Lamellar pro-inflammatory cytokine expression patterns in laminitis at the developmental stage and at the onset of lameness: innate vs. adaptive immune response

REASONS FOR PERFORMING STUDY: Recent research has indicated that inflammation plays a role in the early stages of laminitis and that, similar to organ failure in human sepsis, early inflammatory mechanisms may lead to downstream events resulting in lamellar failure. Characterisation of the type of immune response (i.e. innate vs. adaptive) is essential in order to develop therapeutic strategies to counteract these deleterious events. OBJECTIVES: To quantitate gene expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines known to be important in the innate and adaptive immune response during the early stages of laminitis, using both the black walnut extract (BWE) and oligofructose (OF) models of laminitis. METHODS: Real-time qPCR was used to assess lamellar mRNA expression of interleukins-1beta, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12 and 18, and tumour necrosis factor alpha and interferon gamma at the developmental stage and at the onset of lameness. RESULTS: Significantly increased lamellar mRNA expression of cytokines important in the innate immune response were present at the developmental stage of the BWE model, and at the onset of acute lameness in both the BWE model and OF model. Of the cytokines characteristic of the Th1 and Th2 arms of the adaptive immune response, a mixed response was noted at the onset of acute lameness in the BWE model, whereas the response was skewed towards a Th1 response at the onset of lameness in the OF model. CONCLUSIONS: Lamellar inflammation is characterised by strong innate immune response in the developmental stages of laminitis; and a mixture of innate and adaptive immune responses at the onset of lameness. POTENTIAL RELEVANCE: These results indicate that anti-inflammatory treatment of early stage laminitis (and the horse at risk of laminitis) should include not only therapeutic drugs that address prostanoid activity, but should also address the marked increases in lamellar cytokine expression.     

Immunology of the ocular surface.

The ocular surface immunity is a remarkable combination of the innate immune and adaptive immune systems, designed to prevent microbial invasion while minimizing damage to delicate ocular tissue. The innate immune system uses a variety of methods to minimize microorganism invasion, including mechanical tissue barriers and production of antimicrobial peptides. Tolerance of normal ocular flora is achieved by the presence of a minimal number of professional antigen presenting cells, immunosuppressive substances in tears, and the strategic intra- and intercellular location of the Toll-like receptors. Autoimmune diseases are common on the ocular surface, and with contributions of environmental and genetic factors, autoantigens are presented to the adaptive immune response. Toll-like receptors are the link between the innate and adaptive immune response, and are likely key components of the response of ocular tissue to infectious organisms and in the initiation and perpetuation of autoimmune disease.     

The role of dendritic cells in shaping the immune response

Dendritic cells are central to the initiation of primary immune responses. They are the only antigen-presenting cell capable of stimulating naive T cells, and hence they are pivotal in the generation of adaptive immunity. Dendritic cells also interact with and influence the response of cells of the innate immune system. The manner in which dendritic cells influence the responses in cells of both the innate and adaptive immune systems has consequences for the bias of the adaptive response that mediates immunity to infection after vaccination or infection. It also provides an opportunity to intervene and to influence the response, allowing ways of developing appropriate vaccination strategies. Mouse and human studies have identified myeloid, lymphoid and plasmacytoid dendritic cells. Studies in domesticated animals with agents of specific infectious diseases have confirmed the applicability of certain of the generic models developed from mice or from in vitro studies on human cells. In vivo and ex vivo studies in cattle have demonstrated the existence of a number of subpopulations of myeloid dendritic cells. These cells differ in their ability to stimulate T cells and in the cytokines that they produce, observations clearly having important implications for the bias of the T-cell response. Dendritic cells also interact with the innate immune system, inducing responses that potentially bias the subsequent adaptive response.     

Biological activity of immunostimulatory CpG DNA motifs in domestic animals

Bacterial DNA contains a much higher frequency of CpG dinucleotides than are present in mammalian DNA. Furthermore, bacterial CpG dinucleotides are often not methylated. It is thought that these two features in combination with specific flanking bases constitute a CpG motif that is recognized as a "danger" signal by the innate immune system of mammals and therefore an immune response is induced when these motifs are encountered. These immunostimulatory activities of bacterial CpG DNA can also be achieved with synthetic CpG oligodeoxynucleotides (ODN). Recognition of CpG motifs by the innate immune system requires engagement of Toll-like receptor 9 (TLR-9), which induces cell signaling and subsequently triggers a pro-inflammatory cytokine response and a predominantly Th1-type immune response. CpG ODN-induced innate and adaptive immune responses can result in protection in various mouse models of disease. Based on these observations, clinical trials are currently underway in humans to evaluate CpG ODN therapies for cancer, allergy and infectious disease. However, potential applications for immunostimulatory CpG ODN in species of veterinary importance are just being explored. In this review, we will highlight what is presently known about the immunostimulatory effects of CpG ODN in domestic animals.     

Live Brucella abortus rough vaccine strain RB51 stimulates enhanced innate immune response in vitro compared to rough vaccine strain RB51SOD and virulent smooth strain 2308 in murine bone marrow-derived dendritic cells

Brucella spp. are Gram-negative, coccobacillary, facultative intracellular pathogens. B. abortus strain 2308 is a pathogenic strain affecting cattle and humans. Rough B. abortus strain RB51, which lacks the O-side chain of lipopolysaccharide (LPS), is the live attenuated USDA approved vaccine for cattle in the United States. Strain RB51SOD, which overexpresses Cu–Zn superoxide dismutase (SOD), has been shown to confer better protection than strain RB51 in a murine model. Protection against brucellosis is mediated by a strong CD4+ Th₁ and CD8+ Tc₁ adaptive immune response. In order to stimulate a robust adaptive response, a solid innate immune response, including that mediated by dendritic cells, is essential. As dendritic cells (DCs) are highly susceptible to Brucella infection, it is possible that pathogenic strains could limit the innate and thereby adaptive immune response. By contrast, vaccine strains could limit or bolster the innate and subsequent adaptive immune response. Identifying how Brucella vaccines stimulate innate and adaptive immunity is critical for enhancing vaccine efficacy. The ability of rough vaccine strains RB51 and RB51SOD to stimulate DC function has not been characterized. We report that live rough vaccine strain RB51 induced significantly better (p ≤ 0.05) DC maturation and function compared to either strain RB51SOD or smooth virulent strain 2308, based on costimulatory marker expression and cytokine production.     

Pattern recognition receptors in companion and farm animals - the key to unlocking the door to animal disease?

The innate immune system is essential for host defence and is responsible for early detection of potentially pathogenic microorganisms. Upon recognition of microbes by innate immune cells, such as macrophages and dendritic cells, diverse signalling pathways are activated that combine to define inflammatory responses that direct sterilisation of the threat and/or orchestrate development of the adaptive immune response. Innate immune signalling must be carefully controlled and regulation comes in part from interactions between activating and inhibiting signalling receptors. In recent years, an increasing number of pattern recognition receptors (PRRs), including C-type lectin receptors and Toll-like receptors (TLRs), has been described that participate in innate recognition of microbes, especially through the so called pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs). Recent studies demonstrate strong interactions between signalling through these receptors. Whereas useful models to study these receptors in great detail in the murine and human system are now emerging, relatively little is known regarding these receptors in companion and farm animals. In this review, current knowledge regarding these receptors in species of veterinary relevance is summarised.     

甘露寡糖对保育猪的营养与保健作用

大量研究表明,甘露寡糖(MOS)通过积极影响断奶仔猪的肠道微生物菌群和肠道形态结构,加速由于断奶饥饿应激或采食固体饲料中抗原受损伤的肠黏膜上皮的修复,有助于保持仔猪断奶后肠道的完整性和消化吸收功能。在免疫反应方面,MOS通过促进抗原提呈增强断奶仔猪的抗病性,从而增强从先天性免疫应答向适应性免疫应答的转变。     

羊痘病毒免疫学研究进展

羊痘病毒是在细胞浆中复制的DNA病毒,能引起羊和牛的皮肤病变.病毒编码一系列免疫调节基因和引起宿主细胞凋亡的基因来逃避宿主先天和后天的免疫反应.病毒感染机体后,主要引起宿主的细胞免疫.羊痘病毒能增强机体对其他免疫原的免疫反应.     

Toll样受体研究进展

免疫系统识别"非我"和"自我"的过程是依赖于不同的受体来完成的,作为先天性免疫系统的重要组成部分及连接获得性免疫与先天性免疫的"桥梁",Toll样受体(Toll-like receptors,TLRs)是生物的一种模式识别受体(pattern recognition receptor,PRR),它主要通过识别病原相关分子模式(pathogen-associated molecularpatterns,PAMPs)来启动免疫反应。已发现TLRs在炎症、细胞信号转导、细胞凋亡、肿瘤等发生过程中扮演重要角色。随着分子细胞生物学的发展,有关TLRs的研究必将更加深入,同时也会进一步拓展对机体免疫机制的认识。     

Viral deubiquitinases and innate antiviral immune response in livestock and poultry

Among many of the pathogens, virus is the main cause of diseases in livestock and poultry. A host infected with the virus triggers a series of innate and adaptive immunity. The realization of innate immune responses involves the participation of a series of protein molecules in host cells, including receptors, signal molecules and antiviral molecules. Post-translational modification of cellular proteins by ubiquitin regulates numerous cellular processes, including innate immune responses. Ubiquitin-mediated control over these processes can be reversed by cellular or viral deubiquitinases (DUBs). DUBs have now been identified in diverse viral lineages, and their characterization is providing valuable insights into virus biology and the role of the ubiquitin system in host antiviral mechanisms. In this review, we briefly introduce the mechanisms of ubiquitination and deubiquitination, present antiviral innate immune response and its regulation by ubiquitin, and summarize the prevalence of DUBs encoded by viruses (Arteriviridae, Asfarviridae, Nairoviridae, Coronaviridae, Herpesviridae, and Picornaviridae) infecting domestic animals and poultry. It is found that these DUBs suppress the innate immune responses mainly by affecting the production of type I interferon (IFN), which causes immune evasion of the viruses and promotes their replication. These findings have important reference significance for understanding the virulence and immune evasion mechanisms of the relevant viruses, and thus for the development of more effective prevention and treatment measures.     

Equine Breeding-Induced Endometritis: A Review

Although endometritis is a normal occurrence after breeding, persistent inflammation threatens the success of the pregnancy. Persistent endometritis has been cited as a leading reproductive health concern in the mare. A variety of factors contribute to susceptibility to persistent breeding induced endometritis, including age, endometrial quality, and reproductive history. Seminal plasma mediates the immune response to breeding, as it has protective properties for viable spermatozoa, while aiding in the recognition and targeting of dead spermatozoa by the mare's immune response. Although the adaptive immune response has been implicated in the response to breeding, the innate immune response along with mechanical clearance are the primary mechanisms suggested to act to clear endometritis. Mares susceptible to persistent breeding induced endometritis have an altered innate immune response after breeding compared to resistant mares. There are multiple tools and strategies utilized for the diagnosis and treatment of persistent endometritis. This review of the literature summarizes research investigating the causes, pathogenesis, and treatments of persistent breeding induced endometritis.     

乳铁蛋白生物学功能研究进展

乳铁蛋白(LF)是一种铁结合糖蛋白,广泛存在于哺乳动物组织和体液中.它具有多种生物学作用,包括调节铁代谢和免疫反应,并具有抗微生物、抗氧化、抗癌和抗炎等活性.乳铁蛋白可以直接或间接螯合铁发挥其抗菌、抗氧化作用;乳铁蛋白作为一种免疫调节剂,对先天性免疫反应和适应性免疫反应都有作用.本文综述了乳铁蛋白的生理功能,旨在为其在...     

Expression of TOLL-like receptors (TLR) by bovine antigen-presenting cells-potential role in pathogen discrimination?

Invading pathogens are controlled by the innate and adaptive arms of the immune system. Adaptive immunity, mediated by B and T lymphocytes, recognises pathogens via high affinity receptors. However, the establishment of a primary adaptive immune response is not rapid enough to eradicate invading microorganisms as it involves cell proliferation, gene activation and protein synthesis. More rapid defence mechanisms are provided by innate immunity, which recognises invading pathogens by germ-line-encoded pattern recognition receptors. Recent evidence shows that this recognition can mainly be attributed to the family of TOLL-like receptors (TLR). Binding of pathogen-associated molecular patterns to TLR induces the production of reactive oxygen and nitrogen intermediates, pro-inflammatory cytokines, and up-regulates expression of co-stimulatory molecules, subsequently initiating the adaptive immunity. In this paper, we will discuss the current knowledge with regards to the TLR, and in particular the bovine family of TLR. In addition, we will show the expression of TLR mRNA in bovine antigen-presenting cell subsets, summarise the discovery and the critical roles of TLR2 in host defence against Mycobacteria, and provide evidence for a mycobacteria species-specific response of bovine macrophages.     

Innate immune response to intramammary infection with Serratia marcescens and Streptococcus uberis

Streptococcus uberis and Serratia marcescens are Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, respectively, that induce clinical mastitis. Once initial host barrier systems have been breached by these pathogens, the innate immune system provides the next level of defense against these infectious agents. The innate immune response is characterized by the induction of pro-inflammatory cytokines, as well as increases in other accessory proteins that facilitate host recognition and elimination of the pathogens. The objective of the current study was to characterize the innate immune response during clinical mastitis elicited by these two important, yet less well-studied, Gram-positive and Gram-negative organisms. The pro-inflammatory cytokine response and changes in the levels of the innate immune accessory recognition proteins, soluble CD14 (sCD14) and lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-binding protein (LBP), were studied. Decreased milk output, induction of a febrile response, and increased acute phase synthesis of LBP were all characteristic of the systemic response to intramammary infection with either organism. Infection with either bacteria similarly resulted in increased milk levels of IL-1 beta, IL-8, IL-10, IL-12, IFN-gamma, TNF-alpha, sCD14, LBP, and the complement component, C5a. However, the duration of and/or maximal changes in the increased levels of these inflammatory markers were significantly different for several of the inflammatory parameters assayed. In particular, S. uberis infection was characterized by the sustained elevation of higher milk levels of IL-1 beta, IL-10, IL-12, IFN-gamma, and C5a, relative to S. marcescens infection. Together, these data demonstrate the variability of the innate immune response to two distinct mastitis pathogens.     

猪脾脏结构和功能及其免疫关键基因研究进展

脾脏作为猪最大的次级淋巴器官,含有多种免疫活性细胞和免疫因子,是先天性免疫和适应性免疫重要的应答场所,具有广泛的免疫调控功能;同时可清除衰老、损伤红细胞及过滤病原体,并在造血和储藏血细胞方面具有重要作用。这些功能与脾脏的结构密切相关,其中红髓主要作为血液滤过器,执行造血、储血和清除异物的功能;白髓是免疫的主要区域,含有多种免疫细胞,可执行特异性免疫应答调控功能;而边缘区是连接两个区室的重要桥梁,使所有细胞和抗原都能通过其进入脾脏不同部位。不同的发育和免疫关键基因是实现脾脏功能的根本,发育基因的表达保证了其结构的完整,为脾脏执行各种功能提供空间。免疫关键基因的表达确保了免疫反应进行,其中不同模式识别受体基因的表达保证了先天性免疫的吞噬和识别应答,而各种免疫细胞分泌的多种细胞因子和免疫活性物质是获得性免疫反应的基础,实现机体清除和监控抗原的生理过程。随着脾脏研究的深入,对其各种免疫细胞和免疫功能有了新的认识。作者首先阐述了脾脏组织不同区域的生物学功能;然后结合机体免疫应答机制,论述脾脏先天性和特异性免疫功能以及所需免疫细胞和免疫因子的作用与关联;最后简单介绍了脾脏胚胎期和出生后期的组织发育和免疫相关基因,总结了猪脾脏先天性免疫中重要的模式识别受体及其基因家族,为研究猪脾脏先天性免疫功能提供参考。     

β-Glucan successfully stimulated the immune system in different jawed vertebrate species

Several reports have shown the positive effects of β-glucans on the immune. Howeverthese studies have a broad experimental design including β-glucans compounds. Consequently, a study using the same β-glucan molecule, administration route and experimental design is needed to compare the effects of β-glucan across vertebrate species. For this end, during 28 days we fed four different vertebrate species: mice, dogs, piglets and chicks, with two β-glucan molecules (BG01 and BG02). We measured the serum interleukin 2 as an indicator of innate immune response, the neutrophils and monocytes phagocytosis index as a cellular response and antibody formation as an adaptive response. The results clearly showed that the different β-glucan molecules exhibited biologically differently behaviors, but both molecules stimulate the immune system in a similar pattern in these four species. This finding suggests that vertebrates shared similar mechanisms/patterns in recognizing the β-glucans and confirms the benefits of β-glucans across different vertebrate species.     

Comparison of natural resistance in seven genetic groups of meat-type chicken

1. Several studies have shown that genetic variation exists in response to various Salmonella strains in mammals and poultry. In the current study immunocompetence traits related to natural resistance to Salmonella were measured in 7 genetic groups of meat-type chickens (in total 296 chickens involved). 2. Variables were measured of both innate (phagocytic activity) and adaptive immune responses that are important after a natural or experimental Salmonella enteritidis infection. Two traditional Old Dutch Breeds (groups 1 and 2), four commercial broiler groups (groups 3 to 6), and one experimental broiler group (group 7) were used. In two periods, birds of each group were killed for examination at ages between 14 and 35 d post hatch. 3. Significant differences between groups were found for most immune variables measured, with significant correlations between several of them. All groups produced an adequate immune response, of either the innate or the adaptive type. 4. In the current study, group 2 showed the highest overall natural resistance, though none of the groups was uniformly superior with respect to all traits measured. 5. In conclusion, for reliable measurements of general immunocompetence or resistance to Salmonella, for example, it is important to measure several aspects of the immune system.     

Study on Change of Lymphocyte Subpopulations in Swine after Immunization with Inactivated Vaccine

In order to investigate the change of lymphocyte subpopulations in the peripheral blood after injection of foot-and-mouth disease inactivated vaccine, blood samples were collected after vaccination and assayed with flow cytometry.The results showed that the proportion of dendritic cells (DCs) increased significantly in a short time after vaccination, after which the number of B cells, helper T (Th) cells and cytotoxic lymphocytes (CTLs) also raised with significance.The changing trend of B cells proportion was highly relevant with Th cells and a same correlation also appeared in the antibody titers.This indicated that the innate immune system could be activated rapidly after vaccination with the inactivated vaccine, and the adaptive immune response including cellular immune response and humoral immune response could be invoked subsequently.The high level of neutralizing antibodies was of great importance in evading FMDV and the cellular immune response also exerted a crucial role.     

猪免疫口蹄疫灭活疫苗后外周血细胞亚群变化的研究

为了解动物在注射口蹄疫灭活疫苗后机体免疫状态的变化情况,本试验选取口蹄疫阴性猪进行疫苗免疫,利用流式细胞术检测方法来测定外周血中免疫细胞亚群的变化。结果显示,树突状细胞在免疫后能够快速产生应答,在24 h内其含量出现明显升高;B细胞和Th细胞含量在免疫后第10天都出现了明显升高,且两者之间的变化存在着高度相关性,而抗体水平的变化情况与这两种细胞含量的变化也高度相关;细胞毒性T细胞含量在免疫后也出现升高。这说明灭活疫苗免疫动物后不仅可以激活机体的体液免疫应答反应,产生高水平抗体,发挥免疫保护作用,更重要的是能够在短时间内激发机体的固有免疫应答,同时能够激活细胞免疫应答,全方位发挥免疫保护作用。     

CD14+ cells are required for IL-12 response in bovine blood mononuclear cells activated with Toll-like receptor (TLR) 7 and TLR8 ligands

Single-stranded viral RNA (ssRNA) was recently identified as the natural ligand for TLR7 and TLR8. ssRNA sequences from viruses, as well as their synthetic analogues stimulate innate immune responses in immune cells from humans and mice, but their immunostimulatory activity has not been investigated in ruminants. In the present investigations, we tested whether synthetic RNA oligoribonucleotides (ORN) can activate immune cells from cattle. In vitro incubation of bovine peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) with ORN-induced production of IL-12, IFN-gamma and TNF-alpha. No significant induction of IFN-alpha was observed. Depletion of CD14+ cells from PBMC abrogated the IL-12 response and consequently the IFN-gamma response, suggesting that CD14+ cells are required for PBMC immune activation with ORN. Consistent with these findings, the putative receptors for ORN (TLR7 and TLR8) were expressed at higher levels in the CD14+ fraction than the CD14- PBMC fraction. Pre-treatment of PBMC with bafilomycin (an inhibitor of phagosomal acidification) prior to stimulation with ORN abolished the cytokine responses, confirming that the receptor(s) which mediate the ORN-induced responses are intracellular. These results demonstrate for the first time that the TLR7/8 agonist ORN's have strong immune stimulatory effects in cattle, and suggest that further investigation on the potential of TLR7/8 ligands to activate innate and adaptive immune responses in domestic animals are warranted.