Characterization of bovine ileal epithelial cell line for lectin binding,susceptibility to enteric pathogens,and TLR mediated immune responses

In this study, primary and immortalized bovine intestinal epithelial cells (BIECs) were characterized for the expression of surface carbohydrate moieties. Primary BIEC-c4 cells showed staining greater than 90 % for 16 lectins but less than 50 % staining for four lectins. Immortalized BIECs showed significantly different lectin binding profile for few lectins compared to BIEC-c4 cells. BIEC-c4 cells were studied for infectivity to E. coli, Salmonella enterica, bovine rotavirus, bovine coronavirus, and bovine viral diarrhea virus. Bovine strain E. coli B41 adhered to BIEC-c4 cells and Salmonella strains S. Dublin and S. Mbandaka showed strong cell invasion. BIEC-c4 cells were susceptible to bovine rotavirus. LPS stimulation upregulated IL-10, IL-8, and IL-6 expression and Poly I:C upregulated TLR 8 and TLR 9 expression. This study provides important knowledge on the glycoconjugate expression profile of primary and immortalized BIECs and infectivity and immune responses of primary BIECs to bacterial and viral pathogens or ligands.     

CnAβ基因对大鼠RBL-2H3细胞脱颗粒的影响

过敏是人和养殖动物常见的疾病，而且发生的频率呈现逐渐增加的趋势。为了深入了解过敏反应的机制，本研究利用CRISPR/Cas9基因编辑技术，构建钙调磷酸酶A beta （calcineurin A beta，CnAβ）基因敲除的大鼠RBL-2H3细胞株，并探讨CnAβ基因对RBL-2H3细胞生长及脱颗粒的影响。选取大鼠CnAβ基因第一外显子为敲除靶点，设计并合成3个单导向RNA （single guide RNA，sgRNA），构建pX459-CnAβ-sgRNA质粒，并用脂质体3000将构建好的质粒转染到RBL-2H3细胞内；利用嘌呤霉素对转染细胞进行筛选，通过DNA测序验证获得CnAβ基因敲除的RBL-2H3细胞株；并检测CnAβ基因缺失对细胞增殖和脱颗粒的影响。结果表明，成功构建了CnAβ单基因敲除的大鼠RBL-2H3细胞株；CnAβ基因缺失对RBL-2H3细胞增殖、细胞的颗粒形成以及颗粒含量无显著影响，但显著抑制由细胞表面受体介导的RBL-2H3细胞脱颗粒作用。该研究结果有助于深入了解动物过敏性疾病的发生机制，为动物过敏性疾病的预防提供了理论基础。     

黄曲霉毒素B1、玉米赤霉烯酮和呕吐毒素的累加细胞毒性研究

由于饲料中多种霉菌毒素并存的几率比较高，本研究以仔猪肠上皮细胞（IPEC-J2）为模型，研究黄曲霉毒素B1（AFB1）、玉米赤霉烯酮（ZEA）和呕吐毒素（DON）的叠加细胞毒性。细胞毒性试验选用AFB1、ZEA和DON三种毒素作为响应面Box-Behnke设计的三个因素，以AFB1：10、20、30 μg/L，ZEA：150、300、450 μg/L，DON：500、1000、1500 μg/L作为Box-Behnke设计的三个编码水平。利用响应面设计构建得到17组复合霉菌毒素组合，以其对IPEC-J2细胞活力的影响作为参考指标，得到对细胞损伤程度最高和最低的霉菌毒素添加比例。结果表明：经方程预测后，得到细胞活力最低（霉菌毒素毒性最高）的AFB1、ZEA和DON组合为30、150 μg/L和1500 μg/L，经测定细胞活力为32.32%|得到细胞活力最高（霉菌毒素毒性最低）的AFB1、ZEA和DON组合为10、150 μg/L和600 μg/L，经测定细胞活力为53.01%。该结果为多种霉菌毒素叠加毒性的研究提供了依据。 [关键词] IPEC-J2细胞|黄曲霉毒素B1|玉米赤霉烯酮|呕吐毒素|细胞毒性     

FAM3C activates Akt to promote viability of oral squamous-cell carcinoma cells

AIM: To investigate the expression and roles of family with sequence similarity 3, member C (FAM3C) in oral squamous-cell carcinoma cells. METHODS: The mRNA and protein expression levels of FAM3C in dysplastic oral keratinocyte (DOK) and oral squamous-cell carcinoma WSU-HN6 cells were detected by RT-qPCR and Western blot. The WSU-HN6 cells were treated with siFAM3C or FAM3C antibody. After 24, 48 and 72 h, the viability of WSU-HN6 cells was measured by CCK-8 assay, and the activation of protein kinase B (Akt) was detected by Western blot. Adenovirus was used to mediate over-expression of FAM3C in the DOK cells. The DOK cell viability was measured by CCK-8 assay after adenovirus infection for 24, 48 and 72 h, and the activation of Akt was detected by Western blot. RESULTS: Compared with the DOK cells, the mRNA and protein levels of FAM3C were significantly increased in the WSU-HN6 cells (P<0.05). The viability of WSU-HN6 cells transfected with siFAM3C was significantly inhibited at 48 h and 72 h (P<0.05). siFAM3C treatment inhibited the activation of Akt (P<0.05). FAM3C antibody treatment also suppressed the viability of the WSU-HN6 cells at 48 h and 72 h and the activation of Akt (P<0.05). Over-expression of FAM3C in the DOK cells promoted the cell viability at 48 h and 72 h and activated Akt (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: FAM3C might promote oral squamous-cell carcinoma cell growth by activating Akt.     

Effect of HMGA2 gene on high glucose-induced apoptosis of renal tubular epithelial cells by regulating Notch signaling pathway

AIM:To investigate the effect of HMGA2 down-regulation on apoptosis and Notch signaling pathway in renal tubular epithelial cells exposed to high glucose (HG). METHODS:D-glucose at 5, 10, 20 and 30 mmol/L was used to stimulate human renal tubular epithelial HK-2 cells for 2 h, and D-glucose at 30 mmol/L was used to stimulate the HK-2 cells for 10 min, 60 min and 120 min. The protein expression of HMGA2 was determined by Western blot. The HK-2 cells were divided into normal glucose (NG) group, HG group, HG+si-HMGA2 group and HG+NC group, in which siRNA was transfected by Lipofectamine^TM 2000 for 48 h. Flow cytometry was used to analyze the apoptotic rate, reactive oxygen species (ROS) assay kit was used to detect ROS content, and Western blot was used to detect the protein levels of Notch1, Hes1 and Bcl-2. The HK-2 cells were treated with the Notch signaling pathway inhibitor DAPT, and then the cells were divided into HG group, HG+DAPT group and HG+si-HMGA2+DAPT group. The apoptotic rate was analyzed by flow cytometry. RESULTS:Exposure of the HK-2 cells to D-glucose at different concentrations for different time significantly increased the expression of HMGA2 (P<0.05). Compared with NG group, the protein expression of HMGA2, Notch1 and Hes1 in HG group was increased, the expression of Bcl-2/Bax was decreased, the apoptotic rate was increased, and the content of ROS was increased obviously (P<0.05). Compared with HG group, the protein expression of HMGA2, Notch1 and Hes1 of HG+si-HMGA2 group was decreased, the expression of Bcl-2/Bax was increased, the apoptotic rate was decreased, and the content of ROS was decreased significantly (P<0.05). The apoptotic rate in HG+DAPT group was significantly lower than that in HG group, while the apoptotic rate in HG+si-HMGA2+DAPT group was significantly lower than that in HG+DAPT group (P<0.05). CONCLUSION:Down-regulation of HMGA2 expression inhibits the apoptosis of renal tubular epithelial cells by regulating Notch signaling pathway and decreasing ROS production.     

Effect of miR-29b-mediated TGF-β/Smad signaling pathway on progression of hepatic fibrosis in rats

AIM: To investigate the role of microRNA-29b (miR-29b)-mediated TGF-β/Smad signaling pathway in the activation of hepatic stellate cells (HSC) and its effect on the progression of hepatic fibrosis in rats.METHODS: Hepatic liver fibrosis rat model was established, and its HSC were isolated. Normal rat HSC were also obtained and identified in vitro. RT-qPCR and Western blot were used to detect the alterations of miR-29b, TGF-β/Smad signaling pathway-related proteins and liver fibrosis marker proteins in the acquired cells. Finally, the direct targeting binding of miR-29b to TGF-β1 was identified by dual-luciferase reporter assay system.RESULTS: With the activation of HSC, the expression of miR-29b gradually decreased (P<0.01), while the expression of collagen type I and α-smooth muscle actin gradually increased (P<0.01). At the same time, the expression of Smad2/3/4 was significantly increased, and the expression of Smad7 was significantly decreased (P<0.01). Dual-luciferase reporter assay showed that miR-29b bound directly to "UCUCUCCGU" in the 3'UTR of TGF-β1, indicating that TGF-β1 was a downstream target gene of miR-29b.CONCLUSION: miR-29b may be involved in the inhibition of HSC activation and migration, thereby inhibiting the process of liver fibrosis. The biological function of miR-29b may be through the direct targeting of TGF-β1, thus regulating and inhibiting the TGF-β/Smad signaling pathway.     

Role of ghrelin in cell protection by up-regulating HSP70 through ERK1/2 signaling pathway in PC12 cells

AIM:To study the role of ghrelin in cell protection by up-regulating heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) and inhibiting apoptosis induced by oxidative stress through extracellular regulated protein kinases 1/2 (ERK1/2) signaling pathway in the PC12 cells. METHODS:Sodium nitoprusside (SNP) was used to induce oxidative stress injury in the PC12 cells. The cultured PC12 cells were divided into SNP-injured group (incubated with SNP at 0.5 mmol/L for 6, 12, 18 and 24 h), ghrelin pretreatment group (ghrelin at 100 nmol/L was given 30 min before adding SNP); HSP70 inhibitor group (quercetin at 10 μmol/L was added 60 min before ghrelin treatment), ERK inhibitor group (ERK 1/2 inhibitor PD98059 was added 60 min before ghrelin treatment) and control group (added same amount of culture medium only). The apoptotic rate was detected by flow cytometry. The protein expression was determined by Western blot and immunocytochemistry. RESULTS:Compared with control group, the apoptotic rate of PC12 cells in SNP-injured group was significantly increased (P<0.05). Compared with SNP-injured group, ghrelin (100 nmol/L) pretreatment significantly inhibited SNP-induced apoptosis of PC12 cells (P<0.05), and significantly up-regulated the protein expression of HSP70 (P<0.05). Time-effect analysis showed that ghrelin had the most significant effect at 18 h after SNP injury. Quercetin, an inhibitor of HSP 70, significantly reduced the anti-apoptotic effect of ghrelin (P<0.05). Ghrelin pretreatment promoted the phosphorylation of ERK1/2. ERK1/2 inhibitor PD98059 significantly inhibited the effects of ghrelin on up-regulation of HSP70 expression (P<0.05). CONCLUSION:Ghrelin upregulates the expression of HSP70 and inhibits the apoptosis in the PC12 cells induced by oxidative stress by promoting the phosphorylation of ERK1/2.     

Effect of CHOP expression knock-down on apoptosis of renal tubular epithelial cells

AIM:To study the effect of C/EBP homologous protein (CHOP) on the apoptosis of renal tubular epithelial HK2 cells. METHODS:The serum mRNA levels of CHOP in the patients with acute kidney injury and healthy controls were detected by qPCR. In vitro, renal tubular epithelial HK2 cells were divided into control group, negative group (transfected with negative control siRNA), si-CHOP group (transfected with CHOP siRNA), and induced by transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1). The viability of the cells was measured by MTT assay, and the apoptotic rate was analyzed by flow cytometry. The protein levels of nuclear antigen Ki-67, proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), caspase-3 and cleaved caspase-3 were determined by Western blot. RESULTS:Compared with the healthy controls, the serum mRNA levels of CHOP in the patients with acute kidney injury were increased significantly (P<0.05). Transfection with CHOP siRNA significantly decreased the expression of CHOP in the renal tubular epithelial HK2 cells (P<0.05). Knock-down of CHOP expression by siRNA significantly increased the viability of renal tubular epithelial HK2 cells (P<0.05), decreased the apoptotic rate (P<0.05), increased the expression of Ki-67 and PCNA (P<0.05), and down-regulated the protein level of cleaved caspase-3 (P<0.05). CONCLUSION:The serum mRNA levels of CHOP were increased in the patients with acute kidney injury. Knock-down of CHOP expression inhibits the apoptosis of renal tubular epithelial cells by regulating the expression of proliferation-and apoptosis-related proteins.