Marek's disease virus-induced skin leukosis in scaleless chickens: tumor development in the absence of feather follicles

Marek's disease virus (MDV) is an oncogenic cell-associated herpesvirus that causes T-cell lymphoma in chickens. Lymphoproliferative neoplasms in Marek's disease (MD) occur in various organs and tissues, including the viscera, peripheral nerves, skin, gonads, and musculatures. MDV is restrictively produced in the feather follicle epithelial (FFE) cells, and it gains access to the external environment via infected cells or as infectious enveloped cell-free virus particles. The goals of the present study were to 1) determine whether the MDV-induced skin lesions are neoplastic in nature or inflammatory reactions to viral infection, 2) determine whether physical presence of feather follicles (FF) is necessary for skin tumor development, and 3) study the role of skin epithelial cells not associated with feathers or FF in the replication and dissemination of infectious virus particles. Scaleless chickens that produce only a few scattered feathers and no sculate scales along the anterior metatarsi were used as a unique model to study the pathogenesis of dermal lesions. Histologic and immunohistochemical analysis revealed that the cutaneous lesions were tumorous as was manifested by massive accumulation of lymphoblasts and extensive activation of meq oncoprotein, the hallmark of MDV oncogenesis, within the skin lesions. Neoplastic cutaneous lesions in the scaleless chickens indicate that feather follicles are not necessary for skin tumor development. Finally, our preliminary data indicate that inoculation with supernatant fluid from homogenized and sonicated skin samples of MDV-infected scaleless chickens induces MD in susceptible birds, suggesting that skin epithelial cells not associated with FF also harbor infectious viral particles.

Genetic variation at the tumour virus B locus in commercial and laboratory chicken populations assessed by a medium-throughput or a high-throughput assay

The tumour virus B (TVB) locus encodes cellular receptors mediating infection by three subgroups of avian leukosis virus (B, D, and E). Three major alleles, TVB*S1, TVB*S3, and TVB*R, have been described. TVB*S1 encodes a cellular receptor mediating infection of subgroups B, D, and E. TVB*S3 encodes the receptor for two subgroups, B and D, and TVB*R encodes a dysfunctional receptor that does not permit infection by any of the subgroups, B, D, or E. Genetic diversity at the TVB locus of chickens was investigated in both layer and broiler commercial pure lines and laboratory lines. Genotyping assays were developed for both medium-throughput and high-throughput analysis. Of the 36 broiler lines sampled, 14 were fixed for the susceptible allele TVB*S1. Across all broiler lines, 83% of chickens were typed as TVB*S1/*S1, 3% as TVB*R/*R, and 14% as TVB*S1/*R. In the egg-layer lines, five of the 16 tested were fixed for TVB*S1/*S1. About 44% of egg-layers were typed as TVB*S1/*S1, 15% as TVB*R/*R, with the rest segregating for two or three of the alleles. In the laboratory chickens, 60% were fixed for TVB*S1/*S1, 6% for TVB*S3/*S3, 14% for TVB*R/*R, and the rest were heterozygotes (TVB*S1/*S3 or TVB*S1/*R). All commercial pure lines examined in this study carry the TVB*S1 allele that sustains the susceptibility to avian leukosis viruses B, D, and E. More importantly, the TVB*R allele was identified in multiple populations, thus upholding the opportunities for genetic improvement through selection.

Bacteriological findings in patients with ocular infection and antibiotic susceptibility patterns of isolated pathogens

INTRODUCTION

Isolation of common pathogens involved in ocular infection, and their in-vitro susceptibility to commonly-used ocular antibiotics, as well as the trends in antibiotic resistance developed by these pathogens, were investigated.

METHODS

Corneal scrapings were obtained from 318 hospitalised patients and inoculated directly onto enriched and differential culture media. Subcultures were performed on selective media. The necessary biochemical tests were conducted and the organisms identified using standard procedures. Susceptibility of isolated pathogens to commonly-used ocular antibiotics was examined using standard susceptibility testing.

RESULTS

70 different organisms were isolated. Gram-positive cocci accounted for 47 (67.2 percent) and gram-negative bacilli for 23 (32.8 percent) bacterial isolates. Coagulase-negative Staphylococci (33 percent) and Pseudomonas species (24 percent) were the most commonly-isolated organisms. In susceptibility testing, Gentamycin had coverage against 35 (74.5 percent) of 47 gram-positive cocci and 19 (82.6 percent) of 23 gram-negative bacilli tested. The coverage of Tetracycline, Cephalotin and Ceftriaxon against gram-positive cocci were 61.7, 55 and 53 percent, respectively. All the tested gram-positive cocci showed resistance to Cefotaxime and Penicillin. Ceftriaxon and Tobramycin had coverage against 17 (73.9 percent) and 14 (60.8 percent) of 23 gram-negative bacilli isolates, respectively. The coverage of Vancomycin against coagulase-negative Staphylococci was 100%, but all the isolates of Staphylococcus aureus were resistant to Vancomycin.

CONCLUSION

Susceptibility analysis revealed that antibiotic with the greatest coverage was Gentamycin (77.1 percent of 54 isolates). Gentamycin also had good coverage against gram-positive cocci, which constituted the majority (67.1 percent) of ocular isolates.

The nuclear oncoprotein TLX1/HOX11 associates with pericentromeric satellite 2 DNA in leukemic T-cells

TLX1/HOX11, a DNA-binding homeodomain protein, was originally identified by virtue of its aberrant expression in T-cell leukemia and subsequently found to be crucial for normal spleen development. The precise mechanism of TLX1 function remains poorly understood, although it is known that it can act as both a transcriptional activator and repressor and can downregulate the Aldh1a1 gene in embryonic mouse spleen. Using a whole-genome PCR approach, we show here that TLX1 protein directly interacts with pericentromeric human satellite 2 DNA sequences. Such DNA is known to localize to heterochromatin, which among other roles has been implicated in gene silencing. The interaction was confirmed in vitro and in vivo by gel retardation and chromatin immunoprecipitation assays involving satellite 2 DNA, which contained sequences resembling TLX1 binding sites. Using immunofluorescence microscopy, TLX1 demonstrated a punctate pattern of staining in the nuclei of leukemic T-cells (ALL-SIL). Double labelling indicated that TLX1 colocalized with the centromeric protein CENP-B, demonstrating that the TLX1 foci corresponded to clusters of centromeric DNA. The novel interaction of TLX1 with constitutive heterochromatin adds an additional level of complexity to the intracellular functions of this transcriptional regulator and may have relevance to its roles in transcriptional repression and T-cell immortalization.

The efficacy and safety of intravesical Bacillus-Calmette-Guerin in the treatment of female patients with interstitial cystitis: a double-blinded prospective placebo controlled study

PURPOSE

To evaluate the efficacy and safety of intravesical Bacillus Calmette-Gurein injection in the treatment of female patients with interstitial cystitis.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Thirty women meeting the National Institute of Arthritis, Diabetes, digestive and kidney diseases criteria for interstitial cystitis, were randomized in a double-blinded fashion in two groups each consisted of 15 patients to receive six, weekly instillation of 120 mg BCG vaccine of Iranian Institute of pastor or placebo. Periodic questionnaires on symptoms of interstitial cystitis, voiding diaries, bladder capacity at first desire to void, and maximum bladder capacity were obtained. Adverse events were closely monitored during the treatment and follow-up phases of the study. Subjective and objective baseline values were compared with the follow-up data.

RESULTS

With a mean follow-up of 24 (range 6 to 33) months 11 out of 15 (73%) in BCG group, and 3 out of 15 (20%) in placebo group responded to the treatment (p<0.002). Responders were defined the patients with more than 40% improvement in the symptoms of interstitial cystitis. The global improvement in symptoms and signs of interstitial cystitis was 62%. Adverse events were similar in both groups, mostly irritative in nature and no significant systemic event was noted. BCG did not worsen interstitial cystitis symptoms.

CONCLUSION

We concluded that intravesical BCG is safe, effective, available, and inexpensive with relatively durable results in the treatment of interstitial cystitis.

Results of modified Gil-Vernet antireflux surgery in the treatment of vesicoureteral reflux

PURPOSE

To evaluate the efficacy of modified Gil-Vernet anti-reflux surgery in the treatment of patients with primary vesicoureteral reflux in a prospective historical controlled trial.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A total of 30 patients with 46 refluxing units underwent this surgery since February 1998 until September 2002, with the mean follow-up period of 18 (range 6 to 43) months.

RESULTS

Vesicoureteral reflux was resolved completely in 44 ureteral units (95.6%, p<0001). In 2 refluxing units (4.3%) in spite of reflux improvement, hydroureter remained unchanged after the surgery. In respect to response rate, there was no significant difference between different grades, genders, age groups, and laterality of primary vesicoureteral reflux.

CONCLUSION

Our findings indicate that modified Gil-Vernet anti-reflux surgery which separately transfers each ureteral orifice to the tip of trigone with two fine absorbable suture on each side, is a completely successful procedure in the treatment of primary vesicoureteral reflux and produces a longer submucosal tunnel with a more suitable angel than classic Gil-Vernet procedure dose.

Defensin-induced adaptive immunity in mice and its potential in preventing periodontal disease

The severity of periodontal disease is dependent on a combination of host, microbial agent and environmental factors. One strong correlate related to periodontal disease pathogenesis is the immune status of the host. Here we show that human neutrophil peptide (HNP) defensins or human beta-defensins (HBD), co-administered intranasally with the antigen ovalbumin (OVA), induce unique immune responses that if used with microbial antigens may have the potential to hinder the pathogenesis of periodontal disease. C57BL/6 mice were immunized intranasally with phosphate buffered saline (PBS) containing 1 micro g HNP-1, HNP-2, HBD1 or HBD2 with and without 50 microg OVA. At 21 days, isotypes and subclasses of OVA-specific antibodies were determined in saliva, serum, nasal wash, bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, and fecal extracts. OVA-stimulated splenic lymphoid cell cultures from immunized mice were assessed for interferon (IFN)-gamma, Interleukin (IL)-4 and IL-10. In comparison with mice immunized with only OVA, HNP-1 and HBD2 induced significantly higher (P < 0.05) OVA-specific serum IgG, lower, but not significant, serum IgM and significantly lower (P < 0.05) IFN-gamma. In contrast, HNP-2 induced low OVA-specific serum IgG and higher, but not significant, serum IgM. HBD1 induced significantly higher (P < 0.05) OVA-specific serum IgG, higher, but not significant, serum IgM, and significantly higher (P < 0.05) IL-10. The elevated serum IgG subclasses contained IgG1 and IgG2b.

Expression, purification, and in vitro biological activities of recombinant bovine granulocyte-colony stimulating factor

Neutrophils are essential components of the innate immune system and they play a critical role in the defense of host against bacterial and fungal infections. The colony stimulating factors are a class of glycoproteins that are required for proliferation, differentiation, and functional activation of hematopoietic progenitor cells. Granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) is a member of this regulatory family of cytokines that specifically stimulates proliferation and maturation of precursor cells in the bone marrow into fully differentiated and functional neutrophils. G-CSF also modulates the biological activities of mature neutrophils in circulation. A bovine G-CSF (bG-CSF) cDNA clone (previously isolated and sequenced in our laboratory) was expressed in Escherichia coli and the biological activities of the solubilized protein from purified inclusion bodies were examined. Flow cytometric analysis of membrane antigen density of neutrophils activated with bG-CSF revealed an upregulation in the expression of CD11a (>114%), CD11b (>148%), CD11c (>87%), and CD18 (>109%). Expression of L-selectin was decreased by more than 43%. There was no change, however, in the expression of CD14. These findings indicate that recombinant bG-CSF (rbG-CSF) expressed in E. coli is biologically active and exerts the same type of effects on neutrophils in vitro as those of human G-CSF (hG-CSF).

In vitro cytotoxicity of a new epoxy resin root canal sealer

The cytotoxic effects of a new epoxy resin-based root canal sealer (AH-plus), together with those of two other commonly used endodontic sealers (AH26 and zinc oxide-eugenol), have been studied in vitro on a culture of human gingival fibroblasts. Cytotoxicity was assessed by direct incubation of sealers' extracts with the cultured fibroblasts at different time intervals. Morphological and cytotoxic effects of the sealers were evaluated microscopically and spectrophotometrically using the neutral red cytotoxicity assay. Our results demonstrated that the cytotoxic effects induced by zinc oxide-eugenol were detectable as early as 1 hr after mixing and remained at a high level until completion of the experiment (5 wk). AH26, however, induced early cytotoxic effects that lasted for 1 wk, followed by a substantial reduction in cytotoxicity. Cytotoxicity of the AH-plus was confined to the early period of experiment and was no longer detectable after 4 hr of mixing. Comparison between the results obtained for each sealer revealed significant differences at particular time intervals. Our findings suggest the potential advantage of this sealer over the other two sealers.

In vitro inhibitory effects of antioxidants on cytotoxicity of T-2 toxin

T-2 toxin is a secondary fungal metabolite produced by various species of Fusarium. It is capable of killing cells by causing extensive damage to the cellular membrane. In this study, cytotoxicity of T-2 toxin in combination with different antioxidant materials, including vitamin C (vit. C), vitamin E (vit. E) and selenium (sel) was investigated in vitro using the neutral red cytotoxicity assay. Eleven primary and transformed cell lines established from different tissues were used in pre-test experiments to identify the most sensitive and resistant lines by measuring the half lethal concentration (LC(50)) of the toxin. Three cell lines including human gingival fibroblast (HGF), the most sensitive (LC(50)=0.25 ng/ml), human colorectal adenocarcinoma (SW742), the most resistant (LC(50)=5.5 ng/ml) and human hepatoma (HepG2), with median susceptibility (LC(50)=2 ng/ml) were selected to investigate the inhibitory effects of the antioxidant agents, on cytotoxicity of T-2 toxin. Our results demonstrated that co-incubation of cell lines with different concentrations of T-2 toxin and antioxidants decreased significantly, but did not totally inhibit, the cytotoxicity of T-2 toxin (P<0.001). These findings suggest that in addition to lipid peroxidation, which is inhibited by antioxidants, other unidentified mechanism(s) seem to be involved in cytotoxicity of T-2 toxin.

Cloning, sequencing, and analysis of cDNA encoding bovine granulocyte-colony stimulating factor

Neutrophils play a critical role in defending against bacterial infections. Hematopoietic growth factors are a class of regulatory cytokines that are required for stimulation, proliferation, and differentiation of blood cells. Granulocyte colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) is a cytokine that induces proliferation and maturation of precursor myeloid cells in the bone marrow into fully differentiated neutrophils. G-CSF also modulates the functional activity of mature neutrophils. Treatment with G-CSF significantly enhances neutrophil phagocytic activity and killing of bacteria and fungi. We have isolated and sequenced a cDNA clone encoding bovine G-CSF (bG-CSF) from an endothelial cell cDNA library using primers designed from ovine G-CSF. The full length cDNA is 1460 nucleotides with 585 nucleotides comprising the open reading frame. Sequence analysis shows 95% identity with ovine, 89% with porcine, 85% with human, and 76% with murine G-CSF. The deduced G-CSF protein consists of 174 amino acids with 95% identity to ovine, 86% to porcine, 81% to human, and 71% to murine. The signal peptide of G-CSF is 21 amino acids long which is nine amino acids shorter than that of human and murine G-CSF. RT-PCR analysis shows that neither freshly isolated nor ConA stimulated neutrophils express G-CSF mRNA. Mononuclear cells, however, expressed G-CSF mRNA after 48 h incubation with or without ConA stimulation.

Brachygnathia in a herd of Angus cattle

Seven cases of brachygnathia in a single calf crop (28 calves) were observed in an Angus herd. Two of the affected calves, 1 female and 1 male, were necropsied and anatomically described. Breeding histories and results of pedigree analysis involving the 7 affected calves indicated the cause of the defect to be genetic with the mode of inheritance that of a single autosomal recessive gene.