Identification of an MHC class I ligand for the single member of a killer cell lectin-like receptor family, KLRH1.

Natural killer cells are able to recognize and kill target cells according to differences in MHC class I expression. In rodents, the Ly49 receptors are primarily responsible for this MHC differentiation. We previously described the cloning of a novel C-type lectin-like receptor, KLRH1, encoded in the NK complex adjacent to the Ly49 genes and expressed by subsets of NK and NKT cells.

Quantitative phenotyping of inflammatory bowel disease in the IL-10-deficient mouse by use of noninvasive magnetic resonance imaging.

Background: Although magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is an increasingly used diagnostic tool in the assessment of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in humans, diagnosis and quantitation of intestinal inflammation in animal models of IBD still depends on ex vivo techniques. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether high-field MRI is suitable for the quantitative phenotyping of gut inflammation in a dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-triggered interleukin (IL)10-deficient (IL-10(-/-)) mouse model of IBD, especially in longitudinal studies.

Methods: Using colitis-susceptible and -resistant backgrounds, MRI and ex vivo analyses were applied to characterize this specific model, differentiating disease severity and time-dependent alterations.

Strain-specific colitis susceptibility in IL10-deficient mice depends on complex gut microbiota-host interactions.

Background: Colitis susceptibility in Il10(-/-) mice depends on genetic background and microbiota composition. A major genetic locus mediating colitis susceptibility, Cdcs1, was transferred from susceptible C3Bir-Il10(-/-) to resistant B6-Il10(-/-) mice, resulting in susceptible congenic BC-R3-Il10(-/-) mice. The aim of this study was to determine the impact of microbiota on this differential colitis susceptibility using a Helicobacter hepaticus infection model.

Therapeutic concentrations of glucagon-like peptide-1 in cerebrospinal fluid following cell-based delivery into the cerebral ventricles of cats.

Background: Neuropeptides may have considerable potential in the treatment of acute and chronic neurological diseases. Encapsulated genetically engineered cells have been suggested as a means for sustained local delivery of such peptides to the brain. In our experiments, we studied human mesenchymal stem cells which were transfected to produce glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1).

A mutation in Myo15 leads to Usher-like symptoms in LEW/Ztm-ci2 rats.

The LEW/Ztm-ci2 rat is an animal model for syndromal deafness that arose from a spontaneous mutation. Homozygous animals show locomotor abnormalities like lateralized circling behavior. Additionally, an impaired vision can be observed in some animals through behavioral studies.

Presence of Minute virus of mice in immunocompetent mice despite the onset of host immunity.

Infections with the autonomous parvovirus Minute virus of mice (MVM) are generally characterized as acute and self-limiting. However, MVM remains with considerably high prevalence rates in laboratory mouse colonies impeding rodent based research. The objective of this study was to assess whether the immunosuppressive variant of MVM (MVMi) establishes a persistent infection in immunocompetent adult mice.

Cdcs1 a major colitis susceptibility locus in mice; subcongenic analysis reveals genetic complexity.

Background: The cytokine-deficiency-induced colitis susceptibility (Cdcs)1 locus is a major modifier of murine inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and was originally identified in experimental crosses of interleukin-10-deficient (Il10(-/-)) mice. Congenic mice, in which this locus was reciprocally transferred between IBD-susceptible C3H/HeJBir-Il10(-/-) and resistant C57BL/6J-Il10(-/-) mice, revealed that this locus likely acts by inducing innate hypo- and adaptive hyperresponsiveness, associated with impaired NF-kappaB responses of macrophages. The aim of the present study was to dissect the complexity of Cdcs1 by further development and characterization of reciprocal Cdcs1 congenic strains and to identify potential candidate genes in the congenic interval.

Analysis of Cd14 as a genetic modifier of experimental inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in mice.

Background And Aim: By combining QTL and gene expression analyses, we have previously identified Cd14 as a potential candidate gene contributing to the differential IBD susceptibility of C3H/HeJBir (C3/J)-Il10(-/-) mice [carrying IBD-resistance alleles at this QTL (Cdcs6)] and C57BL/6J (B6)-Il10(-/-) mice, corroborating studies that showed an association of a CD14-promoter polymorphism with Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. The aim of the present study was to analyze the molecular mechanisms leading to differential intestinal expression of Cd14 and its contribution to IBD development.

Methods: Intestinal CD14 expression was assessed by FACS, immunohistochemistry, and ELISA on supernatants of primary epithelial cell and tissue cultures.

Risk assessment of minute virus of mice transmission during rederivation: detection in reproductive organs, gametes, and embryos of mice after in vivo infection.

Murine parvoviruses, including minute virus of mice (MVM), represent major infectious disease problems encountered in contemporary laboratory animal research facilities with embryo transfer (ET), one of the most widely used techniques for rederivation. Using an in vivo approach, the objectives of this study were to assess the risk of MVM transmission during rederivation and to provide data that allow recommendation of preventive measures. Therefore, we determined whether immunosuppressive variant MVMi viral DNA is detectable in reproductive organs, gametes (oocytes and spermatozoa), and embryos collected from experimentally infected mice and whether washing as recommended before ET eliminates MVMi sufficiently from gametes and embryos.

A high specificity and affinity interaction with serum albumin stimulates an anion conductance in malaria-infected erythrocytes.

The intraerythrocytic development of P. falciparum induces New Permeability Pathways (NPP) in the membrane of the parasitized erythrocyte which provide the parasite with nutrients, adjust the erythrocyte electrolyte composition to the needs of the parasite, and dispose of metabolic waste products and osmolytes. Patch-clamp recordings identified inwardly and outwardly rectifying (OR) anion conductances in the host erythrocyte membrane as electrophysiological correlate of the NPP.

CpG motifs of bacterial DNA exert protective effects in mouse models of IBD by antigen-independent tolerance induction.

Background & Aims: Prophylactic treatment of mice with CpG motifs of bacterial DNA protects from experimental inflammatory bowel disease, at least partly via induction of inhibitory T-cells. The aim of this study was to elucidate whether these CpG-dependent protective effects require presence of bacterial flora suggesting antigen-specific regulatory activity.

Methods: Germ-free BALB/c and IL-10(-/-) mice were treated with CpG-oligodeoxynucleotides (ODN), control-ODN, or PBS.

Minute virus of mice: antibody response, viral shedding, and persistence of viral DNA in multiple strains of mice.

Minute virus of mice (MVM) is a major concern for laboratory animal facilities because it remains with considerably high prevalence despite strict barrier systems. The aim of this study was to elucidate potential risks associated with MVM infection by investigating the role of the genetic background on antibody production and persistence as well as viral shedding. Mice of various strains and stocks were inoculated oronasally with the immunosuppressive strain MVMi; in addition, natural infection was modeled through contact exposure.

Establishing an in vivo model of canine prostate carcinoma using the new cell line CT1258.

Background: Prostate cancer is a frequent finding in man. In dogs, malignant disease of the prostate is also of clinical relevance, although it is a less common diagnosis. Even though there are numerous differences in origin and development of the disease, man and dog share many similarities in the pathological presentation.

Role of intestinal microbiota in transformation of bismuth and other metals and metalloids into volatile methyl and hydride derivatives in humans and mice.

The present study shows that feces samples of 14 human volunteers and isolated gut segments of mice (small intestine, cecum, and large intestine) are able to transform metals and metalloids into volatile derivatives ex situ during anaerobic incubation at 37 degrees C and neutral pH. Human feces and the gut of mice exhibit highly productive mechanisms for the formation of the toxic volatile derivative trimethylbismuth [(CH(3))(3)Bi] at rather low concentrations of bismuth (0.2 to 1 mumol kg(-1) [dry weight]).

The mutation of the LEW.1AR1-iddm rat maps to the telomeric end of rat chromosome 1.

The LEW.1AR1-iddm rat is an animal model of human type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) with an autosomal recessive mode of inheritance. T1DM susceptibility loci could be localized on chromosome (RNO) 20 in the major histocompatibility complex region (Iddm1) and on RNO1 (Iddm8, Iddm9) in a BN backcross cohort.

Sensitivity to Escherichia coli Nissle 1917 in mice is dependent on environment and genetic background.

Escherichia coli Nissle 1917 (EcN) is a well-characterized probiotic bacterium. Although genomic comparisons of EcN with the uropathogenic E. coli strain CFT073 revealed high degrees of similarity, EcN is generally considered a non-pathogenic organism.

Cryopreservation and orthotopic transplantation of rat ovaries as a means of gamete banking.

Besides the exponentially increasing number of mouse strains, the rising number of rat strains, due to the establishment of transgenic and coisogenic strains in this species, surpasses the capacity of most animal houses. Cryopreservation of gametes may be a means of solving these problems. Here we describe an easy and fast method for the cryopreservation and transplantation of frozen-thawed ovaries of the rat.

Cd14, Gbp1, and Pla2g2a: three major candidate genes for experimental IBD identified by combining QTL and microarray analyses.

Induction of inflammatory bowel (IBD)-like disease in mice by a targeted mutation in the Il10 gene (Il10(-/-)) is inbred strain dependent. C3H/HeJBir (C3) mice are colitis susceptible, whereas C57BL/6J (B6) mice are resistant. Genetic dissection of this susceptibility revealed 10 colitogenic quantitative trait loci (QTL).

Spontaneous rescue from cystic fibrosis in a mouse model.

Background: From the original CftrTgH(neoim)Hgu mutant mouse model with a divergent genetic background (129P2, C57BL/6, MF1) we have generated two inbred CftrTgH(neoim)Hgu mutant strains named CF/1-CftrTgH(neoim)Hgu and CF/3-CftrTgH(neoim)Hgu, which are fertile and show normal growth and lifespan. Initial genome wide scan analysis with microsatellite markers indicated that the two inbred strains differed on the genetic level. In order to further investigate whether these genetic differences have an impact on the disease phenotype of cystic fibrosis we characterised the phenotype of the two inbred strains.

Efficient single nucleotide polymorphism discovery in laboratory rat strains using wild rat-derived SNP candidates.

Background: The laboratory rat (Rattus norvegicus) is an important model for studying many aspects of human health and disease. Detailed knowledge on genetic variation between strains is important from a biomedical, particularly pharmacogenetic point of view and useful for marker selection for genetic cloning and association studies.

Results: We show that Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs) in commonly used rat strains are surprisingly well represented in wild rat isolates.

The rat pink-eyed dilution (p) mutation: an identical intragenic deletion in pink-eye dilute-coat strains and several Wistar-derived albino strains.

We identified the rat pink-eyed dilution (p) and pink eye Mishima (p(m)) mutations. The p(m) mutation, which was isolated from a wild rat caught in Mishima Japan in 1961 and is carried in the NIG-III strain, is a splice donor site mutation in intron 5. The p mutation, which was first described in 1914 and is carried in several p/p rats including the RCS and BDV strains, is an intragenic deletion including exons 17 and 18.

CpG motifs of bacterial DNA essentially contribute to the perpetuation of chronic intestinal inflammation.

Background & Aims: Recently, we demonstrated a proinflammatory effect of cytosin-guanosin dinucleotide (CpG)-oligodeoxynucleotide (ODN) treatment in established dextran sulphate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis. Here, we investigated whether DNA derived from luminal bacteria plays a role in the perpetuation of chronic intestinal inflammation.

Methods: Toll-like receptor (TLR9)-deficient and wild-type (wt) control mice were used for the induction of chronic DSS colitis.

Murine pulmonary infection with Listeria monocytogenes: differential susceptibility of BALB/c, C57BL/6 and DBA/2 mice.

Murine listeriosis is a paradigm to understand host pathogen interactions. Airway infections with Listeria monocytogenes, although representing a serious problem in early onset neonatal listeriosis, has not been investigated in detail in animal models so far. Here, the susceptibility of BALB/c, DBA/2 and C57BL/6 mice towards an intratracheal (i.

Refined histopathologic scoring system improves power to detect colitis QTL in mice.

Induction of colitis in mice by a targeted mutation in the I110 gene is inbred strain dependent. C3H/ HeJBir (C3H) mice are colitis susceptible while C57BL/6J (B6) mice are resistant. Identification of quantitative trait loci (QTL) determining the differential strain responsiveness requires histopathologic scoring of multiple lesion subphenotypes in both cecum and colon.

The circling behavior of the deafblind LEW-ci2 rat is linked to a segment of RNO10 containing Myo15 and Kcnj12.

The LEW/Ztm-ci2 rat is an autosomal recessive mutant that displays circling behavior, deafness, progressive retinopathy, locomotor hyperactivity, ataxia, and opisthotonus. We performed a genome-wide scan of a (LEW/Ztm-ci2 x BN/Ztm) F1 x LEW/Ztm-ci2 backcross population with anonymous microsatellite markers to analyze the genetics of this mutant rat. This linkage analysis demonstrated a very strong association of RNO10 SSLP markers to the phenotype with a core region in the central part of the chromosome.