Effects of Amino Acids on Inflammatory Bowel Disease and Its Signaling Pathways

The intestine is the primary organ responsible for digestion and absorption of nutrients and is frequently subjected to external environmental stimulations leading to the development of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), which can cause serious harm to intestinal health in animals. Dietary amino acids play important roles in promoting intestinal development and maintaining intestinal health and exert diverse effects through multiple signaling pathways on the prevention and treatment of IBD, including affecting the physiological activities of intestinal epithelial cells, improving intestinal barrier function, reducing intestinal oxidative damage, regulating the production of inflammatory cytokines, and promoting the expression of endogenous antimicrobial peptides, and involved in main signaling pathways including AMP-activated kinase (AMPK), mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), Toll-like receptors (TLRs), nucleotide binding oligomerization domain (NOD)/nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-κB). In this review, basic characteristics of IBD, effects and involved signaling pathways of the amino acids on IBD, and effects and applications of amino acids in maintaining intestinal health in livestock and poultry production were reviewed, so as to provide effective clues and strategies for dietary nutrients in the prevention and treatment of IBD.     

脾酪氨酸激酶参与酿酒酵母甘露聚糖诱导绵羊瘤胃上皮细胞β-防御素-1(SBD-1)的表达

为了探索脾酪氨酸激酶(Syk)是否参与酿酒酵母甘露聚糖(S.c M)诱导绵羊瘤胃上皮细胞(ORECs)β-防御素-1(SBD-1)表达的过程,首先利用免疫组化、RT-PCR和免疫荧光等方法检测Syk在ORECs内的表达情况;然后采用qPCR和Western blot方法检测S.c M刺激ORECs后Syk的表达变化,同时用Western blot方法检测Syk的磷酸化水平;接着用3条Syk特异性siRNAs(#1、#2和#3)转染ORECs 24 h后,qPCR检测Syk mRNA的表达变化,筛选出干扰效果最佳的Syk siRNA;最后用效果最佳的siRNA和Syk特异性抑制剂R406分别处理ORECs后,采用qPCR和ELISA检测SBD-1的表达变化,以确定Syk在S.c M诱导SBD-1表达过程中的作用。结果显示:Syk在ORECs内表达;且S.c M刺激ORECs后Syk的mRNA和蛋白表达水平显著高于未刺激组(P<0.01或P<0.05),S.c M刺激ORECs不同时间(5、15、30、45和60 min)均能使Syk发生磷酸化,且刺激15 min后磷酸化水平达到最大(P<0.01);此外,Syk的3条特异性siRNAs转染ORECs后Syk的表达均降低,且Syk siRNA#2的抑制效果最明显(P<0.01);同时Syk siRNA#2和R406均能极显著降低S.c M诱导ORECs SBD-1的表达(P<0.01)。上述结果表明,Syk参与S.c M诱导ORECs SBD-1的表达。     

Prospective evaluation of toceranib phosphate in metastatic canine osteosarcoma

Efficacious therapies for measurable metastatic canine osteosarcoma (OSA) are generally lacking. Preliminary retrospective studies suggested that approximately 50% of dogs with measurable metastatic OSA experienced clinical benefit (objective response or clinically meaningful disease stabilisation) following toceranib (TOC) treatment. The purpose of this clinical trial was to prospectively evaluate the clinical outcome following TOC treatment in dogs with measurable pulmonary metastatic OSA. A secondary goal was to identify potential biomarkers of clinical benefit by measuring changes in plasma vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and circulating regulatory T‐cell (Treg) percentage. Twenty‐two dogs with pulmonary metastasis from appendicular OSA having undergone previous amputation were treated prospectively with TOC. Adverse events (AEs) were common but predominantly low grade. Nine patients were withdrawn from the study prior to the week 8 assessment of response either due to progressive disease (PD), decreased quality of life or owner perceived unacceptable AEs. Of the patients evaluable for disease progression at week 8 (or earlier), 3/17 (17.6 %) had stable disease with the remainder having PD. The median progression‐free survival time for all patients was 57 days (range 7‐176 days) with a median overall survival time of 89 days (range 7‐574 days). Plasma VEGF concentrations were significantly elevated in patients after 4 weeks of TOC treatment, but no changes were observed in percentage of Treg in peripheral blood. Overall, the results of this clinical trial do not support the use of TOC as single agent therapy for canine metastatic OSA.     

哺乳动物原始卵泡形成与发育的研究进展

在大多数雌性哺乳动物中,早期原始卵泡的形成主要包括3个过程：原始生殖细胞的迁移、生殖细胞减数分裂和生殖细胞巢破裂。原始卵泡形成与发育过程涉及到诸多因子和信号通路的调节作用,且原始卵泡库的大小及储备能力将决定雌性动物终生生殖能力。本文就参与原始卵泡形成和发育过程中的因子和信号通路作一综述,旨在深入了解参与原始卵泡形成与发育的细胞和分子机制,为维持原始卵泡库及促进原始卵泡激活提供研究思路。     

胰岛素样生长因子-1对动物被毛生长影响的研究进展

动物被毛生长是一个复杂的过程,受遗传、内分泌、营养及外界条件等各种因素的影响。而胰岛素样生长因子-1(insulin-like growth factor-1,IGF-1)是一种具有促进细胞增殖、分化,调节物质代谢等多种生物活性的多肽分子。研究结果发现,IGF-1对被毛/毛发生长的影响不仅局限于自身,同时介导一些细胞因子对被毛生长的调节作用。为阐明IGF-1在被毛/毛发生长方面的重要作用,文章就国内外IGF-1对动物被毛生长影响的研究进展进行综述。     

鸡痘病毒282E4弱毒株TK基因限制性酶切图谱分析

以限制性内切酶ＢａｍＨＩ、Ｘｂａｌ、Ｃｌａｌ、Ｈ１ｎｄⅢ、Ｎｃａｌ对含有鸡痘病毒（ＦＰＶ）２８２Ｅ４弱毒株３．７ｋｂＨｉｎｄⅢＴＫ基因片段的重组质粒ｐＳＬ１进行单酶和它们之间双酶酶切。结果表明：３．７ｋｂＨｉｎｄⅢＴＫ基因片段上有２个Ｃｌａｌ切点，２个Ｘｂａｌ切点，１个Ｎｃａｌ切点，没有ＢａｍＨＩ切点。随后，用澳大利亚ＦＰＶ２．２ｋｂＨｉｎｄⅢ＋ＣｌａｌＴＫ基因作探针，对各种酶切片段进行Ｓｏｕｔｈｅｒｎ印迹杂交，进一步确定ＴＫ基因位于２．２ｋｂＨｉｎｄⅢ＋Ｃｌａｌ片段中。杂交结果与限制性酶切图谱分析结果相一致。该基因的限制性酶切图谱与澳大利亚ＦＰＶ疫苗株的基本相同。     

The response of phospholipase C/protein kinase C and adenylyl cyclase/protein kinase A pathways in porcine theca interna cells to opioid agonist FK 33-824

Opioids were found as factors affecting porcine ovarian steroidogenesis. The mechanism of opioid action, however, on porcine theca interna cells is completely unknown. Therefore, the present study was designed to investigate the possible involvement of two intracellular pathways, phospholipase C/protein kinase C and adenylyl cyclase/protein kinase A, in opioid signal transduction in porcine theca cells treated with mu opioid receptor agonist, FK 33-824. Incubation of the cells for 4 h with FK 33-824 at the dose 1 nM resulted in decreases in inositol phosphate accumulation as well as androstenedione (A(4)), testosterone (T), and estradiol (E(2)) secretions. Protein kinase C (PKC) inhibitors, staurosporine (1-100 nM), D-sphingosine (10-500 nM), and PKCi (100-2000 nM), both added alone and together with the opioid agonist, depressed release of the steroid hormones. PKC activator, phorbol ester (PMA, 1-100 nM), used alone was without effect on theca cell steroidogenesis, but added in combination with FK 33-824 abolished inhibitory influence of the opioid on A(4), T, and E(2) output. The steroid hormone secretion by PKC-deficient theca cells was inhibited by the opioid agonist. FK 33-824 also suppressed PKC activity reducing [(3)H]PDBu specific binding to theca cells, whereas ionomycin (a positive control) increased labeled phorbol ester binding to the cells. In the next experiment, cAMP release from theca cells during 2 and 4 h incubations with FK 33-824 (1-100 nM), naloxone (10 microM; opioid receptor antagonist), and LH (100 ng/mL; a positive control) was examined. FK 33-824 at the dose 1 nM inhibited cAMP secretion during 2 h incubation, but had no effect during longer incubation. LH in a manner independent on incubation time multiplied cAMP release. Protein kinase A inhibitor, PKAi (100-2000 nM), alone and in combination with FK 33-824 (1 nM), inhibited A(4), T, and E(2) secretions by theca cells. PKA activator, 8BrcAMP (10-1000 microM), stimulated the steroid hormone release, but this stimulatory effect was diminished in the presence of FK 33-824. The results allow to suggest that opioid peptides affect porcine theca cell steroidogenesis and their acute action on the cells is connected with the inhibition of phospholipase C/protein kinase C and adenylyl cyclase/protein kinase A signal transduction systems.     

Involvement of the ERK1/2 MAPK pathway in insulin-induced S6K1 activation in avian cells

In mammals, insulin regulates S6K1, a key enzyme involved in the control of protein synthesis, via the well-documented phosphoinositide-3'kinase (PI3K) pathway. Conversely, S6K1 is activated by insulin in avian muscle despite the relative insulin insensitivity of the PI3K pathway in this tissue. Mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) cascade is another insulin sensitive pathway. The aim of this study was to explore the potential involvement of the ERK1/2 MAPK pathway in the control of p70 S6 kinase (S6K1) in avian species. Firstly, we characterized ERK1/2 MAPK in various chicken tissues. ERK2 was the only isoform detected in avian species whatever the tissue studied. We also showed that ERK2 is activated in vivo by insulin in chicken muscle. The regulation and the role of ERK2 in insulin signaling were next investigated in chicken hepatoma cells (LMH) and primary myoblasts. Insulin stimulation led to ERK2 and S6K1 phosphorylation, and concomitantly increased kinase activity. U0126, an inhibitor of the ERK MAPK pathway, completely abolished insulin-induced S6K1 phosphorylation and activity in chicken myoblasts, whereas its effect was only partial in LMH cells. In conclusion, these results show that ERK1/2 MAPK is involved in the control of S6K1 by insulin in chicken cells, particularly myoblasts.     

Molecular signalling pathways in canine gliomas

In this study, we determined the expression of key signalling pathway proteins TP53, MDM2, P21, AKT, PTEN, RB1, P16, MTOR and MAPK in canine gliomas using western blotting. Protein expression was defined in three canine astrocytic glioma cell lines treated with CCNU, temozolamide or CPT‐11 and was further evaluated in 22 spontaneous gliomas including high and low grade astrocytomas, high grade oligodendrogliomas and mixed oligoastrocytomas. Response to chemotherapeutic agents and cell survival were similar to that reported in human glioma cell lines. Alterations in expression of key human gliomagenesis pathway proteins were common in canine glioma tumour samples and segregated between oligodendroglial and astrocytic tumour types for some pathways. Both similarities and differences in protein expression were defined for canine gliomas compared to those reported in human tumour counterparts. The findings may inform more defined assessment of specific signalling pathways for targeted therapy of canine gliomas.     

吐鲁番黑羊MSTN/Smad信号通路基因表达的发育性变化

为探讨MSTN/Smad信号通路基因对吐鲁番黑羊肌肉生长发育的影响,采用实时定量PCR法,分别对1～6月龄吐鲁番黑羊的腿肌和尾脂MSTN/Smad信号通路基因进行检测.结果表明：MSTN/Smad信号通路基因在腿肌和尾脂组织中均有表达,MSTN/Smad信号通路基因在吐鲁番黑羊不同生长阶段的腿肌和尾脂中的表达没有出现随月龄的增加而一直增加或下降的趋势.