Identification of a potent immunostimulatory oligodeoxynucleotide from Streptococcus thermophilus lacZ

Immunostimulatory sequences of oligodeoxynucleotides (ODNs), such as CpG ODNs, are potent stimulators of innate immunity. Here, we identified a strong immunostimulatory CpG ODN, which we named MsST, from the lac Z gene of Streptococcus (S.) thermophilus ATCC19258, and we evaluated its immune functions. In in vitro studies, MsST had a similar ability as the murine prototype CpG ODN 1555 to induce inflammatory cytokine production and cell proliferation. In mouse splenocytes, MsST increased the number of CD80+CD11c+and CD86+CD11c+ dendritic cells and CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells. We also analyzed the effects of MsST on the expression of regulatory cytokines by real-time quantitative PCR. MsST was more potent at inducing interleukin-10 expression than the ODN control 1612, indicating that MsST can augment the regulatory T cell response via Toll-like receptor 9, which plays an important role in suppressing T helper type 2 responses. These results suggest that S. thermophilus , whose genes include a strong Immunostimulatory sequence-ODN, is a good candidate for a starter culture to develop new physiologically functional foods and feeds.     

Inhibition of telomerase in canine cancer cells following telomestatin treatment

Telomere shortening in normal somatic cells has been proposed as a major barrier to unlimited cellular proliferation. Telomerase is an enzyme capable of maintaining telomere length, and thus bypassing this barrier. In human beings, telomerase activity is restricted to cancer cells and cells of stem or germ cell lineages. Dogs represent a potentially useful clinical model for the development of telomerase‐based therapies because telomerase activity is also restricted to cancer cells and stem cells in this species. We examined the ability of telomestatin to inhibit telomerase activity in telomerase‐positive D17 and CMT7 canine cancer cell lines. At a concentration of 2 μM, telomestatin treatment resulted in a decrease in telomerase activity, telomere shortening, growth inhibition and apoptosis in telomerase‐positive cancer cells. These effects were not seen in telomerase‐negative skin fibroblasts or negative controls. These results confirm that telomestatin specifically inhibits telomerase activity in canine cancer cells and strengthens the usefulness of dogs as a model for testing telomerase‐based therapies.     

鸡软骨细胞体外分离培养鉴定以及过表达miR-15a对软骨细胞的影响

为分析miR-15a在肉鸡不同组织中的表达情况,并探究过表达miR-15a对体外培养鸡软骨细胞的影响。本研究首先通过倒置显微镜观察、PCR、凝胶电泳和甲苯胺蓝染色对体外分离培养的软骨细胞进行鉴定。通过实时荧光定量PCR检测miR-15a在肢体内外翻畸形(valgus-varus deformity, VVD)组和健康组肉鸡中(各3只)各组织的表达量。之后通过CCK8和EDU方法分析软骨细胞过表达miR-15a后细胞增殖情况。软骨细胞转染miR-15a mimics后,通过qPCR检测软骨细胞的标志基因Collagen-2、Aggrecan、Collagen-10,成熟分化基因Runx2、Sox9、VEGF、MMP9,炎性因子IL-1β、IL-6、IL-8、IL-10、TNF-α、TGF-β3以及凋亡基因Fas、FasL、Bcl-2的表达量。并构建FKBP5 3'UTR的野生型载体和突变型载体,通过双荧光素酶检测报告检测miR-15a与FKBP5的靶向关系。结果表明,本研究所用的胰蛋白酶、Ⅱ型胶原酶和透明质酸酶联合消化法成功分离得到状态良好的软骨细胞。荧光定量结果显示,miR-15a在各组织中均有表达,与健康组相比,miR-15a在VVD组的肝(P < 0.01)、脾(P < 0.05)、胸腺(P < 0.01)中的表达量显著升高,在心和胸肌组织中的表达量显著降低(P < 0.01)。CCK8与EDU分析结果显示,与NC组相比,过表达miR-15a组软骨细胞增殖速度显著降低(P < 0.01),增殖细胞数量显著减少(P < 0.01)。qPCR结果显示,与mimics NC组相比,miR-15a mimics组的软骨细胞标志基因Aggrecan、成熟分化基因Sox9、Runx2表达量显著降低(P < 0.05),Fas基因表达量极显著上升(P < 0.01),FasL基因和抗凋亡基因Bcl-2极显著下降(P < 0.01)。成功构建了FKBP5 3'UTR野生型和突变型载体,双荧光素酶检测报告结果显示预测的靶基因FKBP5与miR-15a没有靶向关系。本研究成功分离并鉴定了鸡软骨细胞,过表达miR-15a抑制鸡软骨细胞增殖、成熟和分化并促进细胞凋亡。     

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.     

CoCl2对Na2CO3胁迫下苜蓿幼苗叶片细胞膜的保护作用

本研究报道了CoCl2对Na2CO3胁迫下苜蓿幼苗叶片细胞膜的保护作用及机制,研究结果表明,在120mmol/L Na2CO3胁迫的前期,苜蓿幼苗叶片多胺含量及抗氧化酶活性显著升高,过氧化物酶除外,而活性氧水平、脂质过氧化程度和细胞膜相对透性无显著变化;当120 mmol/L Na2CO3胁迫延长至24~28 d时,乙烯产生速率大幅度上升,多胺氧化酶及二胺氧化酶活性显著升高,精胺、亚精胺和腐胺含量显著下降;抗氧化酶活性显著下降,活性氧水平与脂质过氧化程度显著提高,细胞膜稳定指数大幅度下降。在120 mmol/L Na2CO3溶液中加入CoCl2至50μmol/L,在胁迫的整个过程中乙烯产生被显著抑制,同时相对提高了抗氧化酶的活性,并在胁迫后期显著减轻了多胺氧化酶活性升高、多胺含量下降及脂质过氧化程度的增加,减缓了细胞膜稳定指数的下降,从而对Na2CO3胁迫下苜蓿幼苗叶片细胞膜表现出一定的保护作用。     

Sertoli cell tumors associated with feminizing syndrome and spermatic cord torsion in two cryptorchid dogs

The association of cryptorchidism, functional Sertoli cell tumors, and spermatic cord torsion has been rarely reported in the literature. Two dogs were admitted for bilateral skin alopecia and weight loss. Both animals were cryptorchid and displayed a pendulous preputial sheath, prostate hypertrophy, and increased levels of circulating oestrogen. Transabdominal palpation and ultrasonography revealed the presence of neoplastic retained gonads. During surgery, spermatic cord torsion was also detected in the enlarged neoplastic testes of both dogs. Histologic examination confirmed the presence of Sertoli cell tumors that were primarily responsible for the feminizing syndrome. Complete remission of all symptoms occurred within 3 months after orchiectomy.     

Decrease in intestinal endocrine cells in Balb/c mice with CT-26 carcinoma cells

The density of intestinal endocrine cells, in Balb/c mice with colon 26 (CT-26) carcinoma cells, were examined immunohistochemically at 28 days after implantation. After CT-26 cell administration there was a significant decrease in most of the intestinal endocrine cells (p < 0.01) compared with the control group. The significant quantitative changes in the intestinal endocrine cell density might contribute to the development of the gastrointestinal symptoms commonly encountered in cancer patients.     

牛TLR4基因的遗传多态性与乳房炎的关联分析

TLR4通过识别病原体而激活免疫细胞，在先天免疫和适应性免疫防御中起着重要作用。以中国荷斯坦奶牛、三河牛和中国西门塔尔牛共397头为研究对象，利用创造酶切位点PCR法扩增243bp的目的片段，通过限制性内切酶HinfⅠ酶切来检测TLR4第3外显子的多态性，结果发现扩增产物的27bp处C到T的突变使得多态位点产生，编码的氨基酸由苏氨酸变为异亮氨酸。A、B2个等位基因在3个群体中均有分布，A等位基因占优势（大于78％），经χ^2适合性检验，三河牛在该位点未达到Hardy-Weinberg平衡状态（P〈0．05）。运用SAS8．2软件采用最小二乘法拟合线性模型，将该基因座不同基因型与奶牛乳房炎进行了关联分析，结果表明：AA基因型为乳房炎抗性基因型（P〈0．05），A等位基因为乳房炎抗性的有利基因。     

蚯蚓抗菌的免疫生态学机制

 蚯蚓具有独特的抗菌免疫防御体系,论文从蚯蚓的防御屏障、蚯蚓的细胞免疫和蚯蚓的体液免疫三个方面对蚯蚓的免疫防御体系进行了综述。     

Serum neopterin levels in female dogs with malignant mammary tumours

In this study, we have determined serum neopterin levels in female dogs with primary malignant mammary tumours. The study involved 50 female dogs which had a malignant mammary tumours removed surgically (32 animals with carcinoma, 12 animals with sarcoma and 6 animals with carcinosarcoma) and 10 clinically healthy female dogs. Serum neopterin levels were determined using a commercial ELISA kit. The mean neopterin levels were lower in the malignant tumour groups than in healthy animals but differences were statistically significant only in carcinoma and sarcoma groups. The decrease of neopterin levels in animals with malignant mammary tumours may suggest their decreased cellular immunity. Moreover, it might indicate that decreased activity of cellular mechanisms of the anti‐neoplastic response is one of the factors associated with the development and course of malignant mammary tumours in female dogs; however, further studies are necessary.