Molecular cloning of canine interleukin-31 and its expression in various tissues

The newly discovered cytokine, interleukin-31 (IL-31), belongs to the short-chain cytokine group. It was reported that transgenic expression of IL-31-induced pruritus, similar to atopic dermatitis, in mice, further, excessive amounts of IL-31 was also expressed in the skin from human patients with atopic dermatitis as compared to that from normal people. In this study, canine IL-31 was molecularly cloned from concanavalin A-stimulated canine peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), and its nucleotide sequence was determined. Canine IL-31 contains 4 alpha-helix structures characteristic of the IL-31 family, and the amino acid identity of canine IL-31 with those of human or mouse is 54% and 28%, respectively. Furthermore, we detected low levels of canine IL-31 in the thymus, testis, spleen, and kidneys, but not in the skin of atopic dogs.     

重组犬IL-2在原核细胞中的高效表达

应用RT-PCR技术克隆犬IL-2基因，并插入到原核表达载体PJLA605中，构建pRL-CaIL-2表达质粒；采用M9培养基摇瓶发酵，确定诱导时机和诱导表达时间。结果表明：工程菌pRL-CaIL-2在30C培养至对数生长后期（OD600为1．5）42C诱导4h时。菌体收得量湿重达17．8g／L，目标蛋白表达量约占菌体总蛋白的29．7％。外源基因在该基因工程菌中得到了高效表达。     

中药复方对热应激下猪肠道组织IL-2 IL-10和黏液IgA含量影响

随着我国畜禽集约化养殖业的不断发展,应激性疾病,尤其是热应激已经成为我国养殖业中的重要疾病之一[1]。动物胃肠道不仅是消化、吸收营养物质的场所,也是动物体内免疫器官[2]之一,即肠壁内有大量的淋巴组织如上皮内淋巴细胞(iIEL)、固有层淋巴细胞(LPL)和Peyer's淋巴小结等,且     

Effect of Pseudostellaria Polysaccharides on SIgA,IL-2 and IL-6 Contents of Intestinal Mucosal Injured Mice Caused by Cyclophosphamide

Effects of Pseudostellaria polysaccharides on the contents of intestinal mucosal SIgA, IL-2 and IL-6 in mice were reported in this paper.36 Kunming male mice with 18 to 22 g were randomly divided into six groups, blank control group, Pseudostellaria polysaccharides control group, cyclophosphamide (CY) model group, and Pseudostellaria polysaccharides low, middle, high dose groups.Each mouse in Pseudostellaria polysaccharides control group and Pseudostellaria polysaccharides low, middle, high dose groups was respectively treated with polysaccharides at the dose of 400, 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg body weight by intragastrical treatment for 19 continuous days, CY was given to each mouse in CY model group and Pseudostellaria polysaccharides low, middle, high dose groups by intraperitoneal injection with 100 mg/kg body weight in the 20th day, duodenum and ileum samples were collected from mice after 24 h, and SIgA, IL-2 and IL-6 contents were determined.The results showed that SIgA contents in duodenum were significantly increased (P<0.05) in Pseudostellaria polysaccharides middle and high dose groups compared to CY model group, SIgA contents in ileum were extremely significantly increased (P<0.01) in Pseudostellaria polysaccharides high dose group compared to CY model group.IL-2 contents in duodenum and ileum were significantly increased (P<0.05), IL-6 contents in duodenum were extremely significantly increased (P<0.01), IL-6 contents in ileum were significantly increased (P<0.05) in Pseudostellaria polysaccharides high dose group compared to CY model group.It was concluded that Pseudostellaria polysaccharide could antagonize intestinal mucosal injury caused by CY.     

太子参多糖对环磷酰胺所致肠道黏膜损伤小鼠SIgA、IL-2、IL-6含量的影响

试验将36只18~22 g雄性昆明小鼠随机分为空白对照组、太子参多糖对照组(400 mg/kg体重)、环磷酰胺(CY)模型组、太子参多糖低、中、高剂量组(100、200、400 mg/kg体重),上述各组分别灌喂蒸馏水和多糖,连续灌胃19 d,第20天,除空白对照组和太子参多糖对照组小鼠腹腔注射生理盐水外,其余4组均腹腔注射CY(100 mg/kg体重),24 h处死小鼠,取十二指肠和回肠,放免法测定分泌型免疫球蛋白A(SIgA)、白细胞介素-2(IL-2)、白细胞介素-6(IL-6)的含量,研究太子参多糖对CY所致肠道黏膜损伤小鼠中SIgA、IL-2、IL-6分泌的影响。结果显示,与CY模型组相比,太子参多糖高、中剂量组十二指肠SIgA含量显著升高(P<0.05),太子参多糖高剂量组回肠SIgA含量极显著升高(P<0.01);太子参多糖高剂量组中十二指肠和回肠IL-2含量显著升高(P<0.05),十二指肠IL-6含量极显著升高(P<0.01),回肠IL-6含量显著升高(P<0.05)。上述结果表明太子参多糖在一定程度上能颉颃CY所致的肠道黏膜免疫损伤。     

硒对小鼠血清中细胞因子水平的调控作用研究

通过给小鼠灌胃Na₂SeO₃，观察了0.025、0.05和0.1 mg/kg剂量的硒被应用后对小鼠血清中细胞因子IL-2、IL-6和TNF-α水平的影响，结果表明，硒能明显降低正常小鼠血清中的IL-2及TNF-α水平，且呈剂量依赖关系; 对IL-6水平则有显著的升高作用，即呈正相关。该结果提示，微量元素硒对细胞因子水平有显著的调控作用。     

中药复方对鸡免疫器官指数及IL-2表达的动态影响

将300只1日龄公雏鸡随机分为3组，两组分别给予中药方Ⅰ和方Ⅱ（由石膏、苍术、黄柏、藿香分别按质量比1：1：1：1和0．5：1：1：1比例组成，按体重0．3mg／kg的剂量饮水），对照组按照常规方法饲养。分别于雏鸡第7、21、35、49日龄时，每组随机抽取5只鸡剖杀，取腔上囊、脾、胸腺测定免疫器官指数和IL-2平均阳性表达率，以探讨中药复方对雏鸡免疫器官指数及其IL-2表达的动态影响。结果显示，随着用药时间的增加，中药方Ⅰ和方Ⅱ可显著（P〈0．05）或极显著（P〈0．01）提高腔上囊、脾和胸腺等免疫器官指数及其IL-2的平均阳性表达率，方Ⅰ对各免疫器官IL-2阳性表达率的影响最为显著（P〈0．05）。证实该中药复方可促进雏鸡细胞免疫水平，增强其非特异性免疫功能，并促进免疫器官的发育。     

1日龄雏鸡接种超抗原SEB和MDV后脾淋巴细胞IL-2体外诱生的变化

研究１日龄雏鸡分别接种ＳＥＢ和ＭＤＶ脾淋巴细胞ＩＬ－２体外诱生和脾细胞总数变化。结果表明,高浓度ＳＥＢ诱导ＩＬ－２短暂上升后迅速下降,后期略有回升,但仍低于对照组;而低浓度ＳＥＢ诱导的ＩＬ－２水平要高,后期降至正常。提高低浓度ＳＥＢ有短期的免疫增强作用,且不引起免疫抑制;而高浓度ＳＥＢ诱导ＩＬ－短时上升后随即发生免疫抑制或无反应性;ＭＤＶ感染则显著降低脾淋巴细胞ＩＬ－２体外诱生能力。ＳＥＢ和ＭＤＶ     

热应激后猪血清中IL-2、IFN-γ及TNF-α水平的动态变化

检测热应激后猪血清中的IL-2、IFN-γ及TNF-α水平,观察其变化规律.将12头体重基本一致的3月龄中国试验用小型猪随机分成高温试验组和常温对照组两组.高温试验组在人工气候仓内饲养,模拟夏季炎热气候,气温从26～39℃24 h循环变温,39℃时维持4 h;常温对照组在22℃下饲养.试验持续10 d,在热应激的第1、3、5、7、9天,39℃高温持续期结束的时刻采血,分离血清.用ELISA法检测各血清样品中IL-2、IFN-γ及TNF-α水平.结果显示：IL-2水平有所上升,且在热应激的第1天和第3天与常温对照组差异显著（P＜0.05）;IFN-γ水平有所下降,且在热应激的第3天和第5天与常温对照组差异显著（P＜0.05）;TNF-α水平有所上升,但与常温组比较差异不显著（P＞0.05）;热应激试验进行的10 d中,IL-2、IFN-γ及TNF-α水平变化有其共同特点,即随着试验的进行各细胞因子浓度都向常温对照组的正常值发展.本研究从细胞因子的角度验证了前人热应激抑制机体免疫机能的结论.     

NO、TNF和IL-2与新型鸭肝炎病毒感染雏鸭肝脑组织损伤的关系

用新型鸭肝炎病毒人工感染9日龄健康樱桃谷雏鸭，对感染后12、24、48、96、168h和14d雏鸭血液、肝和脑组织中一氧化氮（NO）含量，血液中肿瘤坏死因子（TNF）和白细胞介素2（IL-2）含量进行了测定，同时对感染雏鸭的组织病理学变化进行了观察。结果表明．血清中NO含量在接种后48h开始升高，一直持续到接种后96h，接种后7d恢复正常；肝脏组织中NO含量仅在接种后24h与对照组比较显著升高，在其他时间未表现有差异；脑组织中NO含量在整个试验期间没有变化。血清中的TNF和IL-2含量在接种后24h均表现升高，接种后96h降低，其他时间无改变。感染雏鸭的肝组织在接种后24h表现出血性坏死性肝炎变化，接种后48～96h呈增生性病变，而接种后各时期脑组织均呈非化脓性脑炎变化。由此表明，新型鸭肝炎病毒感染可导致雏鸭体内NO、TNF和IL-2发生变化，并且与肝组织损伤、疾病的发生发展有关。     

复合中草药添加剂对芦花雏鸡生产性能、肠道菌群及脾脏IL-2 mRNA表达量的影响

试验旨在探究复合中草药添加剂对芦花雏鸡生产性能、肠道菌群及免疫功能的影响。选取1日龄健康、体重相近的芦花鸡600只(公母各半),随机分为2组,每组4个重复。对照组饲喂基础日粮,试验组在基础日粮中添加0.3%复合中草药添加剂,预饲期7 d,试验期为35 d。结果表明:(1)试验组平均日增重比对照组显著提高,料重比显著降低(P<0.05);(2)试验组血清IgA和IgM水平极显著升高(P<0.01),IL-2水平无显著变化(P>0.05);(3)试验组14、28、42 d脾脏指数和胸腺指数均提高(P>0.05);(4)试验组变形菌门丰度显著低于对照组(P<0.05),厚壁菌门、拟杆菌门和软壁菌门丰度均提高(P>0.05);试验组拟杆菌属和别样杆菌属丰度提高,Butyricimonas属和螺旋杆菌属丰度降低(P>0.05);(5)脾脏IL-2 mRNA表达量无显著变化(P>0.05)。综上可见,该复合中草药添加剂不仅促进了芦花雏鸡免疫器官发育,改善了肠道菌群组成,增强机体免疫功能,且提高了生产性能。     

Inhibition of histamine release from dispersed canine skin mast cells by cyclosporin A, rolipram and salbutamol, but not by dexamethasone or sodium cromoglycate

Despite the important role that canine skin mast cells play in IgE-mediated allergic inflammation, clinically useful compounds for modulating mediator release from these cells or for suppressing cell response are lacking in the dog. The ability of five compounds to inhibit histamine release induced by non immunological (calcium ionophore A23187 and substance P) and IgE-dependent (concanavalin A) stimuli were compared. Sodium cromoglycate, a mast cell stabilizer, and dexamethasone, a glucocorticoid, failed to inhibit histamine release from isolated skin mast cells following any kind of stimulation. Salbutamol, a β-adrenergic agonist, exhibited inhibitory activity (46.0%) only after concanavalin A activation. In contrast, rolipram, a selective phosphodiesterase IV inhibitor and cyclosporin A, an immunosuppressor, showed potent anti allergic actions, inhibiting both IgE-dependent and -independent stimuli. Rolipram inhibited 42.8%, 44.7% and 19.2% of the mediator release induced by ionophore A23187, substance P and concanavalin A, respectively. Similarly cyclosporin A induced 85.9%, 14.9% and 67.3% inhibition after ionophore A23187, substance P and concanavalin A stimulation, respectively. These results suggest that rolipram and cyclosporin A merit to be clinically tested as agents for the treatment of chronic allergic diseases in the dog.     

Interferon-gamma, interleukin-4 and interleukin-10 production by T helper cells reveals intact Th1 and regulatory TR1 cell activation and a delay of the Th2 cell response in equine neonates and foals

Cytokines produced by T helper (Th) cells are important in orchestrating the immune response during health and disease. Recent reports indicated that cytokine mRNA expression in foals is often quantitatively lower than that of adult horses suggesting that foal T cells are not fully mature. Here, peripheral blood mononuclear cells from foals and adult horses were stimulated with phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate and analyzed for intracellular interferon-gamma (IFN-γ), interleukin-4 (IL-4) and IL-10 production, representing the Th1, Th2 and regulatory T_R1 cell phenotypes respectively, by flow cytometry. In agreement with previous reports, all three cytokines were quantitatively reduced in foals compared to adults. However, the balance between Th1 and Th2 cytokines (IFN-γ/IL-4 ratio) showed a clear Th1-biased response in foals by 6 and 12 weeks of life, while similar IFN-γ/IL-10 ratios were found in foals and adult horses. By day 5 after birth, intracellular IFN-γ production by foal CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ T cells resembled that in adults. Overall, IL-4 production was low in foals. IL-4⁺ cells peaked at day 5 of age when IL-4 was mainly produced by IgE⁺ cells. Relative percentages of IL-4⁺ Th2 cells were significantly lower in foals at all time points. The data suggested that equine neonates and young foals have an impaired Th2 response, that the immune response of foals is Th1 biased, that IFN-γ production by Th and cytotoxic T cells is qualitatively similar to adult horses, and regulatory IL-10 production by T cells is developmentally mature in foals during the first three months of life.     

Melatonin reduces apoptotic cells,SOD2 and HSPB1 and improves the in vitro production and quality of bovine blastocysts

Effects of adding different concentrations of melatonin (10^?7, 10^?9 and 10^?11 M) to maturation (Experiment 1; Control, IVM  + 10^?7, IVM  + 10^?9, IVM  + 10^?11) and culture media (Experiment 2; Control, IVC  + 10^?7, IVC  + 10^?9, IVC  + 10^?11) were evaluated on in vitro bovine embryonic development. The optimal concentration of melatonin (10^?9 M) from Experiments 1–2 was tested in both maturation and/or culture media of Experiment 3 (Control, IVM  + 10^?9, IVC  + 10^?9, IVM /IVC  + 10^?9). In Experiment 1, maturated oocytes from Control and IVM  + 10^?9 treatments showed increased glutathione content, mitochondrial membrane potential and percentage of Grade I blastocysts (40.6% and 43%, respectively). In Experiment 2, an increase in the percentage of Grade I blastocysts was detected in IVC  + 10^?7 (43.5%; 56.7%) and IVC  + 10^?9 (47.4%; 57.4%). Moreover, a lower number and percentage of apoptotic cells in blastocysts were observed in the IVC  + 10^?9 group compared to Control (3.8 ± 0.6; 3.6% versus 6.1 ± 0.6; 5.3%). In Experiment 3, the IVC  + 10^?9 treatment increased percentage of Grade I blastocysts with a lower number of apoptotic cells compared to IVM /IVC  + 10^?9 group (52.6%; 3.0 ± 0.5 versus 46.0%; 5.4 ± 1.0). The IVC  + 10^?9 treatment also had a higher mRNA expression of antioxidant gene (SOD 2) compared to the Control, as well as the heat shock protein (HSPB 1) compared to the IVM  + 10^?9. Reactive oxygen species production was greater in the IVM /IVC  + 10^?9 treatment group. In conclusion, the 10^?9 M concentration of melatonin and the in vitro production phase in which it is used directly affected embryonic development and quality.     

Enhancement of interleukin-2 production by bovine peripheral blood mononuclear cells treated with the combination of anti-programmed death-ligand 1 and cytotoxic T lymphocyte antigen 4 chimeric monoclonal antibodies

Our previous studies demonstrate the therapeutic efficacy against bovine diseases of an anti-bovine programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) chimeric antibody. In humans, PD-1 and PD-L1 antibodies are more effective when combined with an antibody targeting cytotoxic T lymphocyte antigen 4 (CTLA-4) and these combination therapies are therefore clinically used. Here we generated an anti-bovine CTLA-4 chimeric antibody (chAb) to enhance the therapeutic efficacy of the PD-L1 antibody. We further analyzed the effects of dual blockade of CTLA-4 and PD-1 pathways on T-cell responses. The established anti-bovine CTLA-4 chAb showed comparable blocking activity on the binding of bovine CTLA-4 to CD80 and CD86 as the anti-bovine CTLA-4 mouse monoclonal antibody. Anti-bovine CTLA-4 chAb also significantly increased IL-2 production from bovine peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). Further, the combination of anti-CTLA-4 chAb with anti-PD-L1 chAb significantly upregulated IL-2 production by PBMCs. These results suggest that the combination of antibodies have higher potential to enhance immune responses against pathogens compared with single administration.     

Potent immune responses induced by a Salmonella ghost delivery system that expresses the recombinant Stx2eB,FedF, and FedA proteins of the Escherichia coli-producing F18 and Shiga toxin in a murine model and evaluation of its protective effect as a porcine vaccine candidate

Background: In the pathogenicity of porcine edema disease (ED), which is caused by the Escherichia coli-producing F18 and Shiga toxin, F18⁺ fimbrial adhesins and Shiga toxin 2e (Stx2e) play pivotal roles in the colonization and enterotoxicity of this pathogen.

Objective: To develop a vaccine candidate against ED by combining three selected antigens of F18⁺ E. coli.

Methods: Genetically engineered Salmonella Typhimurium (ST) ghosts that express Stx2eB, FedF, and FedA were individually inserted in a ghost plasmid cassette, and the resultant plasmids were transformed into an attenuated ST (JOL912). The individual expression of Stx2eB, FedF, and FedA in JOL912 was validated by using an immunoblotting assay.

Results: Immunization of the ghosts in BALB/c mice led to a significant increase in antigen-specific secretory IgA and serum IgG. Significantly marked elevation of the CD3⁺CD4⁺ T cell subpopulation and lymphocyte proliferating activity in the primed splenocytes were also observed. Furthermore, mRNA of IL-4 and IFN-γ were highly upregulated in in vitro stimulated splenic T cells. Subsequently, the immunized mice showed significant protection efficacy against a lethal dose 50 of a virulent strain, resulting in approximately 85% and 92% survival rates in mice with a single- and double-dose immunization, respectively, compared to only 40% of the non-immunized controls.

Conclusion: A mixture of the ghosts expressing these three antigens is a potential vaccine candidate for protection against the porcine edema disease.