Mammalian Cell-Line-Expressed CD2v Protein of African Swine Fever Virus Provides Partial Protection against the HLJ/18 Strain in the Early Infection Stage.

A cell line expressing the CD2v protein of ASFV was generated. The efficient expression of CD2v protein was determined by immunofluorescence and Western blotting. The CD2v protein was Ni-affinity purified from the supernatant of cell cultures.

Paraganglioma of the Urinary Bladder in a Dog.

A 3-year-old male Bichon Frise developed lethargy, anorexia and haematuria. B-scan ultrasonography examination revealed a small, irregular, soft-textured mass in the bladder. Histopathologically, there was an incomplete fibrous pseudocapsule around the tumour tissue and although there was clear demarcation from the surrounding tissue, there was invasion of the capsule.

The IFN-γ-induced immunoproteasome is suppressed in highly pathogenic porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus-infected alveolar macrophages.

Highly pathogenic porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (HP-PRRSV) evades cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) responses through interactions between viral Nsp1α and Nsp4 and β2 M heavy and light chains, respectively, of swine leukocyte antigen class (SLA)-I. However, whether the immunoproteasome (i-proteasome) complex, which is an important component of the antigen delivery pathway that functions by mediating peptide production, is also affected by viral infection is unknown. In this study, we investigated the effects of HP-PRRSV (HuN4-F5) infection on IFN-γ-induced i-proteasome expression using a cell culture system (alveolar macrophages, AMs).

Induction of immunoproteasomes in porcine kidney (PK)-15 cells by interferon-γ and tumor necrosis factor-α.

Immunoproteasome (i-proteasome) has both immune and non-immune functions and plays important roles in controlling infections and combating illnesses. Our previous studies suggest that interferon (IFN)-γ induces the expression of three immune-specific catalytic subunits of the 20S proteasome that can replace their constitutive homologues to form the i-proteasome in immune cells, such as porcine alveolar macrophages (AMs) in vitro. However, i-proteasome levels and their modulation in non-immune cells such as the epithelial cells in pigs remain unknown.

Transcriptome of porcine alveolar macrophages activated by interferon-gamma and lipopolysaccharide.

The molecular repertoire of porcine alveolar macrophages (PAMs) is greatly affected by the microenvironment they are exposed to, and specifically by inflammatory cytokines, such as interferon gamma (IFN-γ) released by activated lymphocytes, and microbial products, such as lipopolysaccharide (LPS). In our previous study, we found that IFN-γ- and LPS-activated PAMs (M1) could inhibit porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) replication. In this study, comprehensive analysis of the expression profiles of the genes associated with the polarization of M0-type PAMs (resting) toward M1 phenotypes (activated by IFN-γ and LPS) led to the following main results: 1) 1551 and 1823 genes were upregulated or downregulated in M1-type PAMs, respectively, compared with M0-type PAMs; 2) Among these, genes encoding ASS1 and CRTAM were the most upregulated and downregulated, respectively; 3) Genes involved in cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction and the JAK/STAT signaling pathway were significantly upregulated, suggesting their critical role in cellular activation; and 4) Genes involved in antigen proteolysis and presentation (immunoproteasome subunits), and inhibition of virus replication (host restriction factors) were significantly upregulated, emphasizing the critical role of these cytokines in immunity.

Anti-viral immune response in the lung and thymus: Molecular characterization and expression analysis of immunoproteasome subunits LMP2, LMP7 and MECL-1 in pigs.

Both the lung and the thymus are vital target organ for pathogens including viruses. The immunoproteasome (i-proteasome) enhances antigen presentation for MHC class I molecules to activate CD8+T lymphocyte. These facilitate antiviral adaptive immune response.

Expression of immunoproteasome subunits in the porcine lung: Alterations during normal and inflammatory conditions.

The elimination of infected cells by cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) occurs through interactions between T cell receptors (TCRs) and pathogen-derived antigenic peptide-major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I complexes. The immunoproteasome (i-proteasome), which is a large proteolytic machine derived from the constitutive proteasome, is highly efficient at processing antigens for presentation on MHC class I molecules to activate CD8 T lymphocytes; this in turn facilitates antiviral adaptive immune responses. To date, i-proteasome expression in the porcine lung has not been investigated.

Sterile nodular panniculitis with lung and lymph node involvement in a Siberian tiger (Panthera tigris altica).

A 2- to 4-year-old uncastrated male Siberian tiger (Panthera tigris altica) bred in a local wild animal park presented with generalized clinical signs including abdominal pain, fever, lethargy, and anorexia, along with subcutaneous nodules along the trunk. The patient subsequently died of chronic, progressive dyspnea despite 45 days of antibiotic treatment. At necropsy, mesenteric fat inflammation and multiple subcutaneous, peritoneal, and intraabdominal nodules were observed.

Efficacy evaluation of the C-strain-based vaccines against the subgenotype 2.1d classical swine fever virus emerging in China.

Classical swine fever (CSF) is a devastating infectious disease of pigs caused by classical swine fever virus (CSFV). The disease has been controlled following extensive vaccination with the lapinized attenuated vaccine C-strain for decades in China. However, frequent CSF outbreaks occurred recently in a large number of C-strain-vaccinated pig farms in China and a new subgenotype 2.

Infection with equine infectious anemia virus vaccine strain EIAVDLV121 causes no visible histopathological lesions in target organs in association with restricted viral replication and unique cytokine response.

The live equine infectious anemia virus (EIAV) vaccine strain EIAVDLV121 was developed by in vitro attenuation of a virulent strain, EIAVLN40, in the 1970s, and it has been demonstrated to induce protective immunity under laboratory and natural EIAV infection conditions. The detailed biological features of this attenuated virus remain to be further investigated. Experimental inoculation with EIAVDLV121 did not result in clinical symptoms even with immunosuppressive treatment in our previous studies.

Dietary curcumin supplementation attenuates 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) neurotoxicity in C57BL mice.

Studies in vivo and in vitro suggest that curcumin is a neuroprotective agent. Experiments were conducted to determine whether dietary supplementation with curcumin has neuroprotective effects in a mouse model of Parkinson's disease (PD). Treatment with 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) significantly induced the loss of dopaminergic cells in the substantia nigra and deletion of dopamine in the striatum, which was attenuated by long-term (7 weeks) dietary supplementation with curcumin at a concentration of 0.

Transiently impaired neurogenesis in MPTP mouse model of Parkinson's disease.

It is still being debated whether neurogenesis in the subventricular zone (SVZ) is enhanced in response to 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) injury in the adult mouse brain. Our previous studies provided evidence that MPTP induces apoptosis of migrating neuroblasts (neural progenitor cells, A cells) in the SVZ and rostral migratory stream (RMS). We investigated cellular kinetics in the adult SVZ and olfactory bulb (OB) after MPTP damage.

Characterization of Equine Infectious Anemia Virus Integration in the Horse Genome.

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-1 has a unique integration profile in the human genome relative to murine and avian retroviruses. Equine infectious anemia virus (EIAV) is another well-studied lentivirus that can also be used as a promising retro-transfection vector, but its integration into its native host has not been characterized. In this study, we mapped 477 integration sites of the EIAV strain EIAVFDDV13 in fetal equine dermal (FED) cells during in vitro infection.

Mice transgenic for equine cyclin T1 and ELR1 are susceptible to equine infectious anemia virus infection.

Background: As a member of the tumor necrosis factor receptor (TNFR) protein superfamily, equine lentivirus receptor 1 (ELR1) has been shown to be expressed in various equine cells that are permissive for equine infectious anemia virus (EIAV) replication. The EIAV Tat protein (eTat) activates transcription initiated at the viral long terminal repeat (LTR) promoter through a unique mechanism that requires the recruitment of the equine cyclin T1 (eCT1) cofactor into the viral TAR RNA target element. In vitro studies have demonstrated that mouse fibroblast cell lines (e.

Gene expression profiles in the fetal mouse brain after etoposide (VP-16) administration.

The aim of this study was to analyze the response of gene expression caused by etoposide (VP-16) in the fetal mouse brain. Four miligrams/kilogram of VP-16 was intraperitoneally injected into pregnant mice on day 12 of gestation (GD 12). Gene expression profiling of the VP-16-treated fetal mouse brain by DNA microarray was performed.

Changes in blood parameters and the expression of coagulation-related genes in lactating Sprague-Dawley rats.

This study measured blood parameters, particularly those related to coagulation, and alterations in the expression levels of blood-coagulation-related genes in lactating Sprague-Dawley rats. The day of delivery was designated as lactation day 0 (LD 0). On the day after delivery (LD 1), prothrombin time and overall activity of vitamin-K-dependent coagulation factors were decreased, whereas fibrinogen contents, platelet counts and antithrombin III concentrations were increased as compared with those in nonpregnant rats.

Relationship between NF-κB expression and malignancy of canine mammary gland tumor tissues.

In this study, the nuclear expression of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) in 48 tissues specimens from 25 canine spontaneous mammary gland tumor (MGT) patients was assessed by immunohistochemistry to compare their levels with clinical features, histological types, prognostic outcomes and proliferative activities, including the mitotic index (MI) and cylcinD1 expression. Twelve of eighteen (66.7%) malignant tumor tissues showed greater than 10% nuclear staining, while benign tumor and hyperplastic tissues showed less than 10% nuclear staining.

Resistance of the golden hamster to 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP)-neurotoxicity is not only related with low levels of cerebral monoamine oxidase-B.

1-Methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) has been proved to be a potent neurotoxin on dopaminergic neurons inducing most of the symptoms and cerebral lesions observed in the idiopathic Parkinson's disease (PD). Although there is a substantial body of theory and researches about the effects of MPTP on susceptible mice and nonhuman primates, there are only few studies in resistant animals, such as golden hamsters (GH). The low levels of cerebral monoamine oxidase-B (MAO-B) enzyme have been proposed as the cause of the GH insensitivity to MPTP.

MPTP-induced neuroblast apoptosis in the subventricular zone is not regulated by dopamine or other monoamine transporters.

For 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) to exert neurotoxicity on dopaminergic neurons, 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium (MPP+), a metabolite of MPTP, must be taken up into the dopaminergic neuron via the dopamine transporter (DAT). Previous reports have shown that MPTP also causes neuroblast apoptosis in the subventricular zone (SVZ) of adult mice. The aim of this study is to elucidate the role of DAT and other monoamine transporters including vesicular monoamine transporter 2 (VMAT2), the serotonin transporter (SERT), and the norepinephrine transporter (NET) on the neuroblast apoptosis induced by MPTP administration.

Neurogenesis in Neurotoxin-induced Animal Models for Parkinson's Disease-A Review of the Current Status.

Animal models for Parkinson's disease (PD) are essential for understanding its pathogenesis and for development and testing of new therapies. Discoveries of endogenous neurogenesis in the adult mammalian brain give new insight into the cell-based approach for treatment of neurodegenerative disorders, such as PD. Although a great deal of interest has been focused on endogenous neurogenesis in neurotoxin-induced animal models for PD, it still remains controversial whether neural stem cells migrate into the injured area and contribute to repopulation of depleted dopaminergic neurons in neurotoxin-injured adult brains.

Changes in blood parameters and coagulation-related gene expression in pregnant rats.

The present study examined changes in maternal blood parameters, particularly those related to blood coagulation, as well as alterations in blood coagulation-related gene expression in the liver during gestation in rats. Fibrinogen concentration and platelet count increased as pregnancy progressed whereas prothrombin time and overall activity of vitamin-K-dependent coagulation factors decreased before delivery, suggesting a physiologic response to prevent prolonged bleeding at parturition. Conversely, compared with values for nonpregnant rats, activated partial thromboplastin time was prolonged before delivery and antithrombin time was significantly higher during fetal organogenesis and thereafter, indicating a mechanism to prevent the development of deep tissue thrombosis in dams.

Spontaneous cutaneous mast cell tumor with lymph node metastasis in a Richardson's ground squirrel (Spermophilus richardsonii).

A 4-year-old female Richardson's ground squirrel (Spermophilus richardsonii) presented with multicentric nodules arising from the skin of the middle of the tail and lumbosacral regions. Histologically, the nodules were composed of a proliferation of spindloid to pleomorphic cells that sometimes formed sheets and fascicular to storiform patterns. Diffuse infiltration of eosinophils was also noted.

Neural progenitor cells are protected against MPTP by MAO-B inhibitors.

Neurotoxic effects of MPTP on the nigrostriatal dopaminergic system are thought to be initiated by 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium (MPP+), a metabolite formed by the monoamine oxidase (MAO)-B-mediated oxidation of MPTP. We previously reported that the administration of MPTP induced apoptosis in migrating neuroblasts (neural progenitor cells, NPCs) in adult mice. To determine whether MAO-B is also involved in the neurotoxicity of MPTP to NPCs, this study looked at the effects of MAO B inhibitors, R(-)-deprenyl (deprenyl) and N-(2-aminoethyl)-4-chlorobenzamide (Ro 16-6491), both of which protect the dopaminergic system against MPTP.

Neurotoxicity of MPTP to migrating neuroblasts: studies in acute and subacute mouse models of Parkinson's disease.

The acute or subacute administration of 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) has been widely used in C57BL/6 mice to develop models of Parkinson's disease (PD). The loss of dopaminergic neurons is suggested to be mediated by a mechanism of nonapoptotic cell death or by apoptosis. In recent years, the notion that the neurotoxicity of MPTP is restricted to dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra (SN) has been challenged.