Adrenomedullin (AM) and adrenomedullin binding protein (AM-BP) in the bovine mammary gland and milk: Effects of stage of lactation and experimental intramammary E. coli infection

Adrenomedullin (AM) has been characterized as an endogenous tissue survival factor and modulator of many inflammatory processes. Because of the increased susceptibility of the mammary gland to infection during the time surrounding parturition in the cow, we investigated how milk and tissue content of AM and its binding protein (AM-BP) might be affected by the stage of lactation and the udder health status. Milk and mammary biopsy samples were obtained from Holstein cows 21 days prior to and at various times after calving to represent the dry period and early and mid-stages of lactation. Additional cows received an intramammary challenge with Escherichia coli for immunohistochemical characterization of AM and AM-BP. Milk AM concentrations were relatively constant across the stages of lactation while AM-BP increased two-fold (P<0.04) between early and mid-lactation. Milk AM (P<0.04) and AM-BP (P<0.03) increased as somatic cell counts (SCCs) increased within a given stage of lactation. Tissue content of both (AM and AM-BP) were significantly affected by stage of lactation, lowest in the dry period and progressively increasing to peak at mid-lactation as well as increasing in association with higher levels of SCCs. Following E. coli challenge, AM increased in epithelial cells surrounding mammary alveoli presenting high levels of SCCs. The data suggest that AM and AM-BP are cooperatively regulated in the mammary gland during lactation; changes in localized tissue AM and AM-BP content reflect a dynamic regulation of these tissue factors in the bovine mammary gland consistent with their protective effects within inflamed tissue.     

Cyclooxygenase (COX) inhibitors and the intestine

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) have long been used for the treatment of pain and inflammation because of their inhibitory effects on cyclooxygenase (COX). For almost as long as NSAIDs have been in use, multiple adverse effects have been noted. Assessment of many of these adverse effects have been complicated because of the discovery of multiple splice variants of the cox gene, and a greater array of COX inhibitors, especially the COX-2 selective inhibitors have become available. Some of these adverse effects cannot be readily explained by the effect of these drugs on COX. This has sparked a new field of investigation into the COX-independent effects of the COX inhibitors. The major noncyclooxygenase targets of the COX inhibitors of particular relevance to inflammation and the gastrointestinal tract are phosphatidylinositol 3'-kinase Akt signaling, uncoupling of oxidative phosphorylation, PPARgamma, nuclear factor KB, mitogen activated protein kinases, and heat shock proteins.     

Serum C-reactive protein concentration as an indicator of remission status in dogs with multicentric lymphoma

BACKGROUND: The acute-phase protein C-reactive protein (CRP) is used as a diagnostic and prognostic marker in humans with various neoplasias, including non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate if CRP could be used to detect different remission states in dogs with lymphoma. ANIMALS: Twenty-two dogs with untreated multicentric lymphoma. METHODS: Prospective observational study. Blood samples were collected at the time of diagnosis, before each chemotherapy session, and at follow-up visits, resulting in 287 serum samples. RESULTS: Before therapy, a statistically significant majority of the dogs (P = .0019) had CRP concentrations above the reference range (68%, 15/22). After achieving complete remission 90% (18/20) of the dogs had CRP concentrations within the reference range, and the difference in values before and after treatment was statistically significant (P < .001). CRP concentrations of dogs in complete remission (median, 1.91; range, 0.2-103) were significantly different (P = .031) from those of dogs with partial remission (median, 2.48; range, 0-89), stable disease (median, 1.77; range, 1.03-42.65), or progressive disease (median, 8.7; range, 0-82.5). There was profound variation of CRP measurements within each dog. CONCLUSIONS: CRP is useful in determining complete remission status after treatment with cytotoxic drugs. However, the individual variation between dogs means CRP concentration is not sufficiently different in other remission states to permit its use in monitoring progression of the disease. Greater reliability in determining remission status might be achieved by combining CRP concentration with other serum markers.     

沉默蜕皮激素受体对雌性中黑盲蝽生殖力的影响

中黑盲蝽Adelphocoris suturalis是一种重要的农业害虫,主要为害棉花、果树和牧草等作物。昆虫保幼激素(juvenile hormone, JH)与蜕皮激素(molting hormone, 20E)是调控昆虫生殖的主要因素。本研究运用基因克隆、基因沉默(RNAi)、实时荧光定量PCR(qPCR)等技术研究蜕皮激素受体(ecdysone receptor, EcR)、超气门蛋白(ultraspiracle protein, USP)在中黑盲蝽生殖调控中的作用。结果表明,中黑盲蝽EcR基因的ORF全长1 413 bp,编码470个氨基酸。预测蛋白质分子量为53.65 kD,pI值为7.79。中黑盲蝽USP基因ORF全长1 209 bp,编码402个氨基酸。预测蛋白质分子量为44.99 kD, pI值为7.94。与对照相比,注射dsEcR、dsUSP后6～18 d的中黑盲蝽体内EcR基因、USP基因在转录水平分别被显著抑制;卵巢的挂卵量分别仅有对照组的31.5%、86.6%;单雌产卵量减少36.0%～80.4%,显著低于对照。EcR和USP基因沉默后,产卵前期与对照相比无显...     

棉铃虫 JNKs 基因的克隆及表达分析

c-Jun氨基末端激酶(c-Jun N-terminal kinase, JNK)是MAPK家族(mitogen-activated protein kinases, 丝裂原活化蛋白激酶)的重要成员, 具有参与昆虫抗逆反应等多种功能。为明确JNK在棉铃虫 Helicoverpa armigera 中的表达特性及其对Bt杀虫蛋白的应激与免疫反应, 本研究通过PCR克隆得到2个棉铃虫 JNK 基因 HaJNK1 和 HaJNK2; 生物信息学分析结果显示: HaJNK1和 HaJNK2基因开放阅读框分别为1 191、1 143 bp, 分别编码397、381个氨基酸。系统进化树分析结果表明棉铃虫 HaJNK1 与黏虫 Mythimna separata 聚为一支, 亲缘关系较近, HaJNK2与 家蚕 Bombyx mori 聚为一支, 同源性较高。利用实时荧光定量PCR技术分析 HaJNK1 与 HaJNK2 在棉铃虫不同发育时期、不同组织中的表达量, 发现 HaJNK1 与 HaJNK2 在卵中表达量最高, 其次是雌成虫; HaJNK1 在性腺中表达量最高, 其次是唾液腺; HaJNK2 在头部表达量最高, 其次是性腺。取食Cry1Ac的4龄棉铃虫幼虫的中肠组织中, HaJNK1 与 HaJNK2 的表达量均显著升高。推测 HaJNKs 基因可能参与棉铃虫抵御Bt杀虫蛋白伤害的应激和抗逆反应。     

玉米黄花叶病毒运动蛋白的原核表达纯化与抗血清制备

为实现对玉米黄花叶病毒（maize yellow mosaic virus,MaYMV）的血清学检测,丰富该病毒的检测方法,将编码MaYMV运动蛋白（movement protein,MP）的基因连接到原核表达载体pDBHis-MBP上,将构建成功的原核表达质粒转化到大肠杆菌Escherichia coli中诱导表达融合蛋白,将纯化后的融合蛋白对新西兰大白兔Oryctolagus cuniculus进行免疫并制备MaYMV MP多克隆抗血清,并采用Western blot对抗血清的效价、灵敏度和特异性进行检测。结果显示,利用成功构建的原核表达载体经诱导表达获得分子量大小约为62 kD的融合蛋白,纯化后对新西兰大白兔进行免疫获得MaYMV MP抗血清,该抗血清的效价为1∶128 000,灵敏度为1∶32,且该抗血清能够特异性地检测到本氏烟Nicotiana benthamiana中瞬时表达的MaYMV MP,而不与马铃薯卷叶病毒属Polerovirus及黄症病毒属Luteovirus的其他病毒发生血清学交叉反应,证明该抗血清具有良好的特异性。表明本研究制备的MaYMV MP抗血清能特异性...     

Tumour necrosis factor stimulated gene 6 intrinsically regulates PD-L1 expressions in breast cancer cells,leading to modulation of tumour microenvironment

Recent studies have shown that tumour cells express tumour necrosis factor-inducible gene 6 (TSG-6) and its protein, which is known to play a key role in regulating excessive immune responses and proliferation and growth of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). It has not been confirmed whether the inhibition of TSG-6 for tumour cells can suppress tumour cell growth and regulate the activation of immune cells in the tumour microenvironment (TME). TSG-6-specific small interfering RNA was transfected into canine and human breast cancer cells (CIPp, CIPm and BT-20). TSG-6-down-regulated (siTSG-6) cells showed decreased cell proliferation, migration, and invasion abilities. Decreased mRNA expressions of NF-κB, STAT3 and Sox2, confirming that TSG-6 is an upper factor governing tumour growth and metastasis. Notably, siTSG-6 cells showed significantly decreased expression levels of CD44 and PD-L1. Direct and indirect co-culture of canine peripheral blood mononuclear cells (cPBMCs) and the siTSG-6 cells showed significant activation in M1 type macrophages and cytotoxic T cells. They also showed a tendency to decrease in the expression of CTLA-4 and increase in the expression of PD-1. In conclusion, this study suggests that the down-regulation of TSG-6 in breast cancer cells could not only suppress tumour growth and metastasis, and but also regulate TME. Since modulation of immune checkpoint proteins occurs in both tumour cells and immune cells, inhibiting TSG-6 and its protein within the TME could be novel therapeutic target for anticancer treatment.     

Extracellular heat shock protein 70 levels in tumour-bearing dogs and cats treated with radiation therapy and hyperthermia

Hyperthermia is a form of a cancer treatment which is frequently applied in combination with radiotherapy (RT) to improve therapy responses and radiosensitivity. The mode of action of hyperthermia is multifactorial; the one hand by altering the amount of the blood circulation in the treated tissue, on the other hand by modulating molecular pathways involved in cell survival processes and immunogenic interactions. One of the most dominant proteins induced by hyperthermia is the major stress-inducible heat shock protein 70 (Hsp70). Hsp70 can be found in the blood either as a free-protein (free HSP70) derived from necrotic cells, or lipid-bound (liposomal Hsp70) when it is actively released in extracellular vesicles (EVs) by living cells. The aim of the study was to evaluate the levels of free and liposomal Hsp70 before and after treatment with RT alone or hyperthermia combined with radiotherapy (HTRT) in dogs and cats to evaluate therapy responses. Peripheral blood was collected from feline and canine patients before and at 2, 4, 6 and 24 h after treatment with RT or HTRT. Hsp70 enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) were performed to determine the free and liposomal Hsp70 concentrations in the serum. The levels were analysed after the first fraction of radiation to study immediate effects and after all applied fractions to study cumulative effects. The levels of free and liposomal Hsp70 levels in the circulation were not affected by the first singular treatment and cumulative effects of RT in cats however, after finalizing all treatment cycles with HTRT free and liposomal Hsp70 levels significantly increased. In dogs, HTRT, but not treatment with RT alone, significantly affected liposomal Hsp70 levels during the first fraction. Free Hsp70 levels were significantly increased after RT, but not HTRT, during the first fraction in dogs. In dogs, on the other hand, RT alone resulted in a significant increase in liposomal Hsp70, but HTRT did not significantly affect the liposomal Hsp70 when cumulative effects were analysed. Free Hsp70 was significantly induced in dogs after both, RT and HTRT when cumulative effects were analysed. RT and HTRT treatments differentially affect the levels of free and liposomal Hsp70 in dogs and cats. Both forms of Hsp70 could potentially be further investigated as potential liquid biopsy markers to study responses to RT and HTRT treatment in companion animals.     

翅片管加热器换热过程综合能量特性研究

在研究翅片管加热器传热性能及流阻性能的基础上，依据热力学理论，利用不可逆过程Ｙｏｎｇ分析，着重分析管速换热过程的能量特性，将换热过程的传热性能与流阻性能有机地结合提出便于工程实际应用的能量特性分析准则函数。依此探讨管束换热过程特征参数对综合能量利用性能的影响，指导翅片管加热器能量的高效利用，并与光管加热器进行了比较分析。