Alteration of somatostatin receptor 2 expression in canine mammary gland tumor

Somatostatin receptor 2 (SSTR2) is a negative regulator of cell proliferation in human breast cancer. Since there is little information about SSTR2 in canine mammary gland tumor (MGT), we clarified its distribution and expression level in normal mammary gland, benign MGT and malignant MGT. SSTR2 expression determined by immunohistochemical staining was observed in the cytoplasm of luminal epithelial cells. The intensity was negatively correlated with malignancy: normal tissues and some of the benign tumors had the highest levels, while the malignant tumors had little or no SSTR2 expression. As for the Western blotting, SSTR2 protein level in benign tumors was significantly lower than the normal mammary gland. On the other hand, SSTR2 protein levels in two of three malignant tumors were higher than the other groups. These results suggest that SSTR2 expression alters according to the malignancy of canine MGT.     

Localization of leptin and leptin receptor in the bovine adenohypophysis

The present study was carried out to detail the cellular localization of leptin (Lep) and the leptin receptor (LepR) in the bovine adenohypophysis. Lep immunoreactivity (Lep-ir) was found in about 30% of adenohypophysial cells in the gland. Immunochemistry of Lep and specific hormones using serial sections revealed that Lep-ir was present in 60.4% of somatotrophs, 15.9% of gonadotrophs, 6.5% of mammotrophs, 6.5% of thyrotrophs and 2.4% of corticotrophs. Both the common short isoform (OBRa) and the long isoform (OBRb) of LepR mRNA were expressed in the bovine adenohypophysis. LepR immunoreactivity (LepR-ir) was found in only 2.8% of the adenohypophysial cells and over 50% of LepR-ir cells were gonadotrophs, in which most of the cells were distributed in the zona tuberalis. The findings on Lep and LepR in the adenohypophysial cells indicate that Lep may regulate gonadotroph function through autocrine/paracrine pathway in the bovine adenohypophysis.     

AR regulates porcine immature Sertoli cell growth via binding to RNF4 and miR-124a

Sertoli cells are the only somatic cells in the seminiferous epithelium which directly contact with germ cells. Sertoli cells exhibit polarized alignment at the basal membrane of seminiferous tubules to maintain the microenvironment for growth and development of germ cells, and therefore play a crucial role in spermatogenesis. Androgens exert their action through androgen receptor (AR) and AR signalling in the testis is essential for maintenance of spermatogonial numbers, blood–testis barrier integrity, completion of meiosis, adhesion of spermatids and spermiation. In the present study, we demonstrated that AR gene could promote the proliferation of immature porcine Sertoli cells (ST cells) and the cell cycle procession, and accelerate the transition from G1 phase into S phase in ST cells. Meanwhile, miR-124a could affect the proliferation and cell cycle procession of ST cells by targeting 3′-UTR of AR gene. Furthermore, AR bound to the RNF4 via AR DNA-binding domain (DBD) and we verified that RNF4 was necessary for AR to regulate the growth of ST cells. Above all, this study suggests that AR regulates ST cell growth via binding to RNF4 and miR-124a, which may help us to further understand the function of AR in spermatogenesis.     

Expression and functional analysis of chemokine receptor 7 in canine lymphoma cell lines

C-C chemokine receptor 7 (CCR7) contributes to cell homing to lymph nodes (LNs). Recent studies reported that CCR7 is also expressed in tumor cells, which correlates with LN metastasis in various cancers. However, the expression of CCR7 in tumor cells is unknown in dogs due to the lack of appropriate antibodies. In the present study, a fusion protein of C-C chemokine ligand 19 (CCL19) was employed as an alternative method to CCR7 antibodies. The fusion CCL19 protein specifically detected CCR7 expressed in canine lymphoma cell lines, which showed active chemotaxis to both canine and mouse ligands. The present study will help further research on the involvement of canine CCR7 in LN metastasis.     

Comparison of arylalkylamine N-acetyltransferase and melatonin receptor type 1B immunoreactivity between young adult and aged canine spinal cord

Melatonin affects diverse physiological functions through its receptor and plays an important role in the central nervous system. In the present study, we compared immunoreactivity patterns of arylalkylamine N-acetyltransferase (AANAT), an enzyme essential for melatonin synthesis, and melatonin receptor type 1B (MT2) in the spinal cord of young adult (2~3 years) and aged (10~12 years) beagle dogs using immunohistochemistry and Western blotting. AANAT-specific immunoreactivity was observed in the nuclei of spinal neurons, and was significantly increased in aged dog spinal neurons compared to young adult spinal neurons. MT2-specific immunoreactivity was found in the cytoplasm of spinal neurons, and was predominantly increased in the margin of the neuron cytoplasm in aged spinal cord compared to that in the young adult dogs. These increased levels of AANAT and MT2 immunoreactivity in aged spinal cord might be a feature of normal aging and associated with a feedback mechanism that compensates for decreased production of melatonin during aging.     

IFN-γR和ER在大鼠下丘脑中的共存

为了探讨神经-免疫-内分泌网络中生物活性物质间相互调节和平衡的关系,本试验应用免疫组化双标记法对成年SD雌性大鼠下丘脑中IFN-γ受体（IFN-γR）和雌激素受体（ER）的共表达进行了研究。结果发现,IFN-γR和ER广泛存在于大鼠下丘脑中,其中在视前交叉上核、视前内侧核、室周核、交叉上核、下丘脑前核、下丘脑内侧核、下丘脑外侧核、乳头体前背侧核、乳头体前腹侧核等13个核团中存在大量的IFN-γR和ER双标记细胞,双标记细胞约占全部阳性标记细胞的60．9％;双标记细胞胞质呈黑褐色、胞核呈棕黄色;ER单标着色细胞以神经胶质细胞居多。研究结果表明,IFN-γ和雌激素可以分别以其各自受体为介质进行信号传递和信息整合,同时也通过在同一细胞中的相互作用而参与机体的神经-免疫-内分泌调节。     

Fipronil modulation of GABAA receptor single-channel currents

Fipronil is the first phenylpyrazole insecticide introduced for pest control. Although fipronil is known to inhibit GABA receptors, the detailed mechanism of action remains to be seen. In order to elucidate the mechanism of fipronil interaction with the mammalian GABAA system, single-channel patch clamp experiments were performed using rat dorsal root ganglion neurons. The amplitude of main conductance state (27pS) current was not significantly altered by co-application of 10 microM fipronil and 10 microM GABA. The histograms of open time distribution were fitted to a sum of three exponential functions. After application of 10 microM fipronil, the proportion of the fastest component increased slightly and that of the slowest component decreased slightly. Thus, the mean open time was decreased from 11.4 ms to 7.8 ms by fipronil. The histograms of closed time distribution were fitted to a sum of four exponential functions. Fipronil 10 microM prolonged the slowest time constant resulting in a prolongation of the mean closed time from 29.7 ms to 52.8 ms. Thus, the frequency of channel openings was reduced. Thus, the fipronil suppression of GABA-induced whole-cell currents is caused in part by decreases in the channel open time and the frequency of channel openings.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-acyl-homoserine lactone-mediated quorum sensing blockage,a novel strategy for attenuating pathogenicity of Gram-negative bacterial plant pathogens

Quorum sensing is a bacterial communication mechanism by which bacteria sense their own population size and couple specific gene expression to cell density. In Gram-negative bacteria, the most commonly used quorum sensing signals are N-acyl homoserine lactones (AHLs). It is now apparent that many pathogenic bacteria employ quorum sensing to control premature expression of virulence factors. This control is thought to decrease the likelihood that the plant host would detect the pathogens presence and activate its defense system. Novel strategies that target bacterial quorum sensing systems in order to control plant bacterial diseases are discussed.     

病毒受体研究技术进展

病毒受体是生物体内与病毒结合的受体分子,与病毒的感染密切相关.在病毒感染的过程中,受体起着至关重要的作用.因此,对病毒受体的研究是明确病毒致病机理的关键.论文简要介绍了几种传统的研究受体的方法,并对一些研究受体的新方法进行了重点介绍.     

细菌鞭毛蛋白作为佐剂的研究进展

细菌鞭毛蛋白作为Toll样受体5(TLR5)或NOD样受体C4(NLRC4)的配体,其结构决定了其既有抗原性又具有佐剂效应。将细菌鞭毛蛋白与外源抗原混合或融合表达,已获得多种有效的候选疫苗。细菌鞭毛蛋白佐剂效应主要是通过TLR5和NLRC4信号途径协同实现的。TLR5位于细胞表面,可触发炎性因子、趋化因子和Ⅰ型干扰素的分泌,启动天然免疫应答。NLRC4是细胞质中的模式识别受体,可识别细胞质中的多种配体并诱导相应免疫应答。另外,细菌鞭毛蛋白能募集T淋巴细胞和B淋巴细胞至次级淋巴器官,促进DCs和T淋巴细胞的活化。细菌鞭毛蛋白的可塑性将会使得以细菌鞭毛蛋白为基础的疫苗成为当前和未来研究的热点。