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Yao Y, Yuan Y, Sheng S, Li Y, Tang X, Gu H. Observing astrocyte polarization in brains from mouse chronically infected with Toxoplasma gondii. Sci Rep 2024; 14:10433. [PMID: 38714696 PMCID: PMC11076485 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-60304-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2023] [Accepted: 04/21/2024] [Indexed: 05/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) is a protozoan parasite that infects approximately one-third of the global human population, often leading to chronic infection. While acute T. gondii infection can cause neural damage in the central nervous system and result in toxoplasmic encephalitis, the consequences of T. gondii chronic infection (TCI) are generally asymptomatic. However, emerging evidence suggests that TCI may be linked to behavioral changes or mental disorders in hosts. Astrocyte polarization, particularly the A1 subtype associated with neuronal apoptosis, has been identified in various neurodegenerative diseases. Nevertheless, the role of astrocyte polarization in TCI still needs to be better understood. This study aimed to establish a mouse model of chronic TCI and examine the transcription and expression levels of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), C3, C1q, IL-1α, and TNF-α in the brain tissues of the mice. Quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR), enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and Western blotting were employed to assess these levels. Additionally, the expression level of the A1 astrocyte-specific marker C3 was evaluated using indirect fluorescent assay (IFA). In mice with TCI, the transcriptional and expression levels of the inflammatory factors C1q, IL-1α, and TNF-α followed an up-down-up pattern, although they remained elevated compared to the control group. These findings suggest a potential association between astrocyte polarization towards the A1 subtype and synchronized changes in these three inflammatory mediators. Furthermore, immunofluorescence assay (IFA) revealed a significant increase in the A1 astrocytes (GFAP+C3+) proportion in TCI mice. This study provides evidence that TCI can induce astrocyte polarization, a biological process that may be influenced by changes in the levels of three inflammatory factors: C1q, IL-1α, and TNF-α. Additionally, the release of neurotoxic substances by A1 astrocytes may be associated with the development of TCI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yong Yao
- Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China.
- College of Life Sciences, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230032, China.
| | - Yaping Yuan
- Department of Medicine, Anhui College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Wuhu, 241002, Anhui, China
| | - Shuyan Sheng
- First Clinical Medical College of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Yifan Li
- College of Life Sciences, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230032, China
| | - Xiaoniu Tang
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wannan Medical College, Wuhu, 241002, Anhui, China
| | - Hao Gu
- Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China.
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Liu T, Li F, Xu J, La Y, Zhou J, Zheng C, Weng X. Transcriptomic analysis reveals that non-forage or forage fiber source promotes rumen development through different metabolic processes in lambs. Anim Biotechnol 2023; 34:1058-1071. [PMID: 34890306 DOI: 10.1080/10495398.2021.2011738] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Dietary fiber supplementation can stimulate rumen development in lambs during the pre-weaning period. However, it is unclear whether different sources of fiber have varying effects on rumen development. This study aimed to investigate the molecular mechanism of rumen morphological and functional development based on non-forage or forage as a starter dietary fiber source. Twenty-four male Hu lambs with similar body weights (BW, 3.67 ± 0.08 kg) were selected and divided into two groups that received diets supplemented with either alfalfa hay (AH) or soybean hull (SH). At the age of 70 days, six lambs were slaughtered from each treatment group for rumen fermentation and morphological analyses. Three samples of the rumen tissue from the ventral sac were collected for transcriptomic analysis. The results identified 633 differentially expressed genes (DEGs), of which 210 were upregulated and 423 were downregulated in the SH group compared with those in the AH group. The upregulated DEGs were most enriched in the immune function and proteolysis pathways, whereas the downregulated DEGs were mainly involved in cell proliferation, apoptosis, and differentiation pathways. These findings indicated that non-forage as a starter dietary fiber source improved immune function and enhanced nitrogen utilization, whereas forage facilitated rumen morphological development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ting Liu
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Fadi Li
- State Key Laboratory of Grassland Agro-ecosystems, Key Laboratory of Grassland Livestock Industry Innovation, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Engineering Research Center of Grassland Industry, Ministry of Education, College of Pastoral Agriculture Science and Technology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Jianfeng Xu
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Yongfu La
- Animal Science Department, Lanzhou Institute of Husbandry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, China
| | - Juwang Zhou
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Chen Zheng
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Xiuxiu Weng
- State Key Laboratory of Grassland Agro-ecosystems, Key Laboratory of Grassland Livestock Industry Innovation, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Engineering Research Center of Grassland Industry, Ministry of Education, College of Pastoral Agriculture Science and Technology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
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Wang Q, Ren Y, Cui Y, Gao B, Zhang H, Jiang Q, Loor JJ, Deng Z, Xu C. Bacillus subtilis Produces Amino Acids to Stimulate Protein Synthesis in Ruminal Tissue Explants via the Phosphatidylinositol-4,5-Bisphosphate 3-Kinase Catalytic Subunit Beta–Serine/Threonine Kinase–Mammalian Target of Rapamycin Complex 1 Pathway. Front Vet Sci 2022; 9:852321. [PMID: 35832333 PMCID: PMC9272757 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2022.852321] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2022] [Accepted: 05/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Bacillus subtilis is a probiotic strain that is widely used as a feed supplement for ruminants. In this study, one B. subtilis strain isolated from the ruminal fluid of Holstein dairy cows was used for an ex vivo study with ruminal tissue explants. The main goal was to assess the potential endosymbiotic links between B. subtilis and the ruminal epithelium using molecular analyses and amino acid profiling. The explant culture protocol was first optimized to determine the ideal conditions in terms of tissue viability before performing the actual experiments involving active and inactive bacteria with or without protein synthesis inhibitors, such as LY294002 (phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase inhibitor) or rapamycin [mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) inhibitor]. Results The mRNA levels of phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate 3-kinase catalytic subunit beta (PIK3CB), serine/threonine kinase (AKT), mTOR, P70S6K1, and eukaryotic translation initiation factor 4E binding protein 1 were the highest (p < 0.01), while those of programmed cell death 4 were the lowest when the tissue was incubated with 107 of B. subtilis. Compared with the inactivated bacteria, the expression levels of PIK3CB and AKT, and overall changes in mTOR and P70S6K1 were greater in rumen explants with living bacteria (p < 0.05). With an increase in B. subtilis concentration, the trends of protein and corresponding gene changes were consistent. There were differences in the concentrations of individual amino acids in the supernatants of living and inactivated bacterial culture groups, with most amino acids enriched in pathways, such as aminoacyl tRNA biosynthesis, cyanoamino acid metabolism, monobactam biosynthesis, or glycine, serine, and threonine metabolism. The addition of psilocybin upregulated the expression levels of PIK3CB and AKT. A significant decrease (p < 0.05) in PIK3CB and mTOR protein expression levels was detected after the addition of LY294002 and rapamycin. In addition, These responses were associated with the downregulation (p < 0.05) of AKT and P70S6K protein expression levels. Conclusions We confirmed that the in vivo ruminal tissue culture system is a suitable model for studying probiotic-induced alterations in tissue function. As such, this study provides a means for future mechanistic studies related to microbial regulation and the dietary supply of proteins. In addition, living and inactivated B. subtilis can promote protein synthesis in ruminal tissue explants by altering the expression levels of related factors in the PIK3CB–AKT–mTORC1 pathway, which could further aid in optimizing the feed efficiency and increasing the use of inactivated bacteria as additives in dairy cow farming.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiuju Wang
- College of Animal Science and Veterinary, Heilongjiang Bayi Agricultural University, Daqing, China
| | - Yulong Ren
- College of Animal Science and Veterinary, Heilongjiang Bayi Agricultural University, Daqing, China
| | - Yizhe Cui
- College of Animal Science and Veterinary, Heilongjiang Bayi Agricultural University, Daqing, China
| | - Bingnan Gao
- College of Animal Science and Veterinary, Heilongjiang Bayi Agricultural University, Daqing, China
| | - Hao Zhang
- College of Animal Science and Veterinary, Heilongjiang Bayi Agricultural University, Daqing, China
| | - Qianming Jiang
- Department of Animal Sciences and Division of Nutritional Sciences, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL, United States
| | - Juan J. Loor
- Department of Animal Sciences and Division of Nutritional Sciences, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL, United States
| | - Zhaoju Deng
- College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Chuang Xu
- College of Animal Science and Veterinary, Heilongjiang Bayi Agricultural University, Daqing, China
- *Correspondence: Chuang Xu ;
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Jin Y, Yao Y, El-Ashram S, Tian J, Shen J, Ji Y. The Neurotropic Parasite Toxoplasma gondii Induces Astrocyte Polarization Through NFκB Pathway. Front Med (Lausanne) 2019; 6:267. [PMID: 31803748 PMCID: PMC6877604 DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2019.00267] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2019] [Accepted: 10/31/2019] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Background:Toxoplasma gondii is a protozoan parasite that chronically infects nearly one-third of the world's human population. In immunosuppressed individuals and fetus, infection with T. gondii contributes to a series of devastating conditions, including toxoplasmic encephalitis (TE), which is characterized by neuron damage in the central nervous system (CNS). Astrocyte polarization is currently found in some neurodegenerative diseases, and A1 subtype of astrocyte leads to neuron apoptosis. However, little information has been available on the role of astrocyte polarization in TE. Methods: In the present study, we established a mouse model to study TE and detected A1 astrocyte in the brains of mice with TE. Expression level of A1 astrocyte-specific marker C3 was evaluated using indirect fluorescent assay (IFA) and Western blotting. Primary mouse astrocytes were incubated with different concentrations of T. gondii excreted-secreted antigens (TgESAs) in vitro. Expression level of C3 and A1 astrocyte-specific transcription levels were assessed using Western blotting and qRT-PCR, respectively. Bay11-7082 was used to study nuclear factor (NF) κB pathway in TgESA-induced astrocyte polarization. Results: In mice with TE, the proportion of A1 astrocyte (GFAP+C3+) increased significantly. The results of in vitro study showed that TgESAs induced astrocyte polarization to A1 subtype. Blocking of NFκB pathway by Bay11-7082 inhibited TgESA-induced astrocyte polarization. Conclusions: Our preliminary study showed the involvement of A1 astrocyte in the process of TE in mice, and TgESAs could trigger astrocyte to polarize to A1 subtype. These findings suggest a new mechanism underlying the neuropathogenesis induced by T. gondii infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Jin
- Anhui Provincial Laboratory of Microbiology and Parasitology, Laboratory of Tropical and Parasitic Diseases Control, Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Yong Yao
- Anhui Provincial Laboratory of Microbiology and Parasitology, Laboratory of Tropical and Parasitic Diseases Control, Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Saeed El-Ashram
- School of Life Science and Engineering, Foshan University, Foshan, China.,Faculty of Science, Kafrelsheikh University, Kafr El-Shaikh, Egypt
| | - Jiaming Tian
- Anhui Provincial Laboratory of Microbiology and Parasitology, Laboratory of Tropical and Parasitic Diseases Control, Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Jilong Shen
- Anhui Provincial Laboratory of Microbiology and Parasitology, Laboratory of Tropical and Parasitic Diseases Control, Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Yongsheng Ji
- Anhui Provincial Laboratory of Microbiology and Parasitology, Laboratory of Tropical and Parasitic Diseases Control, Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
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El-Ashram SA, Aboelhadid SM, Gadelhaq SM, Arafa WM, Abdel-Razik ARH, Abohamra S, Abdelaziz KT. Oral inoculation of ultraviolet-irradiated Eimeria species oocysts protects chickens against coccidiosis. Parasitol Res 2019; 118:3173-3183. [PMID: 31606835 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-019-06455-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2019] [Accepted: 09/04/2019] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Prevention of coccidiosis is one of the best ways of controlling disease. Therefore, the present study was carried out to evaluate the protective effect of ultraviolet (UV)-irradiated sporulated oocysts of Eimeria species against coccidiosis in layer chickens. One hundred forty-four one-day-old layer chicks were randomly divided into 4 groups (n = 36), including non-immunized/non-challenged negative control group (NC group), non-immunized/challenged control group (NIC group), non-irradiated sporulated oocyst/challenged group (CA group), and UV-irradiated sporulated oocyst/challenged (UV group). At the age of 4 days, chickens in groups UV and CA were both orally inoculated with 1.0 × 104 UV-irradiated and non-irradiated sporulated oocysts of Eimeria species, respectively. Chickens in groups NIC and NC were served as positive and negative controls, respectively. Chickens in all groups were orally challenged with 7.5 × 104 sporulated oocysts of Eimeria species except the NC group at the age of 21 days. The results revealed that chicks receiving UV-irradiated sporulated oocysts had no signs of illness with minimal or no changes in the cecal integrity and a significantly lower oocyst shedding (OPG) than in the NIC group. Additionally, the cytokine gene expression profiles were evaluated. Expression levels of IL-2, IL-12, and IFN-γ were significantly higher in the spleen of chicks in the UV and CA groups than in the NC group post-challenge. As expected, treatment with irradiated oocysts resulted in a significant reduction in oocyst shedding and maintenance of cecal mucosal integrity. Furthermore, the body weight was higher in chickens inoculated with UV-irradiated oocysts than their non-irradiated counterparts. In conclusion, our results demonstrate that inoculation with UV-irradiated sporulated oocysts of Eimeria species can produce a substantial reduction in infection symptoms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saeed A El-Ashram
- College of Life Science and Engineering, Foshan University, 18 Jiangwan Street, Foshan, 528231, Guangdong Province, China.
- Faculty of Science, Kafrelsheikh University, Kafr el-Sheikh, 33516, Egypt.
| | - Shawky M Aboelhadid
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Beni-Suef University, Beni-Suef, 62511, Egypt.
| | - Sahar M Gadelhaq
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Minia University, El-Minia, Egypt
| | - Walid M Arafa
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Beni-Suef University, Beni-Suef, 62511, Egypt
| | - Abdel-Razik H Abdel-Razik
- Department of Histology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Beni-Suef University, Beni-Suef, 62511, Egypt
| | - Salama Abohamra
- Department of Poultry Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Beni-Suef University, Beni-Suef, 62511, Egypt
| | - Khaled T Abdelaziz
- Department of pathology, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, Ontario, N1G 2W1, Canada
- Department of pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Beni-Suef University, Beni-Suef, 62511, Egypt
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