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Vohra M, Gour A, Rajput J, Sangwan B, Chauhan M, Goel K, Kamath A, Mathur U, Chandru A, Sangwan VS, Bhowmick T, Tiwari A. Chemical (Alkali) Burn-Induced Neurotrophic Keratitis Model in New Zealand Rabbit Investigated Using Medical Clinical Readouts and In Vivo Confocal Microscopy (IVCM). Cells 2024; 13:379. [PMID: 38474343 DOI: 10.3390/cells13050379] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2023] [Revised: 12/05/2023] [Accepted: 12/07/2023] [Indexed: 03/14/2024] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE Chemical eye injury is an acute emergency that can result in vision loss. Neurotrophic keratitis (NK) is the most common long-term manifestation of chemical injury. NK due to alkali burn affects ocular surface health and is one of its most common causes. Here, we established a rabbit model of corneal alkali burns to evaluate the severity of NK-associated changes. MATERIAL METHODS Alkali burns were induced in NZ rabbits by treating the cornea with (i) a 5 mm circular filter paper soaked in 0.75 N NaOH for 10 s (Mild NK) and (ii) trephination using a guarded trephine (5 mm diameter and 150-micron depth), followed by alkali burn, with a 5 mm circular filter paper soaked in 0.75 N NaOH for 10 s (a severe form of NK). Immediately after, the cornea was rinsed with 10 mL of normal saline to remove traces of NaOH. Clinical features were evaluated on Day 0, Day 1, Day 7, Day 15, and Day 21 post-alkali burn using a slit lamp, Pentacam, and anterior segment optical coherence tomography (AS-OCT). NK-like changes in epithelium, sub-basal nerve plexus, and stroma were observed using in vivo confocal microscopy (IVCM), and corneal sensation were measured using an aesthesiometer post alkali injury. After 21 days, pro-inflammatory cytokines were evaluated for inflammation through ELISA. RESULTS Trephination followed by alkali burn resulted in the loss of epithelial layers (manifested using fluorescein stain), extensive edema, and increased corneal thickness (550 µm compared to 380 µm thickness of control) evaluated through AS-OCT and increased opacity score in alkali-treated rabbit (80 compared to 16 controls). IVCM images showed complete loss of nerve fibers, which failed to regenerate over 30 days, and loss of corneal sensation-conditions associated with NK. Cytokines evaluation of IL6, VEGF, and MMP9 indicated an increased angiogenic and pro-inflammatory milieu compared to the milder form of NK and the control. DISCUSSION Using clinical parameters, we demonstrated that the alkali-treated rabbit model depicts features of NK. Using IVCM in the NaOH burn animal model, we demonstrated a complete loss of nerve fibers with poor self-healing capability associated with sub-basal nerve degeneration and compromised corneal sensation. This pre-clinical rabbit model has implications for future pre-clinical research in neurotrophic keratitis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mehak Vohra
- Shroff-Pandorum Center for Ocular Regeneration, Dr. Shroff's Charity Eye Hospital, New Delhi 110002, India
- Pandorum Technologies Pvt. Ltd., Bangalore 560100, India
| | - Abha Gour
- Shroff-Pandorum Center for Ocular Regeneration, Dr. Shroff's Charity Eye Hospital, New Delhi 110002, India
| | - Jyoti Rajput
- Shroff-Pandorum Center for Ocular Regeneration, Dr. Shroff's Charity Eye Hospital, New Delhi 110002, India
- Pandorum Technologies Pvt. Ltd., Bangalore 560100, India
| | - Bharti Sangwan
- Shroff-Pandorum Center for Ocular Regeneration, Dr. Shroff's Charity Eye Hospital, New Delhi 110002, India
- Pandorum Technologies Pvt. Ltd., Bangalore 560100, India
| | - Monika Chauhan
- Shroff-Pandorum Center for Ocular Regeneration, Dr. Shroff's Charity Eye Hospital, New Delhi 110002, India
- Pandorum Technologies Pvt. Ltd., Bangalore 560100, India
| | - Kartik Goel
- Shroff-Pandorum Center for Ocular Regeneration, Dr. Shroff's Charity Eye Hospital, New Delhi 110002, India
- Pandorum Technologies Pvt. Ltd., Bangalore 560100, India
| | - Ajith Kamath
- Pandorum Technologies Pvt. Ltd., Bangalore 560100, India
| | - Umang Mathur
- Shroff-Pandorum Center for Ocular Regeneration, Dr. Shroff's Charity Eye Hospital, New Delhi 110002, India
| | - Arun Chandru
- Pandorum Technologies Pvt. Ltd., Bangalore 560100, India
| | - Virender Singh Sangwan
- Shroff-Pandorum Center for Ocular Regeneration, Dr. Shroff's Charity Eye Hospital, New Delhi 110002, India
| | - Tuhin Bhowmick
- Pandorum Technologies Pvt. Ltd., Bangalore 560100, India
| | - Anil Tiwari
- Shroff-Pandorum Center for Ocular Regeneration, Dr. Shroff's Charity Eye Hospital, New Delhi 110002, India
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Soares J, Pinheiro A, Esteves PJ. The rabbit as an animal model to study innate immunity genes: Is it better than mice? Front Immunol 2022; 13:981815. [PMID: 36159800 PMCID: PMC9501708 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.981815] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2022] [Accepted: 08/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The European rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) was the first animal model used to understand human diseases like rabies and syphilis. Nowadays, the rabbit is still used to study several human infectious diseases like syphilis, HIV and papillomavirus. However, due to several mainly practical reasons, it has been replaced as an animal model by mice (Mus musculus). The rabbit and mouse share a recent common ancestor and are classified in the superorder Glires which arose at approximately 82 million years ago (mya). These species diverged from the Primates’ ancestor at around 92 million years ago and, as such, one expects the rabbit-human and mouse-human genetic distances to be very similar. To evaluate this hypothesis, we developed a set of tools for automatic data extraction, sequence alignment and similarity study, and a web application for visualization of the resulting data. We aligned and calculated the genetic distances for 2793 innate immune system genes from human, rabbit and mouse using sequences available in the NCBI database. The obtained results show that the rabbit-human genetic distance is lower than the mouse-human genetic distance for 88% of these genes. Furthermore, when we considered only genes with a difference in genetic distance higher than 0.05, this figure increase to 93%. These results can be explained by the increase of the mutation rates in the mouse lineage suggested by some authors and clearly show that, at least looking to the genetic distance to human genes, the European rabbit is a better model to study innate immune system genes than the mouse.
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Affiliation(s)
- João Soares
- Departamento de Ciências dos Computadores, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
- Centro de Sistemas de Computação Avançada - Instituto de Engenharia de Sistemas e Computadores, Tecnologia e Ciência (CRACS - INESC TEC), Porto, Portugal
| | - Ana Pinheiro
- CIBIO-UP, Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, Universidade do Porto, InBIO, Laboratrio Associado, Vairão, Portugal
- BIOPOLIS Program in Genomics, Biodiversity and Land Planning, CIBIO, Vairão, Portugal
| | - Pedro José Esteves
- CIBIO-UP, Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, Universidade do Porto, InBIO, Laboratrio Associado, Vairão, Portugal
- BIOPOLIS Program in Genomics, Biodiversity and Land Planning, CIBIO, Vairão, Portugal
- Departamento de Biologia, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
- CITS - Centro de Investigação em Tecnologias de Saúde, Cooperativa de Ensino Superior Politécnico e Universitário (CESPU), Gandra, Portugal
- *Correspondence: Pedro José Esteves,
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Marín-García PJ, Llobat L. What Are the Keys to the Adaptive Success of European Wild Rabbit ( Oryctolagus cuniculus) in the Iberian Peninsula? Animals (Basel) 2021; 11:2453. [PMID: 34438909 PMCID: PMC8388719 DOI: 10.3390/ani11082453] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2021] [Revised: 08/18/2021] [Accepted: 08/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The European wild rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) plays an important ecological role in the ecosystems of the Iberian Peninsula. Recently, rabbit populations have drastically reduced, so the species is now considered endangered. However, in some places, this animal is considered a pest. This is the conservation paradox of the 21st century: the wild rabbit is both an invasive alien and an endangered native species. The authors of this review aimed to understand the keys to the adaptive success of European rabbits, addressing all aspects of their biology in order to provide the keys to the ecological management of this species. Aspects including nutrition, genetics, immunity interactions with the environment, behaviour, and conflict with human activities were reviewed. Ultimately, rabbits are resilient and adaptable. The main adaptations that explain the rabbit's adaptive success are its nutrition (wide adaptation to food and good nutritional use of caecotrophy), immune system (powerful and developed), and other aspects related to genetics and behaviour. Rabbits' relationship with humans has led them to colonise other places where they have become pests. Despite these adaptations, populations in native places have been drastically reduced in recent years. Since it serves as a bastion of the Mediterranean ecosystem, a specific conservation program for this species must be carried out. Therefore, a study of the rabbit's response to diseases and nutrition (especially protein), as well as the interaction between them, is of special interest.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pablo Jesús Marín-García
- Institute for Animal Science and Technology, Universitat Politècnica de València, Camino de Vera s/n, 46022 Valencia, Spain
- Department of Animal Production and Health, Veterinary Public Health and Food Science and Technology (PASAPTA), Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad Cardenal Herrera-CEU, CEU Universities, 46113 Valencia, Spain
| | - Lola Llobat
- Department of Animal Production and Health, Veterinary Public Health and Food Science and Technology (PASAPTA), Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad Cardenal Herrera-CEU, CEU Universities, 46113 Valencia, Spain
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Nam SH, Choi BBR, Kim GC. The Whitening Effect and Histological Safety of Nonthermal Atmospheric Plasma Inducing Tooth Bleaching. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:ijerph18094714. [PMID: 33925192 PMCID: PMC8124203 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18094714] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2021] [Revised: 04/25/2021] [Accepted: 04/27/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Various light sources have been applied to enhance the bleaching effect. This study was to identify the histological evaluation in oral soft tissues, as well as tooth color change after tooth bleaching by nonthermal atmospheric pressure plasma (NAPP). Nine New Zealand adult female rabbits were randomly divided into three groups (n = 3): group 1 received no treatment; group 2 was treated with NAPP and 15% carbamide peroxide (CP), which contains 5.4% H2O2, and group 3 was treated with 15% CP without NAPP. Color change (ΔE) was measured using the Shade Eye NCC colorimeter. Animals were euthanized one day later to analyze the histological responses occurring in oral soft tissues, including pulp, gingiva, tongue, buccal mucosa, and hard and soft palates. Changes in all samples were analyzed by hematoxylin and eosin staining and Masson's trichrome. Teeth treated with plasma showed higher ΔE than that obtained with bleaching agents alone. Overall, the histological characteristics observed no appreciable changes. The combinational treatment of plasma had not indicated inflammatory responses as well as thermal damages. NAPP did not cause histological damage in oral soft tissues during tooth bleaching. We suggest that NAPP could be a novel alternative energy source to conventional light sources for tooth bleaching.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seoul-Hee Nam
- Department of Dental Hygiene, College of Health Science, Kangwon National University, Samcheok 25949, Korea;
| | | | - Gyoo-Cheon Kim
- Feagle Co., Ltd., Yangsan 50614, Korea;
- Department of Oral Anatomy, School of Dentistry, Pusan National University, Yangsan 50612, Korea
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +82-51-510-8243; Fax: +82-51-510-8241
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Wong RM, Li TK, Li J, Ho WT, Chow SKH, Leung SS, Cheung WH, Ip M. A systematic review on current osteosynthesis-associated infection animal fracture models. J Orthop Translat 2020; 23:8-20. [PMID: 32440511 PMCID: PMC7231979 DOI: 10.1016/j.jot.2020.03.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2019] [Revised: 02/18/2020] [Accepted: 03/02/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Objective Osteosynthesis-associated infection is a challenging complication post fracture fixation, burdening the patients and the orthopaedic surgeons alike. A clinically relevant animal model is critical in devising new therapeutic strategies. Our aim was to perform a systematic review to evaluate existing preclinical models and identify their applications in aspects of animal selection, bacterial induction, fracture fixation and complications. Methods A systematic literature research was conducted in PubMed and Embase up to February 2020. A total of 31 studies were included. Information on the animal, bacterial induction, fracture fixation, healing result and complications were extracted. Results Animals selected included murine (23), rabbit (6), ewe (1) and goat (1). Larger animals had enabled the use of human-sized implant, however small animals were more economical and easier in handling. Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) was the most frequently chosen bacteria for induction. Bacterial inoculation dose ranged from 102-8 CFU. Consistent and replicable infections were observed from 104 CFU in general. Methods of inoculation included injections of bacterial suspension (20), placement of foreign objects (8) and pretreatment of implants with established biofilm (3). Intramedullary implants (13), plates and screws (18) were used in most models. Radiological (29) and histological evaluations (24) in osseous healing were performed. Complications such as instability of fracture fixation (7), unexpected surgical death (5), sepsis (1) and persistent lameness (1) were encountered. Conclusion The most common animal model is the S. aureus infected open fracture internally fixated. Replicable infections were mainly from 104 CFU of bacteria. However, with the increase in antibiotic resistance, future directions should explore polymicrobial and antibiotic resistant strains, as these will no doubt play a major role in bone infection. Currently, there is also a lack of osteoporotic bone infection models and the pathophysiology is unexplored, which would be important with our aging population. The translational potential of this article This systematic review provides an updated overview and compares the currently available animal models of osteosynthesis-associated infections. A discussion on future research directions and suggestion of animal model settings were made, which is expected to advance the research in this field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ronald M.Y. Wong
- Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Prince of Wales Hospital, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Tsz-kiu Li
- Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Prince of Wales Hospital, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Jie Li
- Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Prince of Wales Hospital, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Wing-Tung Ho
- Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Prince of Wales Hospital, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Simon K.-H. Chow
- Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Prince of Wales Hospital, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | | | - Wing-Hoi Cheung
- Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Prince of Wales Hospital, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
- Corresponding author. Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Prince of Wales Hospital, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong.
| | - Margaret Ip
- Department of Microbiology, Prince of Wales Hospital, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
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Esteves PJ, Abrantes J, Baldauf HM, BenMohamed L, Chen Y, Christensen N, González-Gallego J, Giacani L, Hu J, Kaplan G, Keppler OT, Knight KL, Kong XP, Lanning DK, Le Pendu J, de Matos AL, Liu J, Liu S, Lopes AM, Lu S, Lukehart S, Manabe YC, Neves F, McFadden G, Pan R, Peng X, de Sousa-Pereira P, Pinheiro A, Rahman M, Ruvoën-Clouet N, Subbian S, Tuñón MJ, van der Loo W, Vaine M, Via LE, Wang S, Mage R. The wide utility of rabbits as models of human diseases. Exp Mol Med 2018; 50:1-10. [PMID: 29789565 PMCID: PMC5964082 DOI: 10.1038/s12276-018-0094-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 87] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2017] [Revised: 02/21/2018] [Accepted: 02/27/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Studies using the European rabbit Oryctolagus cuniculus contributed to elucidating numerous fundamental aspects of antibody structure and diversification mechanisms and continue to be valuable for the development and testing of therapeutic humanized polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies. Additionally, during the last two decades, the use of the European rabbit as an animal model has been increasingly extended to many human diseases. This review documents the continuing wide utility of the rabbit as a reliable disease model for development of therapeutics and vaccines and studies of the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying many human diseases. Examples include syphilis, tuberculosis, HIV-AIDS, acute hepatic failure and diseases caused by noroviruses, ocular herpes, and papillomaviruses. The use of rabbits for vaccine development studies, which began with Louis Pasteur’s rabies vaccine in 1881, continues today with targets that include the potentially blinding HSV-1 virus infection and HIV-AIDS. Additionally, two highly fatal viral diseases, rabbit hemorrhagic disease and myxomatosis, affect the European rabbit and provide unique models to understand co-evolution between a vertebrate host and viral pathogens. Rabbits offer a powerful complement to rodents as a model for studying human immunology, disease pathology, and responses to infectious disease. A review from Pedro Esteves at the University of Porto, Portugal, Rose Mage of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease, Bethesda, USA and colleagues highlights some of the areas of research where rabbits offer an edge over rats and mice. Rabbits have a particularly sophisticated adaptive immune system, which could provide useful insights into human biology and produce valuable research and clinical reagents. They are also excellent models for studying - infectious diseases such as syphilis and tuberculosis, which produce pathology that closely resembles that of human patients. Rabbit-specific infections such as myxomatosis are giving researchers insights into how pathogens and hosts can shape each other’s evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pedro J Esteves
- CIBIO, InBIO, Research Network in Biodiversity and Evolutionary Biology, Universidade do Porto, Campus de Vairão, Rua Padre Armando Quintas, 4485-661, Vairão, Portugal. .,Departamento de Biologia, Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade do Porto, Rua do Campo Alegre, s/n, 4169-007, Porto, Portugal. .,Instituto de Investigação e Formação Avançada em Ciências e Tecnologias da Saúde (CESPU), Gandra, Portugal.
| | - Joana Abrantes
- CIBIO, InBIO, Research Network in Biodiversity and Evolutionary Biology, Universidade do Porto, Campus de Vairão, Rua Padre Armando Quintas, 4485-661, Vairão, Portugal
| | - Hanna-Mari Baldauf
- Max von Pettenkofer Institute and Gene Center, Virology, National Reference Center for Retroviruses, Faculty of Medicine, LMU München, 81377, Munich, Germany
| | - Lbachir BenMohamed
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, University of California, Irvine, School of Medicine, Irvine, CA, 92697, USA.,Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, University of California, Irvine School of Medicine, Irvine, CA, 92697, USA.,Institute for Immunology, University of California, Irvine School of Irvine, School of Medicine, Irvine, CA, 92697, USA
| | - Yuxing Chen
- Department of Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, 01605, USA
| | - Neil Christensen
- Departments of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology, and Comparative Medicine, Penn State University, Hershey, PA, USA
| | - Javier González-Gallego
- Institute of Biomedicine (IBIOMED) and Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Hepáticas y Digestivas (CIBERehd), University of León, 24071, León, Spain
| | - Lorenzo Giacani
- Departments of Medicine and Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, USA
| | - Jiafen Hu
- Departments of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology, and Comparative Medicine, Penn State University, Hershey, PA, USA
| | - Gilla Kaplan
- Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Oliver T Keppler
- Max von Pettenkofer Institute and Gene Center, Virology, National Reference Center for Retroviruses, Faculty of Medicine, LMU München, 81377, Munich, Germany
| | - Katherine L Knight
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Loyola University Chicago, Maywood, IL, 60153, USA
| | - Xiang-Peng Kong
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY10016, USA
| | - Dennis K Lanning
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Loyola University Chicago, Maywood, IL, 60153, USA
| | - Jacques Le Pendu
- CRCINA, Inserm, Université d'Angers, Université de Nantes, Nantes, France
| | - Ana Lemos de Matos
- The Biodesign Institute, Center for Immunotherapy, Vaccines, and Virotherapy, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, 85287-5401, USA
| | - Jia Liu
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS), Little Rock, AR, 72205, USA
| | - Shuying Liu
- Department of Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, 01605, USA
| | - Ana M Lopes
- CIBIO, InBIO, Research Network in Biodiversity and Evolutionary Biology, Universidade do Porto, Campus de Vairão, Rua Padre Armando Quintas, 4485-661, Vairão, Portugal.,Department of Anatomy and Unit for Multidisciplinary Research in Biomedicine (UMIB), Institute of Biomedical Sciences Abel Salazar (ICBAS), University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Shan Lu
- Department of Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, 01605, USA
| | - Sheila Lukehart
- Departments of Medicine and Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, USA
| | - Yukari C Manabe
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Fabiana Neves
- CIBIO, InBIO, Research Network in Biodiversity and Evolutionary Biology, Universidade do Porto, Campus de Vairão, Rua Padre Armando Quintas, 4485-661, Vairão, Portugal
| | - Grant McFadden
- The Biodesign Institute, Center for Immunotherapy, Vaccines, and Virotherapy, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, 85287-5401, USA
| | - Ruimin Pan
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY10016, USA
| | - Xuwen Peng
- Departments of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology, and Comparative Medicine, Penn State University, Hershey, PA, USA
| | - Patricia de Sousa-Pereira
- CIBIO, InBIO, Research Network in Biodiversity and Evolutionary Biology, Universidade do Porto, Campus de Vairão, Rua Padre Armando Quintas, 4485-661, Vairão, Portugal.,Departamento de Biologia, Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade do Porto, Rua do Campo Alegre, s/n, 4169-007, Porto, Portugal.,Max von Pettenkofer Institute and Gene Center, Virology, National Reference Center for Retroviruses, Faculty of Medicine, LMU München, 81377, Munich, Germany
| | - Ana Pinheiro
- CIBIO, InBIO, Research Network in Biodiversity and Evolutionary Biology, Universidade do Porto, Campus de Vairão, Rua Padre Armando Quintas, 4485-661, Vairão, Portugal.,Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Loyola University Chicago, Maywood, IL, 60153, USA
| | - Masmudur Rahman
- The Biodesign Institute, Center for Immunotherapy, Vaccines, and Virotherapy, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, 85287-5401, USA
| | | | - Selvakumar Subbian
- The Public Health Research Institute (PHRI) at New Jersey Medical School, Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences (RBHS), Rutgers University, Newark, NJ, USA
| | - Maria Jesús Tuñón
- Institute of Biomedicine (IBIOMED) and Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Hepáticas y Digestivas (CIBERehd), University of León, 24071, León, Spain
| | - Wessel van der Loo
- CIBIO, InBIO, Research Network in Biodiversity and Evolutionary Biology, Universidade do Porto, Campus de Vairão, Rua Padre Armando Quintas, 4485-661, Vairão, Portugal
| | - Michael Vaine
- Department of Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, 01605, USA
| | - Laura E Via
- Tubercolosis Research Section, Laboratory of Clinical Infectious Diseases, Division of Intramural Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA.,Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Shixia Wang
- Department of Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, 01605, USA
| | - Rose Mage
- Laboratory of Immune System Biology, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA.
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Pinheiro A, Neves F, Lemos de Matos A, Abrantes J, van der Loo W, Mage R, Esteves PJ. An overview of the lagomorph immune system and its genetic diversity. Immunogenetics 2015; 68:83-107. [PMID: 26399242 DOI: 10.1007/s00251-015-0868-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2015] [Accepted: 08/31/2015] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
Our knowledge of the lagomorph immune system remains largely based upon studies of the European rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus), a major model for studies of immunology. Two important and devastating viral diseases, rabbit hemorrhagic disease and myxomatosis, are affecting European rabbit populations. In this context, we discuss the genetic diversity of the European rabbit immune system and extend to available information about other lagomorphs. Regarding innate immunity, we review the most recent advances in identifying interleukins, chemokines and chemokine receptors, Toll-like receptors, antiviral proteins (RIG-I and Trim5), and the genes encoding fucosyltransferases that are utilized by rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus as a portal for invading host respiratory and gut epithelial cells. Evolutionary studies showed that several genes of innate immunity are evolving by strong natural selection. Studies of the leporid CCR5 gene revealed a very dramatic change unique in mammals at the second extracellular loop of CCR5 resulting from a gene conversion event with the paralogous CCR2. For the adaptive immune system, we review genetic diversity at the loci encoding antibody variable and constant regions, the major histocompatibility complex (RLA) and T cells. Studies of IGHV and IGKC genes expressed in leporids are two of the few examples of trans-species polymorphism observed outside of the major histocompatibility complex. In addition, we review some endogenous viruses of lagomorph genomes, the importance of the European rabbit as a model for human disease studies, and the anticipated role of next-generation sequencing in extending knowledge of lagomorph immune systems and their evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Pinheiro
- InBIO-Research Network in Biodiversity and Evolutionary Biology, CIBIO, Universidade do Porto, Campus Agrário de Vairão, Rua Padre Armando Quintas, nr. 7, 4485-661, Vairão, Portugal
- Departamento de Biologia, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade do Porto, 4169-007, Porto, Portugal
- SaBio-IREC (CSIC-UCLM-JCCM), Ronda de Toledo s/n, 13071, Ciudad Real, Spain
| | - Fabiana Neves
- InBIO-Research Network in Biodiversity and Evolutionary Biology, CIBIO, Universidade do Porto, Campus Agrário de Vairão, Rua Padre Armando Quintas, nr. 7, 4485-661, Vairão, Portugal
- UMIB/UP-Unidade Multidisciplinar de Investigação Biomédica, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Ana Lemos de Matos
- Department of Molecular Genetics & Microbiology, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32610, USA
| | - Joana Abrantes
- InBIO-Research Network in Biodiversity and Evolutionary Biology, CIBIO, Universidade do Porto, Campus Agrário de Vairão, Rua Padre Armando Quintas, nr. 7, 4485-661, Vairão, Portugal
| | - Wessel van der Loo
- InBIO-Research Network in Biodiversity and Evolutionary Biology, CIBIO, Universidade do Porto, Campus Agrário de Vairão, Rua Padre Armando Quintas, nr. 7, 4485-661, Vairão, Portugal
| | - Rose Mage
- NIAID, NIH, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Pedro José Esteves
- InBIO-Research Network in Biodiversity and Evolutionary Biology, CIBIO, Universidade do Porto, Campus Agrário de Vairão, Rua Padre Armando Quintas, nr. 7, 4485-661, Vairão, Portugal.
- Departamento de Biologia, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade do Porto, 4169-007, Porto, Portugal.
- CITS-Centro de Investigação em Tecnologias de Saúde, CESPU, Gandra, Portugal.
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8
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Neves F, Abrantes J, Almeida T, de Matos AL, Costa PP, Esteves PJ. Genetic characterization of interleukins (IL-1α, IL-1β, IL-2, IL-4, IL-8, IL-10, IL-12A, IL-12B, IL-15 and IL-18) with relevant biological roles in lagomorphs. Innate Immun 2015; 21:787-801. [PMID: 26395994 PMCID: PMC4609935 DOI: 10.1177/1753425915606209] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2015] [Accepted: 08/17/2015] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
ILs, as essential innate immune modulators, are involved in an array of biological processes. In the European rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) IL-1α, IL-1β, IL-2, IL-4, IL-8, IL-10, IL-12A, IL-12B, IL-15 and IL-18 have been implicated in inflammatory processes and in the immune response against rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus and myxoma virus infections. In this study we characterized these ILs in six Lagomorpha species (European rabbit, pygmy rabbit, two cottontail rabbit species, European brown hare and American pika). Overall, these ILs are conserved between lagomorphs, including in their exon/intron structure. Most differences were observed between leporids and American pika. Indeed, when comparing both, some relevant differences were observed in American pika, such as the location of the stop codon in IL-1α and IL-2, the existence of a different transcript in IL8 and the number of cysteine residues in IL-1β. Changes at N-glycosylation motifs were also detected in IL-1, IL-10, IL-12B and IL-15. IL-1α is the protein that presents the highest evolutionary distances, which is in contrast to IL-12A where the distances between lagomorphs are the lowest. For all these ILs, sequences of human and European rabbit are more closely related than between human and mouse or European rabbit and mouse.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabiana Neves
- CIBIO, InBIO-Research Network in Biodiversity and Evolutionary Biology, Universidade do Porto, Campus de Vairão, Vairão, Portugal UMIB/UP-Unidade Multidisciplinar de Investigação Biomédica/Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Joana Abrantes
- CIBIO, InBIO-Research Network in Biodiversity and Evolutionary Biology, Universidade do Porto, Campus de Vairão, Vairão, Portugal
| | - Tereza Almeida
- CIBIO, InBIO-Research Network in Biodiversity and Evolutionary Biology, Universidade do Porto, Campus de Vairão, Vairão, Portugal
| | - Ana Lemos de Matos
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Paulo P Costa
- UMIB/UP-Unidade Multidisciplinar de Investigação Biomédica/Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal Departmento Genética, CSPGF, Instituto Nacional de Saúde Dr. Ricardo Jorge, Porto, Portugal
| | - Pedro J Esteves
- CIBIO, InBIO-Research Network in Biodiversity and Evolutionary Biology, Universidade do Porto, Campus de Vairão, Vairão, Portugal Departamento de Biologia, Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal CITS-Centro de Investigação em Tecnologias de Saúde, CESPU, Gandra, Portugal
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9
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Convergent evolution of IL-6 in two leporids (Oryctolagus and Pentalagus) originated an extended protein. Immunogenetics 2014; 66:589-95. [DOI: 10.1007/s00251-014-0787-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2014] [Accepted: 06/26/2014] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
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10
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Uner AG, Sulu N, Altinsaat C, Ergun A. Blood Levels of Selected Metabolic Factors, Cytokines, and Lymphocyte Subpopulations in Arabian and Thoroughbred Horses During the Longest and Shortest Days of the Year. J Equine Vet Sci 2013. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jevs.2013.03.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
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11
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Gertz EM, Agarwala R, Mage RG, Schäffer AA. Comparative analysis of genome sequences of the Th2 cytokine region of rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) with those of nine different species. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2011; 3:59-82. [PMID: 23239928 DOI: 10.4137/iii.s7236] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
The regions encoding the coordinately regulated Th2 cytokines IL5, IL4 and IL13 are located on chromosomes 5 of man and 11 of mouse. They have been intensively studied because these interleukins have protective roles in helminth infections, but may lead to detrimental effects such as allergy, asthma, and fibrosis in lung and liver. We added to previous studies by comparing sequences of syntenic regions on chromosome 3 of the rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) genome OryCun 2.0 assembly from a tuberculosis-susceptible strain, with the corresponding region of ENCODE ENm002 from a normal rabbit as well as with 9 other mammalian species. We searched for rabbit transcription factor binding sites in putative promoter and other non-coding regions of IL5, RAD50, IL13 and IL4. Although we identified several differences between the two donor rabbits in coding and non-coding regions of potential functional significance, confirmation awaits additional sequencing of other rabbits.
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Affiliation(s)
- E Michael Gertz
- National Center for Biotechnology Information, National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health, DHHS, Bethesda, MD, 20894, USA
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12
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Du L, Dronadula N, Tanaka S, Dichek DA. Helper-dependent adenoviral vector achieves prolonged, stable expression of interleukin-10 in rabbit carotid arteries but does not limit early atherogenesis. Hum Gene Ther 2011; 22:959-68. [PMID: 21198399 DOI: 10.1089/hum.2010.175] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Vascular gene therapy could potentially complement or replace current therapies for human atherosclerosis, while avoiding their side effects. However, development of vascular gene therapy is limited by lack of a useful vector. Helper-dependent adenovirus (HDAd) shows promise to overcome this barrier because, unlike first-generation adenovirus, HDAd achieves durable transgene expression in the artery wall with minimal inflammation. To begin to test whether HDAd, delivered to the artery wall, can limit atherosclerosis we constructed HDAd that expresses rabbit interleukin (IL)-10, a potent atheroprotective cytokine, and tested its activity in a rabbit model of early carotid atherogenesis. HDAd expressed immunoreactive, active IL-10 in vitro. In contrast to other HDAd-expressed transgenes, IL-10 expression from HDAd increased significantly between 3 days and 2 weeks after infusion and remained stable for at least 8 weeks. Rising, persistent IL-10 expression was associated with relative persistence of HDAdIL-10 genomes 4 weeks after infusion, compared with HDAdNull genomes. Surprisingly, IL-10 expression had no significant effects on atherosclerotic lesion size, macrophage content, or expression of either adhesion molecules or atherogenic cytokines. These results might be due to inadequate protein expression in vivo or lack of suitability of this rabbit model to reveal IL-10 therapeutic effects. IL-10 remains a promising agent for vascular gene therapy and HDAd remains a promising vector; however, proof of efficacy of HDAdIL-10 is elusive. Future preclinical studies will be aimed at increasing IL-10 expression levels and improving the sensitivity of this animal model to detect atheroprotective effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liang Du
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
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13
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Young L. Expressed sequence identification and characterization of the cDNA for Interleukin-4 from the mitogen-stimulated lymphoid tissue of a marsupial, Macropus eugenii. Vet Immunol Immunopathol 2011; 140:335-40. [DOI: 10.1016/j.vetimm.2010.12.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2010] [Revised: 11/26/2010] [Accepted: 12/08/2010] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
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14
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Dronadula N, Du L, Flynn R, Buckler J, Kho J, Jiang Z, Tanaka S, Dichek DA. Construction of a novel expression cassette for increasing transgene expression in vivo in endothelial cells of large blood vessels. Gene Ther 2010; 18:501-8. [PMID: 21179172 PMCID: PMC3093449 DOI: 10.1038/gt.2010.173] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
The success of gene therapy hinges on achievement of adequate transgene expression. To ensure high transgene expression, many gene-therapy vectors include highly active virus-derived transcriptional elements. Other vectors include tissue-specific eukaryotic transcriptional elements, intended to limit transgene expression to specific cell types, avoid toxicity and prevent immune responses. Unfortunately, tissue specificity is often accompanied by lower transgene expression. Here, we use eukaryotic (murine) transcriptional elements and a virus-derived posttranscriptional element to build cassettes designed to express a potentially therapeutic gene (interleukin (IL)-10) in large-vessel endothelial cells (ECs) at levels as high as obtained with the cytomegalovirus (CMV) immediate early promoter, while retaining EC specificity. The cassettes were tested by incorporation into helper-dependent adenoviral vectors, and transduction into bovine aortic EC in vitro and rabbit carotid EC in vivo. The murine endothelin-1 promoter showed EC specificity, but expressed only 3% as much IL-10 mRNA as CMV. Inclusion of precisely four copies of an EC-specific enhancer and a posttranscriptional regulatory element increased IL-10 expression to a level at or above the CMV promoter in vivo, while retaining--and possibly enhancing--EC specificity, as measured in vitro. The cassette reported here will likely be useful for maximizing transgene expression in large-vessel EC, while minimizing systemic effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- N Dronadula
- Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195-7710, USA
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15
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Sahoo A, Im SH. Interleukin and Interleukin Receptor Diversity: Role of Alternative Splicing. Int Rev Immunol 2010; 29:77-109. [DOI: 10.3109/08830180903349651] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
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16
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Yuan Z, Wang R, Lee Y, Chen CY, Yu X, Wu Z, Huang D, Shen L, Chen ZW. Tuberculosis-induced variant IL-4 mRNA encodes a cytokine functioning as growth factor for (E)-4-hydroxy-3-methyl-but-2-enyl pyrophosphate-specific Vgamma2Vdelta2 T cells. THE JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY 2009; 182:811-9. [PMID: 19124724 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.182.2.811] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
The possibility that mycobacterial infections induce variant cytokine mRNA encoding a functionally distinct protein for immune regulation has not been addressed. In this study, we reported that Mycobacterium tuberculosis and bacillus Calmette-Guérin infections of macaques induced expression of variant IL-4 (VIL-4) mRNA encoding a protein comprised of N-terminal 97 aa identical with IL-4, and unique C-terminal 96 aa including a signaling-related proline-rich motif. While VIL-4 could be stably produced as intact protein, the purified VIL-4 induced apparent expansion of phosphoantigen (E)-4-hydroxy-3-methyl-but-2-enyl pyrophosphate (HMBPP)-specific Vgamma2Vdelta2 T cells in dose- and time-dependent manners. The unique C-terminal 96 aa bearing the proline-rich motif (PPPCPP) of VIL-4 appeared to confer the ability to expand Vgamma2Vdelta2 T cells, since simultaneously produced IL-4 had only a subtle effect on these gammadelta T cells. Moreover, VIL-4 seemed to use IL-4R alpha for signaling and activation, as the VIL-4-induced expansion of Vgamma2Vdelta2 T cells was blocked by anti-IL-4R alpha mAb but not anti-IL-4 mAb. Surprisingly, VIL-4-expanded Vgamma2Vdelta2 T cells after HMBPP stimulation appeared to be heterologous effector cells capable of producing IL-4, IFN-gamma, and TNF-alpha. Thus, mycobacterial infections of macaques induced variant mRNA encoding VIL-4 that functions as growth factor promoting expansion of HMBPP-specific Vgamma2Vdelta2 T effector cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- ZhuQing Yuan
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Center for Primate Biomedical Research, University of Illinois College of Medicine, Chicago, IL 60612, USA
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17
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D'Agostino B, Roviezzo F, De Palma R, Terracciano S, De Nardo M, Gallelli L, Abbate GF, D'Aiuto E, Russo M, Cirino G, Rossi F. Activation of protease-activated receptor-2 reduces airways inflammation in experimental allergic asthma. Clin Exp Allergy 2007; 37:1436-43. [PMID: 17883723 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2222.2007.02793.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Proteinase-activated receptors (PAR)-2 are members of the family of G-protein-coupled receptors activated by proteases. These receptors are widely expressed in several tissues and in virtually all cells involved in rhinitis and asthma. In particular, proteinases activating PAR-2 may affect airway functions and play a role in human diseases. OBJECTIVE Assessment of the role of PAR-2 in bronchoconstriction, airway responsiveness and immune response after allergic challenge, in rabbits sensitized to Par j 1, the major allergen of Parietaria judaica pollen. METHODS Evaluation of antigen challenge in rabbits treated with PAR-2-activating peptide (PAR-2AP) (SLIGRL) or the scrambled peptide LSIGRL or vehicle immediately before allergen exposure measuring airway responsiveness. Characterization of bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) following histamine challenge and phenotype analysis of cells by flow cytometry and analysis of cytokine production by quantitative PCR. RESULTS PAR-2AP pre-treatment, but not the scrambled peptide, was able to significantly inhibit bronchoconstriction, airway hyper-responsiveness and to modulate the immune response induced by allergic challenge in sensitized rabbits. The phenotype analysis of the cells recovered from BAL showed an increase in RLA-DR-positive cells while RTLA-positive cells were unchanged. IFN-gamma and IL-2 production were inhibited, with a concomitant increase in IL-10 of about 10-fold over the control values. CONCLUSIONS In this experimental model, PAR-2 modulates bronchoconstriction interfering with antigen challenge-induced immune response in rabbits sensitized and challenged to Par j 1.
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Affiliation(s)
- B D'Agostino
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Section of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, Second University of Naples, Naples, Italy.
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18
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Godornes C, Leader BT, Molini BJ, Centurion-Lara A, Lukehart SA. Quantitation of rabbit cytokine mRNA by real-time RT-PCR. Cytokine 2007; 38:1-7. [PMID: 17521914 PMCID: PMC2041851 DOI: 10.1016/j.cyto.2007.04.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 92] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2006] [Revised: 03/19/2007] [Accepted: 04/06/2007] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
Fundamental understanding of rabbit immunology and the use of the rabbit as a disease model have long been hindered by the lack of immunological assays specific to this species. In the present study, we sought to develop a method to quantitate cytokine expression in rabbit cells and tissues. We report the development of a quantitative real-time RT-PCR method for measuring the relative levels of rabbit IFN-gamma, IL-2, IL-4, IL-10 and TNF-alpha mRNA. Quantitation was accomplished by comparison to a standard curve generated using plasmid DNA containing partial sequences of the relevant cytokines. Experimental studies demonstrate applicability of this assay to quantitate cytokine mRNA levels from rabbit spleen cells following mitogen stimulation. We have further utilized this assay to also examine cytokine expression in rabbit tissues during experimental syphilis infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charmie Godornes
- Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle WA 98195
| | | | | | - Arturo Centurion-Lara
- Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle WA 98195
- Department of Pathobiology, University of Washington, Seattle WA 98195
| | - Sheila A. Lukehart
- Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle WA 98195
- Department of Pathobiology, University of Washington, Seattle WA 98195
- *Corresponding author: Mailing address: Sheila A. Lukehart, PhD, Department of Medicine, Box 359779, Harborview Medical Center, 325 Ninth Ave. Seattle, WA 98104, Phone 206 341 5361, Fax 206 341 5363,
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19
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Leader BT, VanVoorhis WC, Lukehart SA. Expression of rabbit interleukin-4 and characterization of its biologic activity on T and B-cells. Vet Immunol Immunopathol 2006; 113:421-7. [PMID: 16879875 DOI: 10.1016/j.vetimm.2006.06.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2006] [Accepted: 06/07/2006] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
The purpose of the current study was to express recombinant rabbit IL-4 (rRbIL-4) and to characterize its biological activity. The cDNA of RbIL-4 was cloned into an insect cell expression vector that allowed for constitutive expression in Sf9 cells and incorporated a 6-histidine tag on the recombinant protein for purification. The purified protein corresponded to the predicted size of rRbIL-4 and was recognized by an anti-human IL-4 antibody in immunoblotting. As shown for IL-4 from other species, a dose-dependent proliferative response was observed in T-lymphoblasts cultured with rRbIL-4. rRbIL-4 also induced increased expression of MHC class II molecules on the surface of rabbit B-cells in a dose-dependent manner. These results indicate that we have produced recombinant rabbit IL-4 that exhibits expected biological activity on rabbit B and T-cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brandon T Leader
- Department of Pathobiology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA.
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20
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Gu W, Janssens P, Holland M, Seamark R, Kerr P. Lymphocytes and MHC class II positive cells in the female rabbit reproductive tract before and after ovulation. Immunol Cell Biol 2005; 83:596-606. [PMID: 16266311 DOI: 10.1111/j.1440-1711.2005.01375.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
In this study, we identified lymphocytes and MHC class II positive (MHC-II+) cells in the reproductive tract of female rabbits both before and after ovulation. CD43+ T cells were frequently present in the mucosa of the oviduct, cervix, and vagina, but far fewer positive cells were seen in the endometrium. The induction of ovulation did not change the cell density in these regions. KEN-5+ T cells and MHC-II+ cells were also frequently seen in the mucosa of the oviduct, cervix, and vagina both before and after ovulation. However, in the uterus, there were very few positive cells before ovulation, but the number increased dramatically after ovulation. Associated with the increase of KEN-5+ T cells, IL-2 mRNA expression in the uterus also increased after ovulation, suggesting that the uterus experienced an increase of T-cell activation. IgM- and IgA-positive B cells were not commonly seen in the reproductive tract and the induction of ovulation did not alter this. Our results suggest that the reproductive tract of female rabbits has the capacity to mount an immune response and that the immune cell distribution of the rabbit reproductive tract has some distinctive features compared with that found in other species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenyi Gu
- Division of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Life Science, Australian National University, Canberra, Australia.
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21
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Yatsenko OP, Filipenko ML, Khrapov EA, Voronina EN, Kozlov VA, Sennikov SV. Alternative splicing of mRNA of mouse interleukin-4 and interleukin-6. Cytokine 2005; 28:190-6. [PMID: 15588696 DOI: 10.1016/j.cyto.2004.08.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2004] [Revised: 07/19/2004] [Accepted: 08/18/2004] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
Interleukin-4 and interleukin-6 are multifunctional regulatory proteins, which participate both in haemopoiesis and in immunopoiesis. The alternative splicing of these interleukins in humans is known to proceed in a tissue-specific manner. Additionally, changes in splicing can also be dependent on tissue pathology. In this work, we report on the presence of alternatively spliced mRNA (IL-4delta2mRNA), lacking exon 2, in mouse bone marrow and spleen cells. We find that in unstimulated cells IL-4mRNA levels strongly dominate over IL-4delta2mRNA levels. Both increase in response to stimulation, with the concentration of the alternative variant rising earlier and faster than that of the full-length variant. In all other tissues studied dominance of IL-4delta2mRNA over the full-length variant was not observed. In addition, we find expression of three forms of IL-6 mRNA: the full-length IL-6 mRNA, IL-6Delta3 mRNA, and IL-6Delta5 mRNA in the second and third trimester placenta tissue and in the spleen of mice immunized with a high dose of sheep erythrocytes. It is anticipated that translation of these mRNA variants can generate proteins capable of binding to some subunits of the IL-6 receptor, thus possessing effector function. Alternative splicing is discussed as a source of cytokines with new regulatory properties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olga P Yatsenko
- Laboratory of Molecular Immunology, Institute of Clinical Immunology, 14 Yadrintsevskaya, Novosibirsk, 630099 Russia
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22
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Furukawa H, Oshima K, Tung T, Cui G, Laks H, Sen L. Liposome-Mediated Combinatorial Cytokine Gene Therapy Induces Localized Synergistic Immunosuppression and Promotes Long-Term Survival of Cardiac Allografts. THE JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY 2005; 174:6983-92. [PMID: 15905541 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.174.11.6983] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Localized gene transfer has the potential to introduce immunosuppressive molecules only into the transplanted allograft, which would limit systemic side effects, and prolong allograft survival. However, an applicable gene transfer strategy is not available, and the feasible therapeutic gene(s) has not yet been determined. We developed an ex vivo liposome-mediated gene therapy strategy that is able to intracoronary deliver the combination of IL-4 and IL-10 cDNA expression vectors to the allograft simultaneously. We examined the efficiency, efficacy, and cardiac adverse effects of this combinatorial gene therapy protocol using a rabbit functional cervical heterotopic heart transplant model. Although the efficiency was moderate, the expression of both transgenes was long lasting and localized only in the target organ. The mean survival of cardiac allograft was prolonged from 7 to >100 days. Synergism of overexpressed IL-4 and IL-10 in the inhibition of T lymphocyte infiltration and cytoxicity, and modulation of Th1/Th2 cytokine production promote long-term survival of cardiac allografts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hiroshi Furukawa
- Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of California, Los Angeles, 90095, USA
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23
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Cody V, Shen H, Shlyankevich M, Tigelaar RE, Brandsma JL, Hanlon DJ. Generation of dendritic cells from rabbit bone marrow mononuclear cell cultures supplemented with hGM-CSF and hIL-4. Vet Immunol Immunopathol 2005; 103:163-72. [PMID: 15621303 DOI: 10.1016/j.vetimm.2004.08.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2004] [Revised: 08/30/2004] [Accepted: 08/30/2004] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
The in vitro generation of dendritic cells (DCs) from either blood or bone marrow has been accomplished for humans and a number of other species. This ability has facilitated the opportunity to test the efficacy of DC vaccines in various tumor models. The cottontail rabbit papillomavirus (CRPV) model is the most clinically relevant animal model for human papillomavirus (HPV)-associated carcinogenesis. The CRPV model has been used to test various preventative and therapeutic vaccination strategies, and the availability of rabbit DCs would further expand its utility. However, to date, rabbit DCs have not been phenotypically and/or functionally characterized. Here we show that DCs can be generated in vitro from rabbit bone marrow mononuclear cells (BMMCs) cultured in the presence of the human cytokines GM-CSF and IL-4 and matured with lipopolysaccharide (LPS). These cells show upregulation of MHC class II and CD86, as well as downregulation of CD14, do not have non-specific esterase activity, are able to perform receptor-mediated endocytosis, and are potent stimulators of allogeneic T cell proliferation in mixed lymphocyte reactions. The ability to generate rabbit DCs makes it possible to test the efficacy of DC vaccination in the prevention and treatment of CRPV-induced lesions, which may provide useful preclinical data regarding the use of DC vaccines for HPV-associated lesions, including cervical cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Virginia Cody
- Department of Dermatology, Yale University School of Medicine, LCI 501, 333 Cedar Street, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
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24
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Kajikawa O, Frevert CW, Lin SM, Goodman RB, Mongovin SM, Wong V, Ballman K, Daubeuf B, Elson G, Martin TR. Gene expression of Toll-like receptor-2, Toll-like receptor-4, and MD2 is differentially regulated in rabbits with Escherichia coli pneumonia. Gene 2004; 344:193-202. [PMID: 15656985 DOI: 10.1016/j.gene.2004.09.032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2004] [Revised: 09/01/2004] [Accepted: 09/23/2004] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
Sepsis, a common sequela to Gram-negative pneumonia, results in considerable morbidity and mortality in hospitalized patients. The goal of this study was to determine whether Gram-negative pneumonia alters the expression TLR2, TLR4, and MD2 in lungs or in organs distant to the site of the primary infection. The cDNA sequence coding open reading frames for rabbit TLR2, TLR4, and MD2 were cloned and expressed in Escherichia coli, and specific polyclonal antibodies and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) probes were produced to identify changes in these receptors in rabbits with Gram-negative pneumonia. Using tissues from lungs and distant organs, we show that TLR2, TLR4, and MD2 gene expression is differentially regulated in rabbits with E. coli pneumonia. The increased expression of TLR2 and TLR4 could play an important role in the innate immune response to bacterial infection in the lungs, and improve pathogen recognition and bacterial clearance. In contrast, the increased gene expression of TLR2, TLR4, and MD2 in organs distant to the primary site of infection may contribute to the deleterious systemic inflammatory response observed in patients with sepsis.
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MESH Headings
- Amino Acid Sequence
- Animals
- Antigens, Surface/genetics
- Antigens, Surface/metabolism
- Base Sequence
- Cloning, Molecular
- DNA, Complementary/chemistry
- DNA, Complementary/genetics
- Escherichia coli Infections/genetics
- Gene Expression Profiling
- Immunohistochemistry
- Lung/metabolism
- Lung/microbiology
- Lung/pathology
- Membrane Glycoproteins/genetics
- Membrane Glycoproteins/metabolism
- Molecular Sequence Data
- Pneumonia, Bacterial/genetics
- RNA, Messenger/genetics
- RNA, Messenger/metabolism
- Rabbits
- Receptors, Cell Surface/genetics
- Receptors, Cell Surface/metabolism
- Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
- Sequence Analysis, DNA
- Toll-Like Receptor 2
- Toll-Like Receptor 4
- Toll-Like Receptors
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Affiliation(s)
- Osamu Kajikawa
- Pulmonary Research Laboratories at the Seattle Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, University of Washington School of Medicine, 151L 1660 South Columbian Way, Seattle, WA 98108, USA
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Kerr PJ, Perkins HD, Inglis B, Stagg R, McLaughlin E, Collins SV, Van Leeuwen BH. Expression of rabbit IL-4 by recombinant myxoma viruses enhances virulence and overcomes genetic resistance to myxomatosis. Virology 2004; 324:117-28. [PMID: 15183059 DOI: 10.1016/j.virol.2004.02.031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2003] [Revised: 12/19/2003] [Accepted: 02/28/2004] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Rabbit IL-4 was expressed in the virulent standard laboratory strain (SLS) and the attenuated Uriarra (Ur) strain of myxoma virus with the aim of creating a Th2 cytokine environment and inhibiting the development of an antiviral cell-mediated response to myxomatosis in infected rabbits. This allowed testing of a model for genetic resistance to myxomatosis in wild rabbits that have undergone 50 years of natural selection for resistance to myxomatosis. Expression of IL-4 significantly enhanced virulence of both virulent and attenuated virus strains in susceptible (laboratory) and resistant (wild) rabbits. SLS-IL-4 completely overcame genetic resistance in wild rabbits. The pathogenesis of SLS-IL-4 was compared in susceptible and resistant rabbits. The results support a model for resistance to myxomatosis of an enhanced innate immune response controlling virus replication and allowing an effective antiviral cell-mediated immune response to develop in resistant rabbits. Expression of IL-4 did not overcome immunity to myxomatosis induced by immunization.
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Affiliation(s)
- P J Kerr
- Pest Animal Control Cooperative Research Centre, CSIRO Sustainable Ecosystems, Canberra, ACT, 2601, Australia.
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Zhang Y, Xie J, Qian L, Schechter JE, Mircheff AK. IL-2 immunoreactive proteins in lacrimal acinar cells. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2003; 506:795-9. [PMID: 12613994 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4615-0717-8_112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Yan Zhang
- Department of Physiology & Biophysics, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA
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Liang W, Hague B, Zhao T, Kindt TJ. HTLV-1 cell lines differ in constitutively activated signaling pathways that can be altered by cytokine exposure. Virology 2001; 290:91-8. [PMID: 11883009 DOI: 10.1006/viro.2001.1156] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Examination of signaling pathways used by HTLV-1-infected rabbit cell lines revealed differences between one, RH/K30, that mediates asymptomatic infection and another, RH/K34, that causes lethal experimental leukemia. Both lines are IL-2 independent; RH/K30 produces IL-4 while RH/K34 produces IL-10. Examination of the Jak/STAT (Janus kinase/signal transducer and activator of transcription) activation of the lines revealed constitutive phosphorylation of Jak1 in both STAT6 phosphorylation, not previously reported for HTLV-1 cells, was observed in RH/K30; STAT1 and STAT3 were phosphorylated in RH/K34. Treatment with cytokines altered the activation of the STAT proteins: IL-2 induced STAT5 phosphorylation in both lines. Supernatant from RH/K34 or IL-10 induced STAT3 phosphorylation in RH/K30 cells. Supernatant from RH/K30 or IL-4 induced STAT6 phosphorylation in RH/K34 cells, which could be reversed with a Jak kinase inhibitor--AG-490.
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Affiliation(s)
- W Liang
- Molecular and Cellular Immunogenetics Section, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892, USA.
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