Channel catfish, Ictalurus punctatus, leukocytes secrete immunoreactive adrenal corticotropin hormone (ACTH)

The interrelationships between the neuroendocrine and immune systems are becoming more understood, at least in mammalian systems. The most characterized of these relationships is that of hormonal signaling within the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. CNS-perceived signals stimulate the release of corticotropin releasing hormone (CRH) which in turn stimulates the release of pituitary corticotropin (ACTH) and ultimately the release of adrenal-cortex-derived corticosteroids. We demonstrate that channel catfish peripheral blood mononuclear cells, a channel catfish B-cell line (1G8) and a T-cell line (28S.1), constitutively and in response to CRF, secrete a molecule that is reactive with a mammalian RIA for ACTH (irACTH). The T-cell line was the most responsive to CRH and may provide a valuable model for understanding the interrelationships between the neuroendocrine and immune systems in lower vertebrates. Lymphoid derived ACTH, or ACTH-like products, in fish, as well as higher vertebrates, may represent a paracrine or autocrine control on lymphocyte function and immune regulation.     

Leukocyte numbers and intestinal mucosal morphometrics in horses with no clinical intestinal disease

Healthy horses and other animals have large numbers of resident leukocytes in the intestinal wall, but there is scant information regarding which and how many leukocytes are normally present in the equine intestinal wall. Our aim was to provide a reference range of leukocytes in the intestinal mucosal and submucosal propria of normal horses. We included in our study intestinal tissues from 22 Thoroughbred racehorses with no clinical intestinal disease, which had been euthanized because of catastrophic musculoskeletal injuries. Neutrophils, lymphocytes, eosinophils, macrophages, and plasma cells were counted in 5 random 17,600-µm² areas of villus lamina propria of the duodenum, jejunum, and ileum, and deep lamina propria of the duodenum, jejunum, ileum, right ventral colon, left ventral colon, left dorsal colon, right dorsal colon, and small colon. Other features investigated in the same intestinal segments included villus height and width (small intestine), presence of ciliated protozoa, Paneth cells number, subcryptal leukocyte layers (number of leukocyte layers between the bottom of the crypts and the muscularis mucosae), and submucosal leukocytes. Lymphocytes were the most numerous cells in all segments analyzed, followed by plasma cells, eosinophils, macrophages, and neutrophils. Eosinophil numbers were significantly higher in both lamina propria and submucosa of the large intestine than in the small intestine. The duodenum had shorter and thinner villi than either jejunum or ileum. The data provided from our study will be useful for diagnosticians examining inflammatory processes in the intestinal tract of horses.     

Isolation of parapoxvirus from a cow treated with interferon-gamma

A virus was isolated from peripheral blood leukocytes of a cow which was kept in an isolated pen after it was injected with recombinant bovine interferon-γ. The virus was identified as a member of genus Parapoxvirus in the family Poxviridae on the basis of electron microscopic observations and serological tests. Parapoxvirus has seldom been isolated other than from papular lesions, the characteristic sign of parapoxvirus infection. This is the first report of parapoxvirus isolation from the peripheral blood of a cow without any clinical signs. These results show that parapoxviruses are capable of causing persistent infection in cattle without clinical signs and can be activated by stress factors that induce modification of immune reactions. Relationships between the isolated virus and other parapoxviruses isolated previously from cattle in Japan were investigated and discussed.     

The Activity Ratio of the Cytosolic MDH/LDH and the Isoenzyme Pattern of LDH in the Peripheral Leukocytes of Dogs,Cats and Rabbits

The activities of malate dehydrogenase (MDH) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and the pattern of the isoenzymes of LDH were determined in the peripheral blood leukocytes of dogs, rabbits and cats. Rabbits had significantly higher plasma glucose concentrations than dogs or cats. Feline leukocytes showed higher LDH and lower MDH activities than canine or rabbit leukocytes. The M/L ratio, defined as the MDH activity divided by the LDH activity in cytosolic fractions, was considered to be a good indicator with which to evaluate the metabolic state in animal tissues. The M/L ratio was highest in canine and lowest in feline leukocytes. LDH-2 and LDH-3 isoenzymes were dominant in canine leukocytes. LDH-1 and LDH-2 were dominant in rabbit leukocytes, whereas LDH-5 was dominant in feline leukocytes. It was evident that there were significant differences in energy metabolism between the leukocytes of dogs, rabbits and cats.     

Immunophenotyping of Leukocyte Subsets in Peripheral Blood and Palatine Tonsils of Prefattening Pigs

The quantitative and distribution patterns of porcine peripheral blood and tonsillar lymphoid/myeloid cell subsets were assessed in order to establish the immune status of farm pigs prior to their transfer to fattening units. Peripheral blood and tonsillar samples were taken from clinically healthy, nonvaccinated, 12-week-old pigs, either ex vivo or following euthanasia. Single-colour flow cytometry, using monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) reactive with the swine leukocyte cluster of differentiation (CD) antigens, gave the proportions of lymphoid (9.7% CD4⁺, 8.0% CD8⁺, 36.9% CD5a⁺, 20.3% CD16⁺, 6.9% CD21⁺, 86.3% CD45⁺, 41.8% CD45RA⁺, 48.3% CD45RC⁺), null cells (6.9%) and myeloid cells (23.7% CD11b⁺ and 5.4% SWC3a⁺) in peripheral blood. In situ identification and distribution of lymphoid cells in the tonsils (CD3a⁺, CD21⁺, CD45RA⁺, CD45RC⁺) was performed with anti-CD mAbs using the avidin–biotin complex method. Most CD3a⁺ cells were in the parafollicular areas, with many cells in the follicles. CD21⁺ cells were scattered throughout the parafollicular area, with only a few cells inside lymphoid follicles. CD45RA⁺ cells were mostly concentrated in the follicles but many positive cells were present in the parafollicular area. Many CD45RC⁺ cells were visible in the parafollicular area, a few positive cells were in the crypt epithelium, and single cells were inside the follicles.     

Leukocyte and Cytokine Accumulation in the Ovine Teat and Udder during Endotoxin-Induced Inflammation

Persson Waller, K., Colditz, I.G., Flapper, P. and Seow, H.-F., 1997. Leukocyte and cytokine accumulation in the ovine teat and udder during endotoxin-induced inflammation. Veterinary Research Communications, 21 (2), 101-115The accumulation of leukocytes, ovine serum albumin and the cytokines interleukin-1 (IL-1), tumour necrosis factor- (TNF-), interleukin-8 (IL-8), granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) and interferon- (IFN-) was studied during endotoxin-induced inflammation in lactating and dry ovine udders, and in the teat cisterns of dry ewes after surgical closure of the passage between the teat and udder cisterns. Samples were taken before infusion and hourly up to 10 h after infusion of 0.1, 1 or 10 µg of endotoxin, or infusion of pyrogen-free saline (PFS) as a control. Rectal temperatures were measured.A significant dose- and time-dependent accumulation of leukocytes, mainly neutrophils, was observed in the lactating udders and in the teat cisterns. In the dry udders, the leukocyte accumulation was significant for time but not for dose. Peak numbers of cells were reached at 3-4 h in the dry udders and in the teat cisterns, but not until 10 h after infusion in the lactating udders. The changes in the ovine serum albumin concentrations mostly paralleled changes in leukocyte numbers.A role was indicated for TNF-, IL-8 and GM-CSF, but not for IL-1 and IFN-, during endotoxin-induced inflammation in the ovine udder. Release of TNF-, IL-8 and GM-CSF was most prominent in lactating udders, peaking at 2 or 3 h after infusion, but was also detected in dry udders and teat cisterns. Detectable levels of IL-1 and IFN- were occasionally found in all three groups.     

小檗碱对LPS诱导白细胞跨内皮迁移的影响

为探明小檗碱对脂多糖（LPS）诱导外周血多形核白细胞（polymorphonuclear leukocytes,PMN）跨内皮细胞迁移（transendothelial migration,TEM）的影响。通过体外培养大鼠肠黏膜微血管内皮细胞,利用Tran-swell培养系统模拟内皮屏障,观察1μg/mL LPS刺激及5μg/mL小檗碱干预时,6 h后穿越内皮屏障PMN数量的变化。结果显示,LPS致炎诱导了PMN的TEM增加,小檗碱干预则能显著抑制LPS的诱导作用。试验表明,抑制PMN的TEM是小檗碱治疗LPS性炎症的机制之一。     

牛多形核白细胞(PMN)中P38 MAPK,PKC和PI3-K介导的NADPH氧化酶激活和吞噬作用(英文)

用血清调理的酵母聚糖（ｓｅｒｕｍ－ｏｐｓｏｎｉｚｅｄ　ｚｙｍｏｓａｎ　,ｓＯＺ）刺激多性核白细胞（ＰＭＮ）引起的Ｏ２－产生受到ｐ３８ＭＡＰＫ抑制物（ＳＢ２０３５８０）,ＰＩ３－Ｋ抑制物（ｗｏｒｔｍａｎｎｉｎ）和ＰＫＣ抑制物（ＧＦ１０９２０３Ｘ）的明显抑制,这些抑制物也明显引起ｓＯＺ诱导的一种ＮＡＤＰＨ氧化酶的胞浆成分 ｐ４７ｐｈｏｘ的磷酸化。可是流式细胞分析表明,ＳＢ２０３５８０和 ｗｏｒｔｍａｎｎｉｎ使吞噬作用减弱,而 ＧＦＩＯ９２０３Ｘ使吞噬作用增强。这些结果表明,虽然ＰＩ３－Ｋ和ｐ３８ ＭＡＰＫ都参与ＮＡＤＰＨ氧化酶激活和吞噬作用的信号传导,但ＮＡＤＰＨ氧化酶激活的信号传导途径与吞噬作用的信号传导途径不同。     

Cloning of Carp Inducible Nitric Oxide Synthase Full-length cDNA and its Differential Expression Analysis in Peripheral Blood Leukocytes

The study was aimed to obtain carp iNOS cDNA full-length sequence, and investigate the changes in peripheral blood leukocyte expression of iNOS in the stimulation of different mitogens.Based on EST sequences of iNOS that obtained from carp normal peripheral blood leukocytes cDNA library, full-length cDNA sequence of carp iNOS was successfully amplified by using gene library screening and rapid-amplification of cDNA 5'ends (5'-RACE) method.Carp peripheral blood leukocytes were divided into control and experimental groups and cultured.The experimental groups were stimulated by LPS (1.0 μg/mL) and ConA (1.0 μg/mL) for 4 and 12 h, respectively.And control groups were in the same cultured conditon time without mitogen stimulated.Real-time PCR was used to detect the expression of iNOS in peripheral blood leukocytes of each group.The results showed that the cDNA fragment was total 3 704 bp containing 74 bp 5'untranslated region (UTR), 246 bp 3'UTR and a 3 384 bp ORF encoding 1 127 amino acids.Sequence homology analysis showed that the amino acid sequence of carp iNOS shared 100% identity with Carassius auratus.After LPS and ConA stimulation, the iNOS expression of peripheral blood leukocytes in the experimental groups were increased, and the expression in the short time stimulation condition (4 h) was higher than the long time (LPS 12 h; ConA 24 h).In conclusion, iNOS expression of peripheral blood leukocytes was raised after LPS and ConA stimulation, suggesting that there were dynamic changes in the inflammation.     

Banding or Burdizzo castration and carprofen administration on peripheral leukocyte inflammatory cytokine transcripts

The objective was to investigate if Banding or Burdizzo castration of bulls would alter the gene expression profile of a range of peripheral leukocyte inflammatory cytokines (IL-1, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, interferon-γ and tumor necrosis factor-α) and to determine if the administration of carprofen (C) before castration would affect the expression of these genes. Thirty Holstein-Friesian bulls (5.5 months; Mean 191 ± (SEM) 3.7 kg) were blocked by weight and randomly assigned to one of five treatments: (1) untreated control (CON); (2) Banding castration at 0 min (BAND); (3) BAND following an i.v. injection of 1.4 mg/kg BW of carprofen (C) at −20 min (BAND + C); (4) Burdizzo castration at 0 min (BURD); or (5) BURD following 1.4 mg/kg BW of carprofen at −20 min (BURD + C). Blood samples were collected at 1 h before castration and 6, 24 and 48 h post-castration for routine hematology and quantitative real-time PCR analysis of cytokine gene expression analysis. Generally, there were no differences (P > 0.05) among treatment groups in hematological variables following castration. Cortisol concentrations were unchanged throughout the experimental period in CON bulls. BURD animals had greater cortisol concentrations than BAND and CON animals at 6 h post treatment. Transitory effects were observed only in the expression of IL-6 and TNF-α. The relative expression of IL-6 was greater in the BURD than in the BAND treatment (P < 0.05) at 24 h post-castration and was greater in the BURD + C group than in the BURD group (P < 0.05) at 48 h. The relative expression of TNF-α was greater in BAND than in the BURD group (P < 0.05) at 48 h. In conclusion, these findings indicate that Banding or Burdizzo castration did not have any major effect on peripheral leukocyte inflammatory cytokine gene expression; Banding castration caused a greater pro-inflammatory cytokine gene expression reaction than Burdizzo castration and carprofen administration can affect IL-6 gene expression levels in BURD castrated animals.