canine osteosarcoma is an aggressive cancer, comprising 85% of canine bone neoplasms. Current treatment practices of surgery and chemotherapy increase 1-year survival by only 45%. The curcumin analogue RL71, has demonstrated potent in vitro and in vivo efficacy in several models of human breast cancer through increased apoptosis and cell cycle arrest. Thus, the present study aimed to investigate efficacy of curcumin analogues in two canine osteosarcoma cell lines. Osteosarcoma cell viability was assessed using the sulforhodamine B assay and mechanisms of action were determined by analysing the levels of cell cycle and apoptotic regulatory proteins via Western blotting. Further evidence was obtained using flow cytometry to detect cell cycle distribution and the number of apoptotic cells. RL71 was the most potent curcumin analogue with EC₅₀ values of 0.64 ± 0.04 and 0.38 ± 0.009 μM (n = 3) in D-17 (commercial) and Gracie canine osteosarcoma cells, respectively. RL71 significantly increased the ratio of cleaved-caspase 3 to pro-caspase 3 and the level of apoptotic cells at the 2× and 5× EC₅₀ concentration (p < 0.001, n = 3). Furthermore, at the same concentration, RL71 significantly increased the number of cells in the G2/M phase. In conclusion, RL71 has potent cytotoxic activity in canine osteosarcoma cells triggering G2/M arrest and apoptosis at concentrations achievable in vivo. Future research should further investigate molecular mechanisms for these changes in other canine osteosarcoma cell lines prior to in vivo investigation.     

Effects of supplementation with green tea by‐products on growth performance,meat quality,blood metabolites and immune cell proliferation in goats

Forty‐eight castrated male goats were used to determine the effects of feeding green tea by‐products (GTB) on growth performance, meat quality, blood metabolites and immune cell proliferation. Experimental treatments consisted of basal diets supplemented with four levels of GTB (0%, 0.5%, 1.0% or 2.0%). Four replicate pens were assigned to each treatment with three goats per replicate. Increasing dietary GTB tended to linearly increase the overall average weight gain and feed intake (p = 0.09). Water holding capacity, pH and sensory attributes of meat were not affected by GTB supplementation, while cooking loss was reduced both linearly and quadratically (p < 0.01). The redness (linear; p = 0.02, quadratic; p < 0.01) and yellowness (quadratic; p < 0.01) values of goat meat were improved by GTB supplementation. Increasing dietary GTB quadratically increased protein and decreased crude fat (p < 0.05), while linearly decreased cholesterol (p = 0.03) content of goat meat. The proportions of monounsaturated fatty acid, polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) and n‐6 PUFA increased linearly (p < 0.01) and n‐3 PUFA increased quadratically (p < 0.05) as GTB increased in diets. Increasing dietary GTB linearly increased the PUFA/SFA (saturated fatty acid) and tended to linearly and quadratically increase (p ≤ 0.10) the n‐6/n‐3 ratio. The thiobarbituric acid‐reactive substances values of meat were lower in the 2.0% GTB‐supplemented group in all storage periods (p < 0.05). Dietary GTB linearly decreased plasma glucose and cholesterol (p < 0.01) and quadratically decreased urea nitrogen concentrations (p = 0.001). The growth of spleen cells incubated in concanavalin A and lipopolysaccharides medium increased significantly (p < 0.05) in response to GTB supplementation. Our results suggest that GTB may positively affect the growth performance, meat quality, blood metabolites and immune cell proliferation when supplemented as a feed additive in goat diet.     

Yeast cell wall and live yeast products and their combination in broiler diets formulated with weekly ingredient variations

A 6‐week broiler study was conducted to evaluate whether subjecting the intestinal microflora of broilers to the effect of weekly variations in feed ingredients could be ameliorated by the inclusion of yeast‐derived feed additives: a yeast cell wall extract (YCW), live yeast culture (LY) or their combination (YCW + LY). Recent changes in ingredient prices have motivated producers to formulate diets not necessarily based primarily on corn and soya bean meal. Intestinal microflora in birds can vary significantly based on the ingredient composition of their diet, and the make‐up of the flora can influence overall bird performance. Within the three nutrient phases of this study, birds were fed either a traditional corn–soya ingredient profile or a variable‐ingredient regimen, which had weekly changes in the ingredient composition. There were consistent ameliorative effects of the yeast treatments in both the corn–soya and the variable‐ingredient groups throughout all 6 weeks, with the YCW + LY combination showing a reduced effect when compared to either product fed alone. The effectiveness of YCW and LY on ameliorating the effects of weekly ingredient variations appeared most effective during the starter and grower phases, but was less significant during the sixth week.     

树突状细胞甘露糖受体在旋毛虫感染中的变化研究

应用流式细胞术(FCM)检测旋毛虫感染后小鼠肠系膜淋巴结(MLN)中树突状细胞(DC)上甘露糖受体(MR)的影响。培养小鼠骨髓源树突状细胞(BMDC)并负载旋毛虫排泄/分泌抗原(ES抗原),FCM检测BMDC上MR的变化情况。结果显示,感染第7天MLN中DC表面MR出现下调,但在14 d后出现上调,差异显著(P0.05)。体外实验发现,BMDC负载ES抗原后MR出现下调,直到第48小时出现上调,差异显著(P0.05)。本研究证明旋毛虫感染后可以引起树突状细胞上MR的变化,表明MR可能是ES抗原的识别受体。这为研制旋毛虫树突状细胞疫苗提供了支持,并对寄生虫免疫逃避机制的研究提供了思路。     

Evaluation of embryonic age and the effects of different proteases on the isolation and primary culture of chicken intestinal epithelial cells in vitro

The present study evaluates the effects of embryonic age and proteolytic enzymes on the isolation and primary culture of chicken enterocyte and to establish an effective technique for chicken intestinal epithelial cell (IEC) cultivation. Fourteen‐day‐old, 16‐day‐old and 18‐day‐old embryos (average weight: 52.23 ± 0.76 g, 50.86 ± 0.99 g, 48.98 ± 1.03 g) were the source for preparation of enterocyte culture, and trypsin‐ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid, collagenase, thermolysin and combination of collagenase and thermolysin were used for digestion medium. Optimal culture protocols were determined by qualitative assays of proliferation. Cells isolated by using 14‐day‐old embryo and collagenase obtain the best attachment and growth in culture, and the production of continuously growing IEC cultures. Thus, we conclude that the use of collagenase as a dissociating enzyme and 14‐day‐old embryo as a source can be advantageously applied to the isolation of chicken IEC and this method may be useful for various applications and basic studies of the intestinal tract concerning such objects as physiology, immunology and toxicology.     

Growth promoting effects of prebiotic yeast cell wall products in starter broilers under an immune stress and Clostridium perfringens challenge

This study was designed to investigate the growth promoting effects of supplementing different sources and concentrations of prebiotic yeast cell wall (YCW) products containing mannanoligosaccharides in starter broilers under an immune stress andClostridium perfringens challenge. Through a series of 6 individual studies either 240 or 288 newly hatched chicks were randomly distributed to specific dietary treatments. All birds received a commercial infectious bursa disease vaccine at 10 or 15 d age followed by an orally administeredClostridium perfringens challenge on d 15, 16, and 17; or 18, 19, and 20. Weekly BW, feed consumption, and daily mortality were recorded per pen. Each study was terminated after 21 d. Pooled data analysis of all studies revealed no effect between different product sources of YCW. Products from both sources produced a significant improvement in growth rate compared to control birds fed no YCW. However, a blend of two YCW products showed an approximate 15% improvement in growth rate and a 10% reduction in FCR. The optimum dose of any YCW product among those tested was determined to be approximately 250 ppm. Prebiotic YCW additives increased BW and improved feed conversion and may be considered as alternative growth promoters for starting broilers.     

Influence of race and crossbreeding on casein micelles size

Casein (CN) micelles are colloidal aggregates of protein dispersed in milk, the importance of which in the dairy industry is related to functionality and yield in dairy products. The objective of this work was to investigate the correlation of milk CN micelles diameter from Holstein and Zebu crossbreds with milk composition (protein, fat, lactose, total and nonfat solids and milk urea nitrogen), somatic cell count (SCC), age, lactation stage and production. Average casein micelles diameters of milk samples obtained from 200 cows were measured using photon correlation spectroscopy and multiple regression analysis was used to find relationship between variables. CN micelle diameter, SCC and nonfat solids were different between animals with different Holstein crossbreed ratios, which suggests influence of genetic factors, mammary gland health and milk composition. Overall, results indicate the potential use of CN micelle diameter as a tool to select animals to produce milk more suitable to cheese production.     

复合益生菌菌液对奶牛产奶量和肠道菌群的影响

为了研究复合益生菌菌液对奶牛产奶量、乳品质量、牛群健康和肠道菌群的影响,选择20头条件相近的健康奶牛随机分为试验组和对照组,采用菌液与饲料混合的方法饲喂牛群,考察其对奶牛产奶量,肠道菌群乳品质量和牛群健康的影响。结果表明,食用复合益生菌液的每头牛比对照组平均每天可以多产2.9kg牛奶,提高产奶量14.8%,差异极显著(P0.01),经济效益显著;复合益生菌菌液可以促进肠道菌群调整,使有益菌-主要是乳酸菌成为优势菌群,并可以抑制霉菌和降解霉菌毒素,降低牛乳中体细胞数,预防隐性乳腺(房)炎。