Decreased transport of orally administered protein into the blood circulation of developing juveniles of Japanese eel Anguilla japonica

ABSTRACT: To clarify the quantitative changes in the transport of orally intubated protein into the blood circulation as macromolecules in development, immunoglobulin Y (IgY) extracted from chicken eggs was administered orally to juvenile Japanese eel, Anguilla japonica . For the first experiment, which was performed before the commencement of artificial feeding, the oral delivery of 2.0 μg/0.1 g bodyweight of IgY resulted in a rapid increase in plasma IgY to a maximum of 2.30 μg/mL. However, the transport of IgY into the blood decreased significantly in the experiments that followed, which were performed after 12, 25 and 42 days. During this period, bodyweight increased approximately by a factor of eight, and rapid growth of the stomach was observed histologically. Possible contributions for the development of the alimentary canal to the diminishment of intestinal protein assimilation are discussed.     

Expression and modulation of connective tissue growth factor in renal interstitial fibrosis

CTGF, a member of the CCN family of immediate early genes, is a recently discovered profibrotic growth factor, which is involved in many pathophysiologic procedures. CTGF acts as a downstream effector of TGF-β acting on interstitial cells to enhance the progression of fibrotic renal diseases. It has been shown that CTGF gene expression can be induced or blocked by some kinds of cytokine and drugs. It is an interesting candidate target for future intervention strategies of renal interstitial fibrosis.     

Relation between TNF-α,TNFR I expression and apoptosis in oral lichen planus

AIM: To examine the expression and distribution of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), tumor necrosis factor receptor I (TNFR I) and apoptosis in oral lichen planus, and evaluate their roles and relation in the oral lichen. METHODS: Immunohistochemical technique and TUNEL were employed to study the expression of TNF-α, TNFR I and apoptosis in 50 cases of oral lichen planus and 10 normal oral mucosa specimens. RESULTS: Compared with the normal control group, TNF-α expression was upregulated in mononuclear cells in lamina propria and decreased in keratinocytes in oral lichen planus lesion (P<0.05). On the contrary, TNFR I expression was increased in keratinocytes and decreased in lamina propria in oral lichen planus lesion (P<0.05). The increased apoptosis index in keratinocytes and the decreased apoptosis index in lamina propria were found in oral lichen planus (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: The accelerated apoptosis of keratinocytes and the inhibition of lymphocytes apoptosis may contribute to the formation and progression of oral lichen planus.     

绿茶抗大鼠肾间质纤维化作用的实验研究

采用"单肾切除加腺嘌呤灌胃法"建立大鼠慢性肾衰竭模型。治疗组予绿茶液灌胃治疗,对照组予尿毒清溶液灌胃治疗,连续治疗28天。取大鼠肾脏石蜡切片分别进行HE染色、PASM染色、Masson染色、Sirius Red染色、Mallory染色,光镜下观察大鼠肾组织5种染色的病理形态学改变,PASM染色、Masson染色、Sirius Red染色随机选择进行肾脏组织病理学图像分析。绿茶组在肾间质纤维化面积、肾小球系膜积分光密度值、肾间质中I、Ⅲ型胶原分布面积等方面的作用与模型组对比,P<0.05。说明绿茶能够减轻腺嘌呤对大鼠肾间质的病理损害,绿茶有抗肾间质纤维化的作用,并且能抑制I、Ⅲ型胶原纤维的增生,这可能是绿茶防治肾间质纤维化、延缓慢性肾衰竭发展进程的机制之一。     

Experimental research on cardiac fibrosis induced by recombinant mouse interleukin-11 in mice

AIM To observe the effect of recombinant mouse interleukin-11 （rmIL-11）injected subcutaneously into mice on heart structure and function and to determine its pro-fibrotic effect. METHODS C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into experimental group and control group.The mice in experimental group were injected subcutaneously with recombinant mouse IL-11 at the dose of 100 μg·kg^-1·d^-1 for 3 consecutive weeks, while the control group were given equal volume of normal saline in the same way. After the experiment was finished, the parameters of heart function were measured by echocardiography.The heart weight was weighed and the cardiac weight index (CWI) was calculated. HE staining and Masson's trichrome staining were performed to observe the pathological changes and the extent of myocardial fibrosis in mouse myocardia respectively, and the cardiac collagen volume fraction (CVF) was calculated. The expression levels of extracellular matrix proteins in the myocardial tissues of mice, including type Ⅰ collagen, type Ⅲ collagen and fibronectin, were determined by Western blot. RESULTS Left ventricular ejection fraction and left ventricular fraction shortening in experimental group were obviously lower than those in control group (P<0.01), however left ventricular end-diastolic diamension and left ventricular end systolic dimension were significantly higher than those in control group (P<0.05).Compared with control group, the CWI was increased (P<0.01), the myocardial arrangement was disorder, the necrosis of cardiac myocytes was increased, and excessive deposition of collagen was observed in the myocardial tissues in experimental group. Correspondingly, the CVF and protein levels of type Ⅰ collagen, type Ⅲ collagen and fibronectin in the left ventricle in experimental group were increased significantly (P<0.05). CONCLUSION Injection of rmIL-11 into the mice subcutaneously induces fibrogenesis in the heart, which implies that IL-11 is likely a novel pro-fibrotic factor.     

重组鸡β-防御素6基因的表达和生物学特性的研究

目的为开发中药防治畜禽沙门氏菌病,根据沙门氏菌病中兽医辩证进行中药组方,为今后畜禽养殖减抗限抗的替代疗法提供参考。方法采用倍比稀释法检测复方板蓝根口服液对鸡白痢沙门氏菌的最小抑菌质量浓度(minimum inhibitory concentration,MIC)和最小杀菌质量浓度(minimum bactericidal concentration,MBC),扫描电镜观察菌体形态变化。试验选取150羽1日龄雏鸡,随机取出30羽做空白组,其余120羽人工感染鸡白痢沙门氏菌,制备雏鸡感染模型。将感染雏鸡随机分为模型组、中药治疗组、西药治疗组和中药预防组,每组30羽。观察雏鸡的发病率及死亡率。于治疗后1、3和5 d检测血清中IL-1β和TNF-α的含量;实时荧光PCR检测禽β-防御素6 (avian beta-defensin 6,AvBD6) 和鸡Toll样受体15 (chicken toll-like receptor 15,ChTLR15) 在雏鸡小肠中的转录水平。结果体外试验结果显示：MIC和MBC分别为62.5和125 mg/mL;扫描电镜下可见菌体出现溢缩,断裂形成许多残体,形状不规则。中药预防组可降低雏鸡的发病率及死亡率。与模型组相比,中药预防组和中药治疗组均可降低IL-1β和TNF-α含量。而ChTLR15和AvBD6在感染初期表达量高,治疗后期趋于正常。结论复方板蓝根口服液对鸡白痢沙门氏菌有明显的抑制作用,其杀菌机制是通过改变菌体的形态结构使细菌丧失活性。试验证实复方板蓝根口服液可有效预防雏鸡沙门氏菌感染,并能有效降低体内炎性因子水平,减轻炎症反应。     

Influence of paricalcitol on renal tubulointerstitial fibrosis in diabetic nephropathy

AIM: To investigate the effect of paricalcitol (P) on renal tubulointerstitial fibrosis and the underlying mechanisms in diabetic nephropathy (DN).METHODS: DN rat model was induced by a single intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin after fasting. The animals were randomly divided into 2 groups:the DN rats in paricalcitol-intervened group (group P) were injected intraperitoneally with paricalcitol dissolved in propylene glycol after the day when the model was induced successfully at a dose of 0.4 μg/kg (3 times a week); the DN rats in DN group (group D) were given isopyknic propylene glycol. Normal control group (group C) was also set up. The samples of blood, urine and renal tissue were collected after intervention of paricalcitol for 12 weeks. The biochemical indexes were measured. The renal tissues were used for pathologic observation and determining the expression of transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1), Wnt-4, β-catenin and Klotho by immunohistochemistry and Western blotting. In addition, the correlation among the above indexes was analyzed.RESULTS: (1) Scr, BUN and 24 h urine protein increased significantly in group D compared with group C, while decreased in group P compared with group D (P<0.05). (2) The area of renal tubulointerstitial fibrosis increased in group D compared with group C, while decreased in group P compared with group D (P<0.05). (3) The expression of Klotho decreased, while the expression of TGF-β1, Wnt-4 and β-catenin increased in group D compared with group C (P<0.05). Compared with group D, the expression of Klotho increased, while the expression of TGF-β1, Wnt-4 and β-catenin decreased in group P (P<0.05). (4) The expression of Klotho was negatively correlated with the fibrosis area, TGF-β1, Wnt-4 and β-catenin (P<0.05).CONCLUSION: Paricalcitol inhibits renal tubulointerstitial fibrosis in DN by promoting the expression of renal Klotho, and inhibiting Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway activation and TGF-β1 synthesis.     

Highly recurrent BRAF p.V595E mutation in canine papillary oral squamous cell carcinoma

Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is the most common oral epithelial malignancy in dogs. It exhibits locally aggressive biological behaviour with the potential to metastasize, and a reported 1-year survival rate of 0% when left untreated. Expression studies suggest that aberrant MAPK signalling plays a key role in canine OSCC tumorigenesis, which is consistent with BRAF and HRAS MAPK-activating mutations reported in some tumours. Several morphological subtypes of canine OSCC have been described, with papillary, conventional, and basaloid as the most common patterns. We hypothesized that mutational differences may underlie these phenotypic variations. In this study, targeted Sanger sequencing and restriction fragment length polymorphism assays demonstrate that up to 85.7% of canine papillary OSCC (n = 14) harbour a BRAF p.V595E mutation. Assessment of neoplastic epithelial cell proliferation using Ki67 immunolabelling (n = 10) confirmed a relatively high proliferation activity, consistent with their known aggressive clinical behaviour. These findings underscore a consistent genetic feature of canine papillary OSCC and provide a basis for the development of novel diagnostic and targeted therapeutic approaches that can improve the quality of veterinary care.