Development of a monoclonal antibody for the detection of anti-canine CD20 chimeric antigen receptor expression on canine CD20 chimeric antigen receptor-transduced T cells

Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) CAR-T cell therapy targeting CD20 can be a novel adoptive cell therapy for canine patients with B-cell malignancy. After injection of the CAR-T cells in vivo, monitoring circulating CAR-T cells is essential to prove in vivo persistence of CAR-T cells. In this study, we developed a novel monoclonal antibody against canine CD20 CAR, whose single-chain variable fragment was derived from the our previously reported anti-canine CD20 therapeutic antibody. Furthermore, we proved that this monoclonal antibody can detect therapeutic anti-canine CD20 chimeric antibody in the serum from healthy beagle dogs injected with the therapeutic antibody for safety study. This monoclonal antibody is a useful tool for monitoring both canine CD20-CAR-T cells and anti-canine CD20 therapeutic antibody for canine lymphoma.     

Infection with foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) induces a natural killer (NK) cell response in cattle that is lacking following vaccination

Natural killer (NK) cells play a role in innate antiviral immunity by directly lysing virus-infected cells and producing antiviral cytokines such as interferon gamma (IFN-γ). We developed a system for characterizing the bovine NK response to foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV), which causes a disease of cloven-hoofed animals and remains a threat to livestock industries throughout the world. IL-2 stimulation of PBMC resulted in poor killing of human K562 cells, which are often used as NK target cells, while lysis of the bovine BL3.1 cell line was readily detected. Depletion of NKp46-expressing cells revealed that 80% of the killing induced by IL-2 could be attributed to NKp46⁺ cells. In order to characterize the response of NK cells against FMDV in vivo, we infected groups of cattle with three different strains of the virus (A24 Cruzeiro, O1 Manisa, O Hong Kong) and evaluated the cytolytic ability of NK cells through the course of infection. We consistently observed a transient increase in cytolysis, although there was variation in magnitude and kinetics. This increase in cytolysis remained when CD3⁺ cells were removed from the preparation of lymphocytes, indicating that cytolysis was independent of MHC-T cell receptor interaction or γδ T cell activation. In contrast, animals monitored following vaccination against FMDV did not exhibit any increase in NK killing. These data suggest that NK cells play a role in the host immune response of cattle against FMDV, and contrast with the suppression of NK activity previously observed in swine infected with FMDV.     

Comparative analysis of marine and freshwater viral haemorrhagic septicaemia virus (VHSV) isolates antagonistic activity

Viral Haemorrhagic Septicaemia Virus (VHSV) isolates virulent to marine fish species can replicate in freshwater species, although producing little or no mortality. Conversely, isolates from freshwater fish do not cause disease in marine species. An inverse relationship between VHSV virulence and host mx gene up-regulation has been described for several fish species, suggesting that differences between the antagonistic activity exerted by these isolates might be involved in the outcome of infections. In this study, the antagonistic activity against the type I interferon system of two representative marine and freshwater VHSV isolates has been characterised using RTG-2 cells stably transfected with the luciferase gene under the control of the Senegalese sole mx (ssmx) promoter, RTG pssmx-luc cells. Both isolates exerted a dose-dependent negative effect on the activation of ssmx promoter, showing a notably different minimal viral dose to exert the antagonism. In particular, an inverse relationship between the minimal MOI required and the viral virulence to sole has been recorded, which suggests this parameter as a possible in vivo VHSV virulence marker. Furthermore, the quantification of the endogenous inf I, mx1 and mx3 mRNA has demonstrated differences between both isolates in their antagonistic activity. Besides, a different nv RNA kinetics, which seems to depend on specific cellular factors, has been recorded for both isolates. This knowledge could contribute to the development of efficient tools to fight against viral infections in fish farming. For that purpose, the RTG pssmx-luc cells may be a suitable in vitro tool to identify the molecular mechanisms underlying VHSV-host interactions.     

Identification of tumor-initiating cells in a canine hepatocellular carcinoma cell line

Tumor-initiating cells (TICs) or cancer stem cells (CSCs), a small subset of tumor cells, are involved in tumor initiation, progression, recurrence and metastasis. In human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), TICs are enriched with cell surface markers and have the ability to self-renew and differentiate tumors at a high frequency. We established a canine HCC cell line, HCC930599, and analyzed it for stem and progenitor cell marker expression using flow cytometry. HCC930599 showed high CD44 and CD29, moderate CD90, and low CD133, CD34, CD24, CD117, and CD13 expression. CD90⁺CD44⁺ and CD90⁻CD44⁺ cells were characterized using the in vitro sphere assay and an in vivo transplant model. CD90⁺CD44⁺ cells acquired enhanced self-renewal capacity, proliferative activity and tumourigenicity compared with CD90⁻CD44⁺ cells, suggesting that TICs exist in the HCC930599 cell line and that CD90 is a marker for enriched TICs. Understanding TIC characteristics may help elucidate hepatic carcinogenesis and HCC therapy development.     

The impact of Trichinella spiralis excretory-secretory products on dendritic cells

Parasitic nematode Trichinella spiralis exert immunomodulatory effect on the host immune response through excretory–secretory products (ES L1) released from the encysted muscle larvae. Rat bone-marrow derived dendritic cells (DCs) stimulated with ES L1 antigens acquire semi-matured status and induce Th2 and regulatory responses in vitro and in vivo. Priming naïve T cells in vitro with ES L1 pulsed DCs caused strong Th2 polarization, accompanied by elevated production of regulatory cytokines IL-10 and TGF-β and no increase in the proportion of CD4⁺CD25⁺Foxp3⁺ among the effector T cell population. In vivo T cell priming resulted in mixed Th1/Th2 cytokine response, with the dominance of the Th2 type and elevated levels of regulatory cytokines. Significant increase in the proportion of CD4⁺CD25⁺Foxp3⁺ cells was found among recipient's spleen cells. We have achieved to create immune status characteristic for the live infection by in vivo application of DCs educated with ES L1 antigens.     

Phase I biotransformation of albendazole in lancet fluke (Dicrocoelium dendriticum)

Dicroceliosis, a lancet fluke infection, is a frequent parasitosis of small ruminants and the anthelmintic drug albendazole (ABZ) is effective in control of this parasitosis. The aim of our project was to study the metabolism of ABZ and ABZ sulphoxide (ABZ.SO) in lancet fluke. Both invitro (subcellular fractions of fluke homogenates) and exvivo experiments (adult flukes cultivated in medium) were performed for this purpose. ABZ was metabolised invitro by lancet fluke NADPH-dependent enzymes by two oxidative steps (sulphoxidation and sulphonation). The apparent kinetic parameters of these reactions have been determined. In the exvivo experiments, only ABZ sulphoxidation was observed. The stereospecificity in ABZ sulphoxidation invitro was slight, with preferential formation of (+)-ABZ.SO enantiomer. In contrast (−)-ABZ.SO formation predominated in exvivo experiments. Sulphoreduction of ABZ.SO occurred neither invivo nor exvivo. The detection of ABZ oxidative metabolites indicates the presence of drug metabolising oxidases in lancet fluke.     

Induction of inducible CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ regulatory T lymphocytes by porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV)

Increases in numbers or activities of regulatory T lymphocytes (Tregs) have been linked to the establishments of several persistent infections. It has been previously shown that porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) can negatively modulate the host immune responses, resulting in persistent infection and secondary immunodeficiency. Recently, the existence of porcine CD4⁺CD25⁺ Tregs has been demonstrated. We investigated the effect of PRRSV on the CD4⁺CD25⁺ Tregs. The CD4⁺CD25⁺Foxp3⁺ T lymphocytes in the peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were identified, using the anti-human anti-Foxp3 monoclonal antibody. In vitro culture of porcine PBMC in the presence of PRRSV, but not classical swine fever virus, significantly increased the numbers of Foxp3⁺ lymphocytes, particularly in the CD4⁺CD25^high subpopulation. The time-course study revealed that PRRSV significantly increased the numbers of viral-specific CD4⁺CD25^highFoxp3⁺ subpopulation in the culture starting from 12 h through the end of the observation period. Consistent to the results obtained by flow cytometry, enhanced Foxp3 gene expression was observed in the PBMC cultured with PRRSV in a time-course manner. The presence of monocyte-derived DC in the co-culture significantly enhanced the induction of CD4⁺CD25⁺ Foxp3⁺ T lymphocytes. The PRRSV-induced CD4⁺CD25^high T lymphocytes exhibited suppressive activity when co-cultured with PHA-activated, autologous peripheral blood leukocytes, indicating the suppressive activity of the PRRSV-specific Tregs. In addition, PRRSV exposure significantly increased the numbers of PRRSV-specific CD4⁺CD25⁺Foxp3⁺ subpopulation in the PBMC of infected pigs at 10 days post-infection. In summary, the results indicated that PRRSV could increase the numbers of viral-specific, inducible regulatory T lymphocytes in the porcine PBMC, both in vitro and in vivo. The findings suggested the novel immunomodulatory mechanism induced by PRRSV.     

Replication of neurovirulent equine herpesvirus type 1 (EHV-1) in CD172a+ monocytic cells

Equine herpesvirus type 1 (EHV-1) is responsible for respiratory disorders, abortion and myeloencephalopathy (EHM) in horses. Two pathotypes of EHV-1 strains are circulating in the field: neurovirulent (N) and non-neurovirulent (NN). For both strains, CD172a⁺ monocytic cells are one of the main carrier cells of EHV-1 during primary infection, allowing the virus to invade the horse’s body. Recently, we showed that EHV-1 NN strains showed a restricted and delayed replication in CD172a⁺ cells. Here we characterize the in vitro replication kinetics of two EHV-1 N strains in CD172a⁺ cells and investigate if the replication of these strains is similarly silenced as shown for EHV-1 NN strains. We found that EHV-1 N replication was restricted to 7–8% in CD172a⁺ cells compared to 100% in control RK-13 cells. EHV-1 N replication was not delayed in CD172a⁺ cells but virus production was significant lower (10^3.0 TCID₅₀/10⁵ inoculated cells) than in RK-13 cells (10^8.5 TCID₅₀/10⁵ inoculated cells). Approximately 0.04% of CD172a⁺ cells produced and transmitted infectious EHV-1 to neighbour cells compared to 65% of RK-13 cells. Unlike what we observed for the NN strain, pretreatment of CD172a⁺ cells with histone deacetylases inhibitors (HDACi) did not influence the replication of EHV-1 N strains in these cells. Overall, these results show that the EHV-1 replication of N strains in CD172a⁺ cells differs from that observed for NN strains, which may contribute to their different pathogeneses in vivo.     

A comparison of three different methodologies for evaluating Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus susceptibility to topical spray compounds

This study aimed to compare three different methodologies (Adult Immersion Tests, field trials with naturally infected animals, and a Stall Test using artificially infested cattle) to evaluate the efficacy of two topical formulations that we administered as whole body sprays (15% Cypermethrin + 30% Chlorpyriphos + 15% Fenthion–Colosso^® FC 30, Ouro Fino Agronegócios; and 60% Dichlorvos + 20% Chlorpyriphos–Ectofós^®, Vallée Saúde Animal Ltd.), against a susceptible strain of Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus. To achieve this objective, two natural infestation trials were conducted, as well as two artificial infestation trials (Stall Tests) and two Adult Immersion Tests (AIT). The AIT results showed that both spray formulations achieved 100% efficacy against R. (B.) microplus fully engorged females. However, when observing results obtained by field trials (natural infestations) and Stall Tests, none of these topically applied compounds reached 100% efficacy or affected the reproductive capacity of the fully engorged female ticks. Additional studies must be conducted to compare these in vivo methodologies with different in vitro techniques, such as the Larval Packet Test. However, based on results obtained here, we can conclude that depending on the spray formulations used, the AIT can overestimate acaricidal efficacy and values of reproductive efficiency of such compounds against R (B.) microplus. Specifically, when dealing with spray formulations in the Stall Tests, the period of residual action can increase because these animals are sheltered from contact with environmental factors that might interfere with the efficacy of the products tested. It may be necessary to take in vivo trial results into consideration (such as field trials with naturally infested animals or Stall Tests) to standardize a specific in vitro assay, such as the Adult Immersion Test.     

Avian pathogenic Escherichia coli MT78 invades chicken fibroblasts

Avian pathogenic Escherichia coli (APEC) are responsible for extraintestinal diseases, called colibacillosis, in avian species. The most severe manifestation of the disease is colisepticemia that usually starts at the respiratory tract and may result in bird death. However, it is not yet clear how APEC cross the respiratory epithelium and get into the bloodstream. In this work, we studied the interaction between 8 APEC strains (UEL31, UEL17, UEL13, UEL29, MT78, IMT5155, IMT2470, A2363) and a chicken non-phagocytic cell, the fibroblast CEC-32 cell line. We investigated the association profile, the invasion capability, the cytotoxicity effect and the induction of caspase-3/7 activation in an attempt to understand the way the pathogen gains access to the host bloodstream. Association to cells was determined after 1 h of infection, while cell invasion was determined after 4 and 24 h of infection. The cytotoxic effect of bacterial infection was measured by lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release and the activation of the apoptotic program was verified by caspase-3/7 activation. Also, the presence of genes for adhesins, invasins and other related virulence-associated factors was verified by PCR. All bacterial strains showed similarity in relation to adhesion, LDH release and caspase-3/7 activation. However, one APEC strain, MT78, showed high invasion capability, comparable to the invasive Salmonella typhimurium strain SL1344. Since an APEC strain was capable of invading non-phagocytic cells in vitro, the same may be happening with the epithelial cells of the avian respiratory tract in vivo. CEC-32 monolayers can also provide a useful experimental model to study the molecular mechanisms used by APEC to invade non-phagocytic cells.     

In vivo kinetics of peripheral cellular immune responses in Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis (MAP) infected and vaccinated goats

Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis (MAP) is the causative agent of paratuberculosis (ParaTB) also known as Johne’s disease (JD) in ruminants, which is characterized by chronic intestinal inflammation. A similar counterpart has been observed in the form of Crohn's disease in humans. The present study is the first trail in goats to understand the peripheral cellular immune responses following experimental MAP infection and vaccination. Fifteen apparently healthy male kids (3–6 months old) of Barbari breed were included in this study. In the experimental study, 5 kids were infected with ‘S 5’ strain of MAP (“Indian Bison Type”), 5 were vaccinated (Indigenous Vaccine) against MAP infection (Singh et al., 2007) and the remaining 5 kids were uninfected and non-vaccinated controls. Kids were observed for a period of 180 days post exposure (infection and vaccination) and were tested for development of infection. Cellular immune responses (in blood) were recorded post-exposure by three assays. We measured the frequencies of CD4 and CD8T cells, estimated plasma IFNγ and TNα and in the third assay, in vitro cytokine production by peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from vaccinated, infected and controls were examined in response to polyclonal stimulation. The frequencies of peripheral CD4 and CD8T cells were comparable in control, infected and vaccinated animals except around day 49 post-infection where MAP infected animals showed a trend towards significantly reduced frequencies of CD4 T cells compared to apparently healthy controls. Significantly reduced plasma TNFα levels were also observed in infected animals compared to vaccinated animals,during the course of infection. Diminished levels (although non significant) of TNFα were observed in the supernatants from polyclonally stimulated PBMCs at around day 49 post infection. It is conceivable that the diminished cellular immune responses may coincide with an impairment (immune exhaustion) of perhaps antigen-specific CD4T cells that might, in the course of infection, contribute to the progressive nature of caprine paratuberculosis.     

Efficacy of condensed tannins against larval Hymenolepis diminuta (Cestoda) in vitro and in the intermediate host Tenebrio molitor (Coleoptera) in vivo

Natural anti-parasitic compounds in plants such as condensed tannins (CT) have anthelmintic properties against a range of gastrointestinal nematodes, but for other helminths such effects are unexplored. The aim of this study was to assess the effects of CT from three different plant extracts in a model system employing the rat tapeworm, Hymenolepis diminuta, in its intermediate host, Tenebrio molitor. An in vitro study examined infectivity of H. diminuta cysticercoids (excystation success) isolated from infected beetles exposed to different concentrations of CT extracts from pine bark (PB) (Pinus sps), hazelnut pericarp (HN) (Corylus avellana) or white clover flowers (WC) (Trifolium repens), in comparison with the anthelmintic drug praziquantel (positive control). In the in vitro study, praziquantel and CT from all three plant extracts had dose-dependent inhibitory effects on cysticercoid excystation. The HN extract was most effective at inhibiting excystation, followed by PB and WC. An in vivo study was carried out on infected beetles (measured as cysticercoid establishment) fed different doses of PB, HN and praziquantel. There was a highly significant inhibitory effect of HN on cysticercoid development (p = 0.0002). Overall, CT showed a promising anti-cestodal effect against the metacestode stage of H. diminuta.     

Lymphocyte activation as cytokine gene expression and secretion is related to the porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) isolate after in vitro homologous and heterologous recall of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from pigs vaccinated and exposed to natural infection

The present study evaluated the lymphocyte activation in PRRSV-vaccinated pigs subsequently exposed to natural infection by in vitro stimulation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) with homologous vaccine and two heterologous PRRSV isolates. The responsiveness was assessed by determining IFN-γ secreting cells by ELISpot assay, lymphocyte CD8 phenotype by intracellular staining/flow cytometry, cytokine gene expression by real-time quantitative PCR and cytokine secretion by ELISA. Conventional pigs were weaned at 28 days of age and inoculated intramuscularly (IM) or needle-less intradermally (ID) with a modified-live PRRSV vaccine suspended in adjuvant, while control pigs were injected with adjuvant alone (ADJ). Blood samples were collected at vaccination, 35 days post-vaccination and after 35 days post-exposure to natural infection by a heterologous field strain. Thirty-five days post-vaccination, PRRSV vaccine induced a low but significant virus-specific IFN-γ secreting cell response upon stimulation with both the vaccine strain and the two isolates in vaccinated pigs. Conversely, after 35 days post-exposure, only the vaccine strain and the BS/114/S isolate triggered this response. Intracellular staining showed that PRRSV-specific immune cells reacting upon vaccine strain and BS/114/S stimulation were mostly CD8⁺ IFN-γ producing cells whereas the stimulation with BS/55 isolate induced an IFN-γ production associated to the CD8^?IFN-γ⁺ phenotype. At 35 days post-vaccination, PBMC from vaccinated pigs showed lower IL-10 expression and release, and higher TNF-α gene expression upon stimulation with both the vaccine and viral isolates. After infection, both cytokines were not differently modulated in different groups. Immune parameters give evidence that IFN-γ secreting cells in the peripheral blood can be elicited upon PRRSV infection although vaccination itself does not stimulate high levels of these reactive cells. Moreover, the cross-reactivity against divergent PRRS viruses can show a different intensity and be differently associated with cytotoxic CD8⁺IFN-γ⁺ as well as CD8^?IFN-γ⁺ cells. Overall, the obtained data confirmed that the immune activation against PRRSV is not dependent on the genetic divergence of the virus. Especially after infection, a different immune reactivity was evident upon stimulation with the different isolates in terms of frequency and CD8 phenotype of PRRSV-specific IFN-γ producing cells. The modulation of cytokines in vaccinated pigs appeared to be more dependent on vaccination or infection conditions than on stimulation by different isolates, and the changes of IL-10 more relevant than those of TNF-α at gene and protein levels. Moreover, under the conditions of this study, the PRRSV vaccine administered via the intradermal route by a needle-less device was confirmed to induce an immune response comparable or in some cases higher than the intramuscular route.     

Immune mechanisms in Marek's disease.

Resistance to progressive tumor development in MD is either naturally inherited or can be induced by vaccination with apathogenic or attenuated MDV or with HVT. Studies on the effects of immunosuppression on resistance have shown that natural and vaccine induced resistance may be mediated through immune responses. Cell-mediated immune responses rather than humoral responses appear to be of principal importance. The antigen(s) against which protective cell-mediated immunity is elicited are not yet clearly delineated. Both virus-related and tumor antigens may be involved. Progress in the understanding of cell-mediated immunity in MD has been slow because of lack of reproducible in vitro tests to measure this response in infected chickens. The development of lymphoblastoid cell lines from MD lymphomas, however, has enabled the development of an in vitro cytotoxicity test. In this test, which utilizes MSB-1 cells as the target cells, a specific cell-mediated immune response, presumably against the tumor antigen, MATSA, was detected in chickens infected with MDV. Further studies using similar in vitro tests will facilitate a better understanding of the role cell-mediated immune responses might play in development of MD.     

Characterization of betaine aldehyde dehydrogenase (BetB) as an essential virulence factor of Brucella abortus

The pathogenic mechanisms of Brucellosis used to adapt to the harsh intracellular environment of the host cell are not fully understood. The present study investigated the in vitro and in vivo characteristics of B. abortus betaine aldehyde dehydrogenase (BetB) (Gene Bank ID: 006932) using a betB deletion mutant constructed from virulent B. abortus 544. In test under stress conditions, including osmotic- and acid stress-resistance, the betB mutant had a lower osmotic-resistance than B. abortus wild-type. In addition, the betB mutant showed higher internalization rates compared to the wild-type strain; however, it also displayed replication failures in HeLa cells and RAW 264.7 macrophages. During internalization, compared to the wild-type strain, the betB mutant was more adherent to the host surface and showed enhanced phosphorylation of protein kinases, two processes that promote phagocytic activity, in host cells. During intracellular trafficking, colocalization of B. abortus-containing phagosomes with LAMP-1 was elevated in betB mutant-infected cells compared to the wild-type cells. In mice, the betB mutant was predominantly cleared from spleens compared to the wild-type strain after 2 weeks post-infection, and the vaccination test with the live betB mutant showed effective protection against challenge infection with the virulent wild-type strain. These findings suggested that the B. abortus betB gene substantially affects the phagocytic pathway in human phagocytes and in host cells in mice. Furthermore, this study highlights the potential use of the B. abortus betB mutant as a live vaccine for the control of brucellosis.     

Upfront denileukin diftitox as in vivo regulatory T-cell depletion in order to enhance vaccination effects in a canine allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation model

Denileukin Diftitox (ONTAK^®, DAB₃₈₉ IL-2) is a recombinant DNA-derived fusion protein depleting cells that express high-affinity IL-2 receptor. Important cell targets are CD4⁺CD25⁺Foxp3⁺ regulatory T cells (T_reg). Elimination of immunosuppressive T_reg by Denileukin Diftitox may provide a way to modulate immune tolerance following stem cell transplantation. Here, we combined T_reg depletion with a vaccination approach to induce donor-specific immune reactions. To investigate this approach we chose the mixed chimerism canine stem cell transplantation model which represents a high state of tolerance between two hematopoietic systems. The aim was therefore to induce a graft versus hematopoiesis effect thereby converting mixed to full donor chimerism. Dog leukocyte antigen identical siblings that had developed a stable mixed chimerism after non-myeloablative stem cell transplantation received a single dose of Denileukin Diftitox (18 μg/kg, i.v.) followed by several cell-lysate vaccinations. Host peripheral blood mononuclear cell lysates combined with CpG-ODN, and Montanide^® ISA 51 were locally applied. In vitro studies demonstrated that canine T_reg are a target of Denileukin Diftitox. The suppression of T-cell proliferation by T_reg was abolished by addition of Denileukin Diftitox (10 nM). An increase of proliferation of median 300% (range: 200%–425%) was observed. No change in donor chimerism was observed after administration of Denileukin Diftitox and vaccination. This study highlights that application of Denileukin Diftitox resulted in a depletion of T_reg followed by an increase of immune response in vitro. This effect could not be confirmed in vivo even if the immune system was stimulated by vaccinations.     

Comparison of in vivo and in vitro survival and fecundity rates of the poultry red mite, Dermanyssus gallinae

To assist in the testing of possible antigens in developing a vaccine against the poultry red mite (Dermanyssus gallinae De Geer), a rapid and reliable in vitro screening method is critical. This short paper describes how D. gallinae survival and fecundity rates in an in vivo feeding device compared to that of mites fed using an in vitro method. Results showed that survival of fed D. gallinae females and mites overall was greater in vitro, although there was no difference between male survival and fecundity between in vivo and in vitro designs. The in vitro feeding device described therefore has the potential to provide reliable results, comparable to those obtained by in vivo testing, to allow for the rapid screening of D. gallinae antigens.     

Radioprotective effects of an acidic polysaccharide of Panax ginseng on bone marrow cells

An acidic polysaccharide of Panax ginseng (APG), so called ginsan is known to have important immunomodulatory activities. It was recently reported that APG has radioprotective effects in mice but the detailed mechanism was not fully elucidated. This study examined the effects of APG on bone marrow cells (BMs). The phenotypical and functional changes in APG-treated BMs after gamma radiation were studied. The benefit of APG on BMs damaged by gamma radiation was determined by measuring the cell viability. Using 2 different assays, a pretreatment with APG significantly increased the viability of BMs against gamma radiation. APG-treated BMs had a significantly higher amount of IL-12, which is a major cytokine for immune responses, compared with the medium-treated BMs. The expression of MHC class II molecules of APG-treated BMs was also increased, and APG-treated BMs showed significantly higher levels of allogeneic CD4⁺ T lymphocyte proliferation. Furthermore, APG-treated mice had a larger number of BMs after gamma radiation than the control mice, and the BMs of APG-treated mice were successfully cultured into dendritic cells, which are the representative antigen-presenting cells. Overall, this study shows that APG alters the phenotype of BMs, increases the viability and alloreactivity of BMs after gamma radiation both in vitro and in vivo. Therefore, APG may be a good candidate radioprotective agent for BMs.