Role of the chemokine eotaxin in the pathogenesis of equine sweet itch

The chemokine eotaxin is involved in the recruitment of eosinophils and T helper 2 lymphocytes in human allergic diseases, and drugs that block its activity, including eotaxin receptor (CCR3) antagonists, are being developed. The authors have recently cloned the horse ortholog of eotaxin and shown that it can induce equine eosinophil migration and activation in vitro. Moreover, eotaxin mRNA expression was upregulated in cultured horse dermal fibroblasts exposed to equine interleukin-4, suggesting a possible source of this eosinophil chemoattractant in equine skin. The results of this study show that eotaxin and monocyte chemoattractant protein (MCP) 1, but not MCP-2 or MCP-4, mRNA expression is upregulated in skin biopsies of sweet itch lesions when eosinophils are present, when compared with clinically normal skin from the same ponies.     

Distribution of CCR3 mRNA expression in horse tissues

CCL11 (also known as eotaxin) is a very potent and selective mediator of eosinophil migration which exerts its effects through its receptor, CCR3. In this study we report the cloning of an equine CCR3 cDNA sequence and investigation of the localization of CCR3 mRNA expression in horse tissues. Equine CCR3 displayed high levels of sequence identity with CCR3 sequences in other species. RT-PCR analysis revealed the expression of CCR3 in colon, lung and spleen of normal horses. In situ hybridisation experiments indicated that expression of CCR3 mRNA in colon was predominantly in eosinophils and to a lesser extent in mast cells, whereas CCR3 was seen mainly in lymphocytes of the lung and spleen. In view of the role of CCR3 in the recruitment of cells into sites of allergic inflammation, equine-specific CCR3 sequence data and information on tissue localization will be of potential benefit in the development of CCR3-targeted anti-inflammatory therapies in the horse.     

Bovine eotaxin (CCL11)--an unusual member of the eotaxin group--attracts eosinophils in vitro but is not responsible for eosinophilia in the ovary

Under physiological conditions normally characterised by low tissue infiltration of eosinophils, a conspicuous number of these cells are attracted into the human and ruminant ovary. Eosinophils suddenly increase in the thecal layer of the preovulatory follicle and corpus luteum at very early development. Currently, we only have a limited understanding of the mechanism for the recruitment of the ovarian eosinophils. Eotaxin (CCL11) may be one of the chemoattractants involved in stimulating eosinophils to migrate selectively into ovary. As a prerequisite for the analysis of eotaxin expression in the bovine ovary, we determined the complete bovine eotaxin mRNA sequence since it was not available from databases. The bovine eotaxin is the first member of the monocyte chemoattractant protein (MCP)/eotaxin subfamily with two mRNA isoforms varying in length in the untranslated 3'-untranslated region. The unusual amino-acid sequence of bovine eotaxin contains structural features that are so far known to be characteristic for MCP, but not eotaxin. In our microchemotaxis assays, recombinant bovine eotaxin showed a functional pattern orthologous to known eotaxins. Thus, the chimeric structure of bovine eotaxin did not affect the favoured chemotactic activity on eosinophils. Semiquantitative RT-PCR was used to investigate the expression of eotaxin in different regions of the bovine ovary. We only detected faint eotaxin mRNA signals that did not indicate physiological significance even in stimulated granulosa cell cultures, follicle-derived macrophages or fibroblasts. Taken together, bovine eotaxin attracts eosinophils in vitro but is not responsible for eosinophilia in the ovary. Its unusual chimeric structure confirms the unity of the MCP/eotaxin subfamily of CC chemokines and distinguishes it from other CC chemokine subfamilies.     

Molecular cloning of the feline thymus and activation-regulated chemokine cDNA and its expression in lesional skin of cats with eosinophilic plaque

Thymus and activation-regulated chemokine (TARC) is a member of CC chemokine and plays an essential role in recruitment of CC chemokine receptor 4 positive Th2 cells to allergic lesion. To investigate the association of TARC in allergic inflammation of cats, a TARC cDNA was cloned from feline thymus by RT-PCR with 3' rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE) method. The feline TARC clone contained a full length open reading frame encoding 99 amino acids which shared 80.8%, 72.5%, 65.6% and 67.8% homology with dog, human, mouse and rat homologues, respectively. Expression of TARC mRNA was detected not only in thymus but also in spleen, lung, lymph node, kidney, small intestine, colon and skin of the normal cat tissues examined. Furthermore, it was found that TARC mRNA was strongly expressed in lesional skin of cats with eosinophilic plaque. The present results demonstrated that TARC might be involved in the pathogenesis of eosinophilic plaque in cats.     

The expression of histamine H4 receptor mRNA in the skin and other tissues of normal dogs

The histamine 4 (H₄) receptor was first cloned and characterized in 2000 using the human H₃ receptor DNA sequence. The H₄ receptor has been shown to participate in various aspects of inflammation, such as chemotaxis, upregulation of adhesion molecule expression and modulation of cytokine secretion. The primary goal of this study was to determine whether H₄ receptor mRNA is expressed in normal canine skin by performing an RT‐PCR. An additional goal was to determine the expression of this receptor in the colon, liver, spleen and kidney. Tissues were collected from five healthy, young‐adult pit bull dogs. Samples were immediately placed in RNAlater^® solution and stored at ?20°C until processed. The amplified products in all skin samples in addition to the colon, liver, spleen and kidney (variable expression) had the expected size of 400–500 bp. The sequenced amplicons matched the National Center for Biotechnology Information published sequence for the canine H₄ receptor. The study results showed that canine normal skin expresses the H₄ receptor mRNA. Further studies using immunohistochemistry should be conducted to demonstrate the expression of the H₄ receptor at the protein level and to localize the expression of this receptor in the skin.     

蒙古马不同组织器官TLR1、TLR2、TLR4和TLR6 mRNA转录水平研究

根据GenBank中马Toll样受体基因序列设计特异性引物,建立检测马Toll样受体（TLRs）mRNA转录水平的SYBR GreenⅠ实时荧光定量PCR方法,检测TLR4、TLR2、TLR1和TLR6在蒙古马不同组织器官中的转录水平。4种TLRs在心脏、肝脏、脾脏、肺脏、肾脏、胃、十二指肠、空肠、盲肠和骨髓中均有转录。其中,TLR4mRNA除在空肠和肝脏外,在其他组织器官中的表达水平均高于TLR2、TLR1、TLR6。免疫器官中,TLR4、TLR1mRNA在骨髓中表达量高于脾脏,而TLR2、TLR6mRNA在脾脏中表达量高于骨髓。各肠段,TLR4、TLR2、TLR1、TLR6mRNA表达水平之间在空肠的差异不是很大,而在十二指肠和盲肠中差异很大。结果表明,TLRs mRNA在马各组织器官转录水平差异较大,可能与其对病原体的识别和抵抗能力有关。     

驯鹿β-防御素-1(reBD-1)mRNA在驯鹿组织器官中的表达检测

为了检测reBD-1 mRNA在驯鹿体内可能的表达器官,研究根据已知的reBD-1 cDNA序列设计了一对预计扩增产物为121 bp的引物,以驯鹿舌、食管、瘤胃、网胃、皱胃、十二指肠、回肠、结肠、肝、肺、气管、肾、膀胱、睾丸、附睾、心脏、脾脏中提取的总RNA为模板,采用反转录PCR(RT-PCR)技术检测驯鹿的上述器官内reBD-1 mRNA的表达情况.结果显示:reBD-1 mRNA在上述组织器官中均有表达,其中在舌、瘤胃、睾丸中表达最强;在食管、十二指肠、结肠、气管、脾脏中有中等量的表达;在网胃、皱胃、回肠、肝、肺、肾、膀胱、附睾、心脏内的表达较弱.β-防御素reBD-1在驯鹿体内的广泛表达提示reBD-1有助于驯鹿的先天性宿主防御.     

Laminar chemokine mRNA concentrations in horses with carbohydrate overload-induced laminitis

Chemokines play a vital role in leukocyte activation and emigration that reportedly plays a central role in laminar injury in equine laminitis. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the pattern of laminar chemokine expression in horses in the classical carbohydrate overload (CHO)-model of laminitis. Laminar samples were obtained 24h following water administration in the control group (CON, n=8), and at the onset of fever (≥ 102°F, 12-22 h post CHO, DEV group, n=8) and at the onset of lameness (20-48 h post CHO, LAM group, n=8) in induced horses. Real time quantitative PCR was performed on all samples in order to determine laminar mRNA concentrations of both CXC chemokines (CXCL1, CXCL6, CXCL8) and CC chemokines (CCL2 [MCP-1], CCL3 [MIP-1α], and CCL8 [MCP-2]). Data were subjected to ANOVA followed by Student-Newman-Keuls (P<0.05). Laminar mRNA concentrations for all CXC chemokines were increased (P<0.05) at both the DEV and LAM horses when compared to the control horses, whereas mRNA concentrations of CCL2 and CCL8 were only increased in the LAM horses when compared to controls and the DEV horses. When taken in context with our previous studies, CXCL1, CXCL6 and CXCL8 increases precede peak laminar leukocyte accumulation. Additionally, CCL2 and CCL8 expression corroborate previous reports of monocyte/macrophage accumulation in affected laminae. Compared with previous studies, our findings demonstrate that increased laminar CXC chemokine expression consistently precedes peak leukocyte accumulation and onset of lameness in CHO laminitis models. Chemokine antagonists may be considered as possible therapeutic targets to decrease the influx of leukocytes that occurs during the development of equine laminitis.     

Improved hepatic and pancreatic localisation of the equine alpha-1-proteinase inhibitor family of serpins using an antigen enhancement technique and a monoclonal antibody

Equine alpha- l-proteinase inhibitor (API) consists of three, occasionally four, serum glycoproteins. This study investigated the immunohistochemical localisation of equine API in paraformaldehyde fixed, paraffin embedded equine tissue samples of liver, lung, stomach, pancreas, jejunum and colon in five horses using affinity purified sheep polyclonal and protein A purified mouse monoclonal antibodies, whose specificities were verified by Western blotting. Exposing tissue sections to boiling citrate buffer greatly enhanced antigen recovery and improved immunostaining with both antibodies, resulting in discovery of novel tissue distribution patterns for the horse. In the horses studied, all hepatocytes showed some degree of cytoplasmic staining, many having perinuclear intense granular inclusions. This finding is contrary to findings in human studies where hepatocytes of Pi MM phenotype have proven difficult to stain for human API, despite evidence at the molecular level suggesting hepatocytes as the major source of serum API. This discrepancy may be due to the use of different tissue fixation and antigen recovery techniques. In all other tissues examined, the distribution of equine API was similar to human studies.     

STC-1基因在大、小体型猪中表达与分布的差异分析

试验分别采集40日龄小体型猪（巴马猪）和大体型猪（大白猪）的心脏、肝脏、脾脏、肺脏、肾脏、头骨、骨骼肌组织,利用实时荧光定量PCR检测斯钙素-1（stanniocalcin 1,STC-1）基因mRNA在各个组织中的表达水平,并通过Western blotting检测STC-1蛋白在各个组织中的分布。实时荧光定量PCR检测结果表明,STC-1基因mRNA在巴马猪和大白猪肺脏、肾脏中相对表达水平较高,在骨骼肌中的表达水平最低;除心脏和骨骼肌外,巴马猪其余各组织中STC-1基因mRNA表达水平均显著高于大白猪（P < 0.05）。Western blotting检测结果表明,巴马猪肝脏中STC-1蛋白的表达量最高,而大白猪脾脏中STC-1蛋白表达量最高,两者差异显著（P < 0.05）;巴马猪肺脏、肝脏、骨骼肌及心脏组织中STC-1蛋白表达量均极显著高于大白猪（P < 0.01）;而巴马猪肾脏、脾脏中STC-1蛋白表达量极显著低于大白猪（P < 0.01）。本研究首次对大、小体型猪不同组织的STC-1基因mRNA表达水平及其STC-1蛋白分布进行检测,导致该基因表达与分布差异的原因可能与两种猪受外界环境应激及生长发育差异有关。     

草原红牛CAPN1基因mRNA表达特性分析

为了进一步揭示CAPN1的功能,本研究采用实时荧光定量PCR技术对草原红牛初生牛与成年牛心脏、肝脏、脾脏、肺脏、肾脏、瘤胃、十二指肠、背最长肌8种组织中的CAPN1mRNA表达水平进行了分析。结果表明：CAPN1基因在组织中普遍表达,但表达量存在差异。且成年牛的CAPN1基因在肺脏和瘤胃组织中的表达显著高于初生牛（P〈0.05）,成年牛在肝脏、脾脏、肾脏和背最长肌组织中CAPN1基因的表达水平极显著高于初生牛（P〈0.01）。     

佳米驴β-防御素aBD-1组织表达

为检测aBD-1mRNA在佳米驴体内可能的表达器官,根据已知aBD-1cDNA的全长序列设计一对预计扩增产物为266bp的引物,以佳米驴舌背表面、食管、胃、十二指肠、空肠、回肠、盲肠、结肠、直肠、气管、胰腺、膀胱、子宫、心脏、肝脏、肺脏、肾脏、脾脏、淋巴结、卵巢组织中提取的总RNA为模板,采用反转录PCR（RT—PCR）技术检测佳米驴的上述器官内aBD-1mRNA的表达情况,同时以β-肌动蛋白（β-actin）基因作为内参。结果显示：aBD-1mRNA在佳米驴的舌、盲肠和结肠内有强的表达,在食管、胃、十二指肠、空肠、回肠、直肠、气管内有比较强的表达,在膀胱和子宫内有弱的表达,而在心脏、肝脏、脾脏、肺脏、肾脏、胰腺、淋巴结、卵巢等实质性器官组织内无表达。     

Differential Expression Analysis of MUC4 and MUC13 Genes Between Resistant and Sensitive Weaned Meishan Piglets to ETEC F18

MUC4 and MUC13 genes as important candidate genes for enterotoxigenic Escherichia coil (ETEC) F4 resistance,may play an important role in the process of against ETEC F18 infection in weaned piglets. In this study,ETEC F18-resistant and -sensitive weaned Meishan piglets were used,and the expression levels of MUC4 and MUC13 genes in 11 tissues (heart,liver,spleen,lung,kidney,stomach,muscle,thymus,lymph nodes,duodenum and jejunum) were determined by quantitative Real-time PCR. The results showed that MUC4 and MUC13 genes were broadly expressed with different expression levels in all the 11 tissues. In the thymus and lymph tissues,the expression of MUC4 gene in resistant piglets was significantly higher than that in sensitive piglets (P<0.05);In the lung tissue,theMUC13 gene expression level in resistant individuals was significantly higher than that in sensitive individuals (P<0.05),and in the intestinal tissues of duodenum and jejunum, the expression level of MUC13 gene was relatively higher in resistant individuals. Thus we speculated that the high expression of MUC4 gene in immune tissues and MUC13 gene in intestinal tissues might improve the immune ability of piglets,protect and lubricate the intestinal tract, and resist ETEC F18 infection.     

Effects of mycophenolic acid on inosine monophosphate dehydrogenase I and II mRNA expression in white blood cells and various tissues in sheep

Mycophenolic acid (MPA) is a mycotoxin commonly found as Penicillium genus secondary metabolite in feedstuffs and silages. Feeding with MPA contaminated silages may modulate the immune system in the farm animals and can cause appetite lost, ketosis, paralysis and abortion. The aim of the present study was to characterize the long-term MPA effect on both the inosine monophosphate dehydrogenase (IMPDH) isoforms I and II mRNA expression in white blood cells (WBC) and various tissue of healthy sheep. In treated animals 300 mg MPA/day/sheep was applied. In all investigated tissues the IMPDH I and II mRNA was abundant: WBC, spleen, thymus, ileum, jejunum, kidney, liver, pharyngeal and mesenterial lymph node. An efficiency-corrected relative quantification of the IMPDH types I and II isoforms mRNA were performed by normalizing with the constant reference gene expression of beta-actin. High IMPDH I mRNA expression levels were seen in kidney > mesenterial lymph node > jejunum > spleen > pharyngeal lymph node. Medium and low abundance was found in ileum > WBC > liver > thymus. Type II mRNA was highly expressed in liver > thymus > jejunum. In pharyngeal lymph node > spleen > ileum > mesenterial lymph node > kidney > WBC medium to low IMPDH II mRNA concentrations were detected. Under MPA treatment the IMPDH I mRNA expression was not significantly regulated in WBC, only trends of down- and upregulation were observed. Surprisingly in jejunum an upregulation could be observed (P < 0.05). In pharyngeal lymph node a tendency to downregulation was shown. This may be due to frequent ruminant activities and frequent exposition of MPA to the pharyngeal lymph nodes. In contrast to type I mRNA expression, IMPDH II mRNA was significantly downregulated in ileum (3.4-fold, P < 0.01) and tendencies in downregulation could be seen in jejunum (5.1-fold, P = 0.14). In addition, significant downregulation of IMPDH II gene expression over the entire feeding experiment could be shown in WBC of MPA-treated animals compared with untreated animals (P < 0.05). In conclusion, the recent study demonstrates that feeding sheep with MPA-contaminated silage did not induce IMPDH I mRNA expression in various tissues and blood, except in jejunum, but has suppressive effects on IMPDH II mRNA expression in WBC and ileum.