The Influence of Specific Pathogen-Free and Conventional Environments on the Hematological Parameters of Pigs Bred for Xenotransplantation.

Blood analysis plays a pivotal role in assessing the health of laboratory animals, including pigs. This study investigated the hematological profiles of transgenic pigs of the MGH breed for xenotransplantation, focusing on the effect of housing conditions on blood parameters. A cohort of pigs was longitudinally monitored from 6 to 18 months of age in both conventional and specific pathogen-free (SPF) environments.

Research Note: Embryonic viability by weight difference between donor and surrogate eggs in a surrogate eggshell incubation system.

A surrogate eggshell incubation system is a well-defined method to apply to avian genetic modification. In this study, we tried to investigate whether the egg weight differences between donor and surrogate eggs have an effect on donor viability. The groups were divided by egg weight differences between the donor and surrogate eggs into 4 in each system.

Development and in vitro evaluation of recombinant chicken promoters to efficiently drive transgene expression in chicken oviduct cells.

Virus injection into EGK-X embryos is a well-defined approach in avian transgenesis. This system uses a chicken ovalbumin gene promoter to induce transgene expression in the chicken oviduct. Although a reconstructed chicken ovalbumin promoter that links an ovalbumin promoter and estrogen-responsive enhancer element (ERE) is useful, a large viral vector containing the ovalbumin promoter and a target gene restricts viral packaging capacity and produces low-titer virus particles.

Robust Three-Dimensional (3D) Expansion of Bovine Intestinal Organoids: An In Vitro Model as a Potential Alternative to an In Vivo System.

Intestinal organoids offer great promise for disease-modelling-based host-pathogen interactions and nutritional research for feed efficiency measurement in livestock and regenerative medicine for therapeutic purposes. However, very limited studies are available on the functional characterisation and three-dimensional (3D) expansion of adult stem cells in livestock species compared to other species. Intestinal crypts derived from intestinal organoids under a 3D culture system from the small intestine in adult bovine were successfully established and characterised for functionality testing, including the cellular potentials and genetic properties based on immunohistochemistry, immunocytochemistry, epithelial barrier permeability assay, QuantSeq 3' mRNA-Seq.

Isolation and characterization of cultured chicken oviduct epithelial cells and in vitro validation of constructed ovalbumin promoter in these cells.

Objective: Transgenic hens hold a great promise to produce various valuable proteins. Through virus transduction into stage X embryo, the transgene expression under the control of constructed chicken ovalbumin promoters has been successfully achieved. However, a validation system that can evaluate differently developed ovalbumin promoters in in vitro, remains to be developed.

Inclusion of Lactobacillus salivarius strain revealed a positive effect on improving growth performance, fecal microbiota and immunological responses in chicken.

Probiotics are defined as live microorganisms that when administered in an appropriate amount, provide health benefits to the host. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of the oral administration of Lactobacillus salivarius (L. salivarius) on growth performance, immunological responses, fecal microbial flora and intestinal mucosal morphology in chickens.

The 3D8 single chain variable fragment protein suppresses Newcastle disease virus transmission in transgenic chickens.

Background: The 3D8 single chain variable fragment (scFv) is a mini-antibody sequence that exhibits independent nuclease activity against all types of nucleic acids. In this research, crossing a 3D8 scFv G1 transgenic rooster with wild-type hens produced 3D8 scFv G transgenic chickens to evaluate suppression of viral transmission.

Result: The transgenic chickens were identified using genomic PCR and immunohistochemistry.

Evaluation of Intestinal Epithelial Barrier Function in Inflammatory Bowel Diseases Using Murine Intestinal Organoids.

Background: Intestinal organoids have evolved as potential molecular tools that could be used to study host-microbiome interactions, nutrient uptake, and drug screening. Gut epithelial barrier functions play a crucial role in health and diseases, especially in autoimmune diseases, such as inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs), because they disrupt the epithelial mucosa and impair barrier function.

Methods: In this study, we generated an in vitro IBD model based on dextran sodium sulfate (DSS) and intestinal organoids that could potentially be used to assess barrier integrity.

Administration of L. salivarius expressing 3D8 scFv as a feed additive improved the growth performance, immune homeostasis, and gut microbiota of chickens.

Probiotics have been defined as live microorganisms that are administered in an appropriate amount to provide health benefits to the host animal. In this study, we investigated the effect of L. salivarius DJ-sa-01 secreting the 3D8 single-chain variable fragment (3D8 scFv) on the growth performance, cytokine secretion, and intestinal microbial flora of chickens.

Morphometric analysis of knockout pig kidney and heart.

We report a morphometric evaluation of knockout (GTKO) pig heart and kidney ( = 9) at the end of one, three and seven months. Organs parameters gradually increased with the age ( < 0.05) and body weight ( < 0.

Codon optimized membrane cofactor protein expression in α 1, 3 galactosyltransferase knockout pig cells improve protection against cytotoxicity of monkey serum.

In this study, we attempted to upgrade pig genetically to express MCP at a higher level and additionally thrombomodulin (TBM), which have respective roles as a complement regulatory protein and a coagulation inhibitor. We constructed a dicistronic cassette consisting of codon-optimized () and () designed for ubiquitous expression of MCP and endothelium specific expression of TBM. The cassette was confirmed to allow extremely increased MCP expression compared with non-modified MCP, and an endothelial-specific TBM expression.

Altrenogest affects expression of galectin-3 and fibroblast growth factor 9 in the reproductive tract of sows.

A synthetic progestin altrenogest (ALT) is used to synchronize the estrus cycle of swine for fixed-time artificial insemination (AI) and has been shown to improve follicular development and reproductive performances in post-weaning sows. However, the effects of ALT treatment on reproductive tracts, including the ovaries, oviducts and uterus have not been yet clarified. In this study, we examined the expression of genes involved in endometrial responses in ALT-treated sows.

Validation of mouse phosphoprotein enriched in astrocyte 15 (mPEA15) expressing transgenic pig as a potential model in diabetes translational research.

The present study aimed to investigate the characteristics of mPEA15 expressing transgenic pig (TG pig) as a potential model for diabetes. Expression analysis confirmed the ubiquitous expression of mPEA15 in TG pigs at F4. Oral glucose tolerance test results showed that restoration of normal glucose levels was significantly delayed in the TG pigs when compared with that in the wild-type pigs (WT pigs).

Oral administration of expressing a 3D8 single-chain variable fragment (scFv) enhances chicken growth and conserves immune homeostasis.

The present study was aimed to investigate the effects of 3D8 scFv-secreting Probiotic () on growth performance, inflammatory responses, and intestinal microbial flora in chickens. To this end, a total of 14 healthy wild-type chickens were divided into two experimental groups. Each group was orally administrated with a daily dose of 10 colony-forming units (CFU) of 3D8 scFv-producing or wild-type (WT) for 35 days.

Survival of porcine fibroblasts enhanced by human FasL and dexamethasone-treated human dendritic cells in vitro.

Cell-mediated and acute vascular rejections remain to be one of the primary hurdles to achieve successful xenotransplantation. Fas ligand is known to be an important molecule for the formation of 'immune-privileged' condition and dendritic cells treated with dexamethasone (Dex-DCs) acting like tolerogenic DCs (tDCs) which are known to protect transplanted cells and organs from unwanted immune responses. The present study investigated the possibility that porcine fibroblasts expressing human Fas ligand (PhF) together with human Dex-DCs could induce prolonged survival of porcine fibroblasts in vitro.

Antiapoptotic effects of Phe140Asn, a novel human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor mutant in H9c2 rat cardiomyocytes.

Granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) is used for heart failure therapy and promotes myocardial regeneration by inducing mobilization of bone marrow stem cells to the injured heart after myocardial infarction; however, this treatment has one weakness in that its biological effect is transient. In our previous report, we generated 5 mutants harboring N-linked glycosylation to improve its antiapoptotic activities. Among them, one mutant (Phe140Asn) had higher cell viability than wild-type hG-CSF in rat cardiomyocytes, even after treatment with an apoptotic agent (H2O2).

Proteins associated with reproductive disorders in testes of human erythropoietin gene-harboring transgenic boars.

To investigate reproductive disorder in human erythropoietin (EPO)-expressing pig, we performed comparative proteomic analyses of testicular tissues from human erythropoietin (hEPO) gene-harboring transgenic pigs and wild type pigs born from natural conception. In hEPO TG pigs, we found relatively low sperm motility and higher death rate indicating impaired sperm development. Consistently, plasma concentration of testosterone was significantly lower in the transgenic post-pubertal boars compared with wild type boars.

Phenotypic characterization of Hanwoo (native Korean cattle) cloned from somatic cells of a single adult.

We investigated phenotypic differences in Hanwoo cattle cloned from somatic cells of a single adult. Ten genetically identical Hanwoo were generated by somatic cell nuclear transfer from a single adult. Weights at birth, growing pattern, horn and noseprint patterns were characterized to investigate phenotypic differences.

Enhanced biological effects of Phe140Asn, a novel human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor mutant, on HL60 cells.

Granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) is a cytokine secreted by stromal cells and plays a role in the differentiation of bone marrow stem cells and proliferation of neutrophils. Therefore, G-CSF is widely used to reduce the risk of serious infection in immunocompromised patients; however, its use in such patients is limited because of its non-persistent biological activity. We created an N-linked glycosylated form of this cytokine, hG-CSF (Phe140Asn), to assess its biological activity in the promyelocyte cell line HL60.

Developmental arrest of scNT-derived fetuses by disruption of the developing endometrial gland as a result of impaired trophoblast migration and invasiveness.

Somatic cell nuclear transfer (scNT)-derived pig placenta tissues of gestational day 30 displayed avascularization and hypovascularization. Most of the cytotrophoblast-like cells of the developing scNT-derived placenta villi were improperly localized or exhibited impaired migration to their targeting loci. Id-2, Met, MMP-9, and MCM-7 were barely detectable in the cytotrophoblast cells of the scNT-derived placenta villi.

Overexpression of Jazf1 induces cardiac malformation through the upregulation of pro-apoptotic genes in mice.

The transcription factor Juxtaposed with another zinc finger gene 1 (JAZF1) is a zinc finger protein that binds to the nuclear orphan receptor TR4. Recent evidence indicates that TR4 receptor functions as both a positive and negative regulator of transcription, but the role of JAZF1 in transcriptional mechanisms has not been elucidated. Recently, the incidence rate of congenital heart malformations was reported to be significantly elevated in patients who had neurofibromatosis 1 (NF1) with chromosomal microdeletion syndrome.

Attenuation of cell cycle progression by 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin eliciting ovulatory blockade in gonadotropin-primed immature rats.

2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) reduces ovulation rate in rats. The present study was to investigate whether TCDD alters the progression of cell cycle, and thus resulting in the blockade of ovulation in gonadotropin-primed, immature rats. The ovulation rate and ovarian weight were reduced in intact rats given TCDD (32 µg/kg BW in corn oil) by gavage one day before pregnant mare's serum gonadotropin (PMSG; 5 IU/rat) injection.

Comparative studies of skeletal muscle proteome and transcriptome profilings between pig breeds.

Two genetically different pig breeds, the Korean native pig (KNP) and the Western meat-producing Landrace, show breed-specific traits in stress responsiveness (stress hormone levels), growth performance (live weight), and meat quality (intramuscular fat content). We analyzed expression levels within the proteome and transcriptome of the longissimus muscles of both breeds using two-dimensional electrophoresis (2-DE) and microarray analysis. We constructed a porcine proteome database focused mainly on mitochondrial proteins.

The effects of various antioxidants on the development of parthenogenetic porcine embryos.

The major objective of this study was to improve the development rate of parthenogenetic porcine embryos. In this study, the anti-oxidative and anti-apoptotic effects of three antioxidants, β-mercaptoethanol (β-ME), α-tocopherol, and extracellular superoxide dismutase (EC-SOD), were examined on the development of parthenogenetic porcine embryos. The development rate of parthenogenetic porcine embryos to the blastocyst stage was 8.

Roles of progranulin in sexual differentiation of the developing brain and adult neurogenesis.

Progranulin (PGRN) is a growth modulating factor released by a variety of cells. This molecule has gained the attention of the neuroscience community with recent discoveries of multifunctional roles of PGRN in normal brain and neurodegenerative disorders. We focus on novel roles of PGRN as a sex steroid-responsible gene in the developing and adult rodent brain.