Effect of experimentally induced endotoxemia on serum interleukin-6 activity in horses.

A study was conducted to determine whether serum interleukin-6 (IL-6) activity increased in horses during experimentally induced endotoxemia and whether serum IL-6 activity correlated to changes in clinical or laboratory data. Six clinically normal horses were given endotoxin IV (30 ng/kg of body weight) in 0.9% NaCl solution over 1 hour. Five of these and 1 additional horse served as controls and were given only 0.9% NaCl solution. Venous blood, for determination of serum IL-6 activity and WBC count, was collected before and at various times through 8 hours after the start of endotoxin or NaCl infusion. Rectal temperature and heart and respiratory rates were recorded throughout the study period. Serum IL-6 activity was determined by bioassay of proliferation of the B13.29 clone B.9 hybridoma cell line. From 1.5 through 5 hours after start of the infusion, serum IL-6 activity was significantly (P less than 0.05) increased in horses given endotoxin. Mean peak serum IL-6 activity was observed between 3 and 4 hours. In response to endotoxin infusion, horses became lethargic, tachycardic, and febrile. Leukopenia developed by 1 hour, followed by leukocytosis at 8 hours. Significant (P less than 0.05) positive association and linear correlation were apparent between mean serum IL-6 activity and mean rectal temperature in the group of horses that were given endotoxin. Changes from baseline were not evident in any of the clinical or laboratory values in horses given only NaCl solution.     

马传染性贫血病病毒弱毒疫苗株感染性分子克隆的构建

采用ＰＣＲ方法分三段扩增出马传染性贫血病毒驴白细胞弱毒疫苗株（ＥＬＡＶ　 ＤＬＡ）的前病毒ＤＮＡ,这三个片段覆盖马传染性贫血病毒的全部基因组,ＰＣＲ产物经克隆后顺次连接,获得一个含有ＥＬＡＶ全基因（８．０Ｋｂ）的重组质粒,将其命名为ｐ８．０。将此８．０Ｋｂ ＥＩＡＶ全基因再亚克隆到含有一完整 ＥＩＡＶ ＤＬＡ株长末端重复序列的质粒中,获得一含有 ＥＩＡＶ驴白细胞弱毒前病毒全基因的重组质粒,将其命名为ｐ８．２,经核苷酸序列分析,证明ｐ８．２含有ＥＩＡＶ前病毒的全基因。用ｐ８．２转染驴白细胞,将其作为种毒进行传代,于感染该克隆毒的细胞培养上清中检测出了反转录酶,说明在驴白细胞中由ｐ８．２衍生出了ＥＩＡ病毒。驴白细胞经该克隆毒感染后,第４天出现病变,经透射电镜可观察到典型的马传染性贫血病毒粒子,进一步证明ｐ８．２具有感染性,我们获得了马传染性贫血病毒驴白细胞弱毒疫苗株的感染性分子克隆,为进一步在分子水平上阐明我国ＥＩＡＶ疫苗株的减毒机理和免疫保护机制奠定了基础。     

马传染性贫血病毒弱毒株LTR点突变型嵌合感染性克隆的构建

马传染性贫血病毒（Equine infectious anemia virus,EIAV）长末端重复序列（Long terminal repeat,LTR）是基因组中高度变异区之一,EIAV LTR的变异对于指导病毒的复制和病毒致病性具有重要的生物学意义。为了阐明我国马传染性贫血病毒弱毒疫苗毒力致弱的分子机制,由马传贫强毒至弱毒致弱过程中不同代次毒株LTR序列的分析,以驴胎皮肤弱毒株疫苗全长感染性克隆pLGFD3-8为父本,选取LTR R区的TAR起始碱基,poly（A）附加位点,采用反向遗传操作对其位点进行PCR体外定点突变,将弱毒序列构建的逆向点突变型全基因克隆转染到驴胎皮肤细胞（FDD）并在FDD上传代,通过逆转录酶活性（RT）检测、RT-PCR方法及real-time RT PCR检测并验证其感染性。检测结果为构建的逆向点突变型感染性克隆在FDD上被拯救,其衍生病毒感染的FDD上出现明显的细胞病变;细胞培养上清可检测到RT酶活性和RT-PCR阳性;电镜下可见大量典型的EIAV颗粒pLGFD-M点突变型嵌合克隆衍生病毒与其父本克隆衍生病毒pLGFD3-8复制水平相似。此结果为进一步深入研究LTR对马传染性贫血病毒复制水平和毒力的影响奠定了基础。     

Effects on plasma endotoxin and eicosanoid concentrations and serum cytokine activities in horses competing in a 48-, 83-, or 159-km endurance ride under similar terrain and weather conditions

OBJECTIVE: To determine plasma endotoxin concentration in horses competing in a 48-, 83-, or 159-km endurance race and its importance with regard to physical, hematologic, or serum and plasma biochemical variables. ANIMAL: 3 horses. PROCEDURE: Weight and rectal temperature measurements and blood samples were obtained before, during, and after exercise. Blood samples were analyzed for plasma endotoxin concentration; serum antiendotoxin antibody titers; thromboxane B2 (TxB2) and 6-keto-prostaglandin F1alpha (PGF1alpha) concentrations; tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFalpha) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) activities; WBC, plasma protein, lactate, serum electrolyte, and calcium concentrations; PCV; and creatine kinase activity. RESULTS: Detection of plasma endotoxin increased during exercise for horses competing at all distances but occurred more frequently in the 48- and 83-km groups. Plasma lactate concentration was significantly greater when endotoxin was concurrently detected. Endotoxin in plasma was not significantly associated with success of race completion. Plasma TxB2 and PGF1alpha concentrations and serum IL-6 activity significantly increased with exercise. Horses that had an excellent fitness level (as perceived by their owners) had greater decreases in serum antiendotoxin antibody titers during exercise than did horses perceived as less fit. In horses with better finish times, TxB2 and PGF1alpha concentrations were significantly greater and TNFalpha activity was significantly less than that of slower horses. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Endotoxemia developed during endurance racing, but was significantly correlated with increased plasma lactate concentration and not with other variables indicative of endotoxemia. Plasma TxB2 and PGF1alpha concentrations and serum TNFalpha activity may be associated with performance success.     

Characterisation of the acute phase response of heifers to a prolonged low dose infusion of lipopolysaccharide

The effect of a prolonged low dose infusion of bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPs) on acute phase-like reactions was examined in heifers. LPS (2 μg kg⁻¹ dissolved in 100 ml water), or saline was infused (at 1 ml min⁻¹) intravenously for 100 minutes and blood samples were taken at various times before, during and after the infusion. The serum concentrations of tumour necrosis factor-alpha(TNFα), interleukin-Ibeta (IL-1β), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and serum amyloid A (SAA) and the rectal temperature increased in response to the LPS infusion. Serum TNFα increased before the increases in IL-1β and IL-6 and remained high from 20 minutes after the onset of the infusion until the end of the sampling period (six hours). The LPS-induced increases in serum IL-1β and IL-6 were biphasic. Plasma cortisol and lactate concentrations also increased, and plasma glucose and B-hydroxybutyrate concentrations decreased in response to the LPS infusion. The similarity of these reactions to changes observed in response to bacterial infections shows that the prolonged infusion of low doses of LPS is a good model for studying the acute phase response to Gramnegative bacterial infection in heifers.     

马传染性贫血病毒疫苗株S2基因不同变异位点逆向突变感染性克隆的体外复制特性分析

为研究EIAV弱毒疫苗株(EIAV_(FCCV15))S2基因发生的稳定性突变对疫苗株特性的作用以及S2基因的功能,以EIAVFDDVl5感染性克隆质粒pFDDV3-8为模板,根据疫苗研制过程中S2基因发生的4个主要稳定性变异位点,构建及拯救出S2基因不同差异位点逆向突变为强毒株相应氨基酸的6株感染性克隆衍生毒株.经实时定量PCR、逆转录酶活性和western blot等检测表明,疫苗株S2基因4个稳定性变异位点全部逆向突变的感染性克隆衍生毒、,pFDDVS2rl-3-4-5在体外培养靶细胞中的复制水平低于亲本疫苗株感染性克隆衍生病毒和其他组合的逆向突变的感染性克隆衍生病毒,提示ELAV疫苗株S2蛋白4个稳定突变位点的综合作用可能是决定疫苗株和强毒株特性差异的因素之一.以上结果为体内感染S2基因逆向突变感染性克隆衍生病毒,进一步揭示S2基因在ELAV弱毒疫苗致弱过程中的作用提供了依据.     

编码EIAV核输出因子蛋白Rev的cDNA克隆和序列测定

EIAV在繁殖过程中涉及到多种转录因子的调节，其中Rev蛋白是病毒编码的转录后调节因子，决定了病毒复制由早期到晚期的过渡，Rev是非结构蛋白，由病毒基因组全长转录产物经多次拼接而成。本研究使用EIAV疫苗毒感染驴巨噬细胞培养物，在病毒增殖早期提取总RNA，反转录后使用EIAV特异引物扩增病毒基因组拼接产物，将扩增产物克隆后经过核苷酸序列分析，通过与基因组全序列的比较，确定了编码Rev蛋白的病毒基因组转录产物的编码序列和拼接位点。     

编码EIAV核输出因子蛋白Rev的cDNA克隆和序列测定

ＥＩＡＶ在繁殖过程中涉及到多种转录因子的调节,其中Ｒｅｖ蛋白是病毒编码的转录后调节因子,决定了病毒复制由早期到晚期的过渡。Ｒｅｖ是非结构蛋白,由病毒基因组全长转录产物经多次拼接而成。本研究使用ＥＩＡＶ疫苗毒感染驴巨噬细胞培养物,在病毒繁殖早期提取细胞总ＲＮＡ,反转录后使用中国ＥＩＡＶ毒株特异引物扩增病毒基因组拼接产物。将扩增产物克隆后经过核苷酸序列分析,和与基因组全序列的比较,确定了编码Ｒｅｖ蛋白的病毒基因组转录产物的编码序列和拼接位点。     

Cytotoxic T lymphocytes in protection against equine infectious anemia virus

Cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) are associated with virus control in horses infected with equine infectious anemia virus (EIAV). Early in infection, control of the initial viremia coincides with the appearance of CTL and occurs before the appearance of neutralizing antibody. In carrier horses, treatment with immunosuppressive drugs results in viremia before a change in serum neutralizing antibody occurs. Clearance of initial viremia caused by other lentiviruses, including human immunodeficiency virus-1 and simian immunodeficiency virus, is also associated with CTL and not neutralizing antibody. In addition, depletion of CD8+ cells prior to infection of rhesus monkeys with simian immunodeficiency prevents clearance of virus and the same treatment of persistently infected monkeys results in viremia. Cats given adoptive transfers of lymphocytes from vaccinated cats were protected and the protection was MHC-restricted, occurred in the absence of antiviral humoral immunity, and correlated with the transfer of cells with feline immunodeficiency virus-specific CTL and T-helper lymphocyte activities. Therefore, a lentiviral vaccine, including one for EIAV, needs to induce CTL. Based on initial failures to induce CTL to EIAV proteins by any means other than infection, we attempted to define an experimental system for the evaluation of methods for CTL induction. CTL epitopes restricted by the ELA-A1 haplotype were identified and the MHC class I molecule presenting these peptides was identified. This was done by expressing individual MHC class I molecules from cDNA clones in target cells. The target cells were then pulsed with peptides and used with effector CTL stimulated with the same peptides. In a preliminary experiment, immunization of three ELA-A1 haplotype horses with an Env peptide restricted by this haplotype resulted in CTL in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) which recognized the Env peptide and virus-infected cells, but the CTL response was transient. Nevertheless there was significant protection against clinical disease following EIAV challenge of these immunized horses when compared with three control horses given the same virus challenge. These data indicated that responses to peptides in immunized horses needed to be enhanced. Optimal CTL responses require help from CD4+ T lymphocytes, and experiments were done to identify EIAV peptides which stimulated CD4+ T lymphocytes in PBMC from infected horses with different MHC class II types. Two broadly cross-reactive Gag peptides were identified which stimulated only an interferon gamma response by CD4+ T lymphocytes, which indicated a T helper 1 response is needed for CTL stimulation. Such peptides should facilitate CTL responses; however, other problems in inducing protection against lentiviruses remain, the most significant of them being EIAV variants that can escape both CTL and neutralizing antibody. A possible solution to CTL escape variants is the induction of high-avidity CTL to multiple EIAV epitopes.     

The influence of intramammary lipopolysaccharide infusion on serum Ca, P, vitamin D, cytokines and cortisol concentrations in lactating sows

Ten multiparous lactating sows were used to investigate whether intramammary infusion of lipopolysaccharides (LPS; Escherichia coli 0111:B4; 2.0 microg/kg of body weight) would affect the circulating concentrations of Ca, P, 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25-OHD), tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and cortisol. The sows were randomly allotted to either control group (control) or LPS-treated group with five individuals per group and were infused with either physiological saline solution or LPS solution. The rectal temperature and udder quarter appearance were recorded at 0 (just before infusion), 1, 3, 7, 12 or 24 h after infusion. Blood samples were taken at 0, 1, 3, 7, 12 or 24 h after infusion. Before infusion, the rectal temperatures of all sows were below 39.2 degrees C. At 3 and 7 h after infusion, the sows in the LPS group had a rectal temperature over 39.4 degrees C. At 24 h after infusion, the rectal temperatures returned to pre-infusion levels. Serum Ca and P concentrations in the LPS group decreased (P < 0.05) after LPS infusion compared with the control group at 1 h after infusion. No significant differences (P > 0.05) in the concentrations of 25-OHD were observed between groups control and LPS at any sampling time. Increased (P < 0.01) concentrations of serum TNF-alpha, IL-6 and cortisol were observed in the LPS group compared with the control group at 3 and 7 h after infusion respectively. In conclusion, the elevation of serum concentrations of TNF-alpha, IL-6 and cortisol and the alterations of circulating concentrations of Ca and P following LPS infusion indicate that the immune system has been activated and immune activation may affect macromineral homeostatic regulation, which might have important implications for metabolic health of lactating sows. Lowered serum Ca and P following immune activation also shows a causative mechanism whereby immune activation increases the risk of secondary disorders such as mastitis-metritis-agalactia syndrome. However, immune activation did not affect circulating concentrations of vitamin D metabolites.     

马传贫驴白细胞弱毒疫苗株跨膜蛋白主要免疫决定区基因的克隆与表达

从感染驴白细胞的马传贫驴白细胞弱毒疫苗株前病毒DNA中克隆了编码跨膜蛋白主要免疫决定区(TMIR)的基因，并在大肠杆菌中进行了表达。所表达的融合蛋白有一部分是可溶的，其氨基端带有6个组氨酸的标签，因此可以用固定化金属离子亲和层析法在非变性条件下进行纯化。在间接酶联免疫吸附试验(ELISA)和免疫印迹试验中，重组的TMIR蛋白可与马传贫阳性血清样品发生反应，而与健康马血清无任何反应。这表明该重组蛋白具有良好的抗原性和特异性，可用于马传贫弱毒疫苗株在体内外复制、接种马体内免疫应答及马传贫诊断的研究。     

Cross-neutralizing and subclass characteristics of antibody from horses with equine infectious anemia virus

Antibody responses in horses with equine infectious anemia virus (EIAV) were examined to determine their cross-neutralizing capacity. Antibodies induced by infection with any of six biologically cloned variants of EIAV cross-neutralized multiple variants from the group. Anti-EIAV antibody was found in both the IgG and IgG(T) subclasses in plasmas with virus-neutralizing activity and the majority of antiviral antibody was of the IgG(T) subclass. Depletion of IgG(T) did not increase the neutralization indexes of either neutralizing or non-neutralizing plasma samples.     

Differential responses of Equus caballus and Equus asinus to infection with two pathogenic strains of equine infectious anemia virus

Most in vivo studies with equine infectious anemia virus (EIAV) have been performed in horses and ponies (Equus caballus) with little published information available detailing the clinical responses of donkeys (Equus asinus) to infection with this virus. Consequently, donkeys were inoculated with two strains of EIAV (EIAV(PV) and EIAV(WY)) which have been documented to produce disease in E. caballus. Four ponies, 561, 562, 564 and 567 and two donkeys, 3 and 5 were infected with EIAV(PV) and one horse (94-10) and one donkey (4) were infected with EIAV(WY). Although the horse and ponies all experienced clinical signs of disease, which in some cases were severe, the donkeys remained asymptomatic throughout a 365-day observation period, except for mild transient reductions in platelet counts. The results from serological assays, virus isolation from plasma and detection of plasma-associated viral RNA by RT-PCR, indicated that initial replication of EIAV(PV) and EIAV(WY) was lower in donkeys than in horses and ponies. This conclusion was confirmed using competitive RT-PCR, in which viral RNA levels in the plasma of EIAV(PV)-infected ponies was up to 100,000-fold higher than in infected donkeys during the first 20 days post-infection (dpi). Similar results were obtained in the EIAV(WY)-infected animals, in which viral RNA burdens in the donkey at 20 dpi were 1000-fold less than in the horse. However, infection of donkey and horse monocyte-derived macrophage cultures with EIAV(PV) demonstrated that these cells in vitro were equally susceptible to virus-induced cytopathic effects and yielded similar levels of progeny virus. This result suggests that factors other than host cell permissiveness mediate the clinical differences observed between horses and donkeys infected with EIAV(PV) or EIAV(WY).     

Interleukin-6 is produced during both murine and avian Eimeria infections

The production of interleukin-6 (IL-6) during Eimeria infection was investigated in an attempt to gain a better understanding of the role of this multi-functional cytokine in resistance to this parasite. IL-6 production was measured in both chickens, in which the disease is of economic importance, and the better-characterised murine model system.Systemic and local IL-6 production in mice during E. vermiformis infection was investigated, in the relatively resistant BALB/c strain, and the relatively susceptible C57 BL/6 strain, using a murine IL-6 ELISA and the 7TD1 assay. Enhanced systemic production of IL-6 in serum was seen in infected BALB/c mice when compared to C57 BL/6 mice. This difference was also reflected in the draining lymph node of the site of infection, assessed by testing supernatants from stimulated mesenteric lymph node cells taken from infected mice at different times post-infection.Production of chicken IL-6-like factor activity was investigated using a murine IL-6 7TD1 bioassay. The presence of substantial quantities of IL-6-like factor activity was detected in serum taken from some chickens infected with E. tenella during the course of primary infection and, in a separate experiment, during the first few hours post-infection, a time when the pro-inflammatory capacity of IL-6 would influence the developing immune response. These results suggest that IL-6 is also important in the induction of immune effector responses to Eimeria infections in the chicken.     

Use of western blot and radioimmunoprecipitation for diagnosis of feline leukemia and feline immunodeficiency virus infections.

The uses and limitations of the western blot (WB) and radioimmunoprecipitation assay (RIPA) techniques for study of feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) and FeLV were evaluated. Western blot analysis was used to detect antigenic relatedness between the 2 lentiviruses. Using a rabbit serum directed against p26 of the equine infectious anemia virus (EIAV) and anti-EIAV horse serum obtained from an infected horse, cross-reactivity with p24 of FIV was revealed. Cat sera obtained late after experimentally induced FIV infection recognized p26 of EIAV, which indicates reciprocal cross-reactivity. For RIPA, FIV was metabolically labeled, and virus-coded proteins were identified, using immunoprecipitation. Polypeptides with apparent molecular mass of about 15, 24, 43, 50, 120, and 160 kilodaltons were detected. An additional polypeptide of 10 kilodaltons was found only by use of WB analysis.