IL-1β, IL-2 and IL-4 concentration during porcine gestation

Biosynthetic pathway for leukotrienes is stimulated by lipopolysaccharide and cytokines in pig endometrial stromal cells

An inflammatory response is related to different inflammatory mediators generated by immune and endometrial cells. The links between lipopolysaccharide (LPS), cytokines, and leukotrienes (LTs) in endometrial stromal cells remain unclear. This study aimed to examine the influence of LPS, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-4 and IL-10 on 5-lipooxygenase (5-LO), LTA4 hydrolase (LTAH) and LTC4 synthase (LTCS) mRNA and protein abundances, and LTB4 and cysteinyl (cys)-LTs release including LTC4, by the cultured pig endometrial stromal cells, as well as on cell viability. 24-hour exposure to LPS, TNF-α, IL-4 and IL-10 up-regulated 5-LO mRNA and protein abundances. LPS increased LTAH mRNA abundance, while TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-10 augmented LTAH mRNA and protein abundances. TNF-α and IL-4 increased LTCS mRNA and protein abundances. In addition, LTCS mRNA abundance was enhanced by LPS and IL-4, while LTCS protein abundance was increased by IL-1β. Cells responded to LPS, TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-10 with increased LTB4 release. TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-4 stimulated LTC4 release. Cys-LTs release was up-regulated by LPS, TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-4. All studied cytokines augmented cell viability. In summary, LPS, TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-4 and IL-10 are potential LTs immunomodulatory agents in endometrial stromal cells. These functional interactions could be one of the mechanisms responsible for local orchestrating events in inflamed and healthy endometrium.

Research Progress on the Impact of Human Chorionic Gonadotropin on Reproductive Performance in Sows

Human chorionic gonadotropin is a glycoprotein hormone produced by human or humanoid syncytiotrophoblasts that differentiate during pregnancy. Due to its superior stability and long-lasting effects compared to luteinizing hormone, it is often used to replace luteinizing hormone to regulate reproductive performance in sows. Human chorionic gonadotropin promotes oocyte maturation, follicle development, and luteinization, thereby increasing conception rates and supporting early embryonic development. In sow reproductive management, the application of human chorionic gonadotropin not only enhances ovulation synchrony but also improves the success rate of embryo implantation by regulating endometrial receptivity and immune mechanisms, significantly enhancing overall reproductive performance. This article primarily reviews the application of human chorionic gonadotropin in sow follicle development, luteal maintenance, and embryo implantation, providing theoretical support for its use in improving reproductive performance in sows.

Interplay between fluorine and cadmium on intestinal accumulation, oxidative stress, permeability and inflammatory response in rats

Fluorine (F) and Cadmium (Cd) have given rise to public concern regarding their adverse impacts on the environment and human beings. Yet, the toxic interplay between F and Cd on the intestine is still vague. Aiming to investigate the role of F on Cd-damaged intestine, a total of five groups of 30 SD rats were picked at random to be gavaged for 90 days: Control group (Ultra-pure water), Cd (Cd 1 mg/kg), Cd+LF (Cd 1 mg/kg+F 15 mg/kg), Cd+MF (Cd 1 mg/kg+F 45 mg/kg), and Cd+HF (Cd 1 mg/kg+F 75 mg/kg). It demonstrated that Cd enriched in the intestine and disordered intestinal barrier of rats. Interestingly, two side effects of F were observed resisting to the Cd toxicity. The Cd levels in colon contents were attenuated by 45.45 %, 28.11 %, and 19.54 % by F supplement, respectively. In the Cd+LF group, SOD, GSH-Px, and CAT activities elevated by 0.93, 1.76, and 1.78 times, respectively, and the MDA content reduced 0.67 times; the expressions of NQO1, SOD2, and GSH-Px mRNA markedly enhanced, as well as the Keap1 mRNA significantly decreased. Nevertheless, all indexes above in the Cd+HF group showed the opposite trends. Furthermore, LPS levels decreased by 45.93 % for the Cd+LF group and increased by 12.70 % in that the Cd+HF group. The ZO-1 expression in the Cd+LF group increased, whereas the Cd+HF group's expressions of Claudin-1, Occludin, and ZO-1 were all diminished by 35.46 %, 27.23 %, and 16.32 %, respectively. Moreover, the levels of TNF-α, IL-1β and TLR-4 decreased and IL-10 level promoted, while all showed opposite trends in the Cd+HF group. Collectively, it indicated there is a twofold interplay between F and Cd on intestinal damage and mainly depends on F dosages.

Changes in Immune Response during Pig Gestation with a Focus on Cytokines

Pigs have the highest percentage of embryonic death not associated with specific diseases of all livestock species, at 20-45%. During gestation processes, a series of complex alterations can arise, including embryonic migration and elongation, maternal immunological recognition of pregnancy, and embryonic competition for implantation sites and subsequent nutrition requirements and development. Immune cells and cytokines act as mediators between other molecules in highly complex interactions between various cell types. However, other non-immune cells, such as trophoblast cells, are important in immune pregnancy regulation. Numerous studies have shed light on the crucial roles of several cytokines that regulate the inflammatory processes that characterize the interface between the fetus and the mother throughout normal porcine gestation, but most of these reports are limited to the implantational and peri-implantational periods. Increase in some proinflammatory cytokines have been found in other gestational periods, such as placental remodeling. Porcine immune changes during delivery have not been studied as deeply as in other species. This review details some of the immune system cells actively involved in the fetomaternal interface during porcine gestation, as well as the principal cells, cytokines, and molecules, such as antibodies, that play crucial roles in sow pregnancy, both in early and mid-to-late gestation.

IFN-γ and IL-10: seric and placental profile during pig gestation Seric and placental cytokines in pig gestation

Concentration of interferon-gamma and interleukin-10 in maternal serum and in maternal and fetal porcine placental extracts from different gestation periods was determined. Crossbred pigs' placental samples of 17, 30, 60, 70, and 114 days gestation and non-pregnant uteri were used. Interferon-gamma concentration was increased at the placental interface at 17 days, in maternal and fetal placenta, and decreased significantly in the remaining gestation periods. Interferon-gamma showed a peak in serum at 60 days. Regarding interleukin-10, placental tissue concentrations were unaltered, there were no significant differences with non-gestating uteri samples. In serum interleukin-10 increased at 17, 60, and 114 days gestation. At 17 days there are uterus structural and molecular changes that allow the embryos implantation and placenta development. The presence of interferon-gamma found at this moment in the interface would favor that placental growth. Moreover, its significant increase in serum at 60 days, would generate a proinflammatory cytokine pattern that facility the placental remodeling characteristic of this moment of porcine gestation. On the other hand, a significant interleukin-10 increase in serum at 17, 60 and 114 days could indicate its immunoregulatory role at a systemic level during pig gestation.

FOXO1 Is a Critical Switch Molecule for Autophagy and Apoptosis of Sow Endometrial Epithelial Cells Caused by Oxidative Stress

Oxidative stress (OS) is involved in various reproductive diseases and can induce autophagy and apoptosis, which determine the different fates of cells. However, the sequence and the switch mechanism between autophagy and apoptosis are unclear. Here, we reported that chronic restraint stress (CRS) induced OS (decreased T-AOC, T-SOD, CAT and GSH-Px and increased MDA) and then disturbed the endocrine environment of sows during early pregnancy, including the hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian (HPO) and the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axes. Meanwhile, after CRS, the KEAP1/NRF2 pathway was inhibited and attenuated the antioxidative ability to cause OS of the endometrium. The norepinephrine (NE) triggered β₂-AR to activate the FOXO1/NF-κB pathway, which induced endometrial inflammation. CRS induced the caspase-dependent apoptosis pathway and caused MAP1LC3-II accumulation, SQSTM1/p62 degradation, and autophagosome formation to initiate autophagy. Furthermore, in vitro, a cellular OS model was established by adding hydrogen peroxide into cells. Low OS maintained the viability of endometrial epithelial cells by triggering autophagy, while high OS induced cell death by initiating caspase-dependent apoptosis. Autophagy preceded the occurrence of apoptosis, which depended on the subcellular localization of FOXO1. In the low OS group, FOXO1 was exported from the nucleus to be modified into Ac-FOXO1 and bound to ATG7 in the cytoplasm, which promoted autophagy to protect cells. In the high OS group, FOXO1 located in the nucleus to promote transcription of proapoptotic proteins and then induce apoptosis. Here, FOXO1, as a redox sensor switch, regulated the transformation of cell autophagy and apoptosis. In summary, the posttranslational modification of FOXO1 may become the target of OS treatment.

Study on Extraction Process of Root of Henry Wood Betony Polysaccharides and Their Antitumor Activity against S180

We optimized the hot water extraction of polysaccharides from the root of Henry wood betony (RHWPs) using a uniform test and explored their anti-tumor activities in vitro and in vivo. The optimal extraction conditions were as follows: 40 min extraction time, liquid/solid ratio 30 mL/g, 100 min soaking time, two extraction cycles, 100% ethanol concentration, and extraction temperature of 80 °C. The molecular weight distribution of RHWPs with MWs was 228,600 g/mol and 5001 g/mol. The IR spectrum further indicated that RHWPs are acidic polysaccharides containing pyranose and furan rings. The main monosaccharides found in RHWPs were mannose, ribose, l-rhamnose monohydrate, glucuronic acid, galacturonic acid, glucose, galactose, xylose, arabinose, and fucose. RHWPs inhibited the proliferation of S180 tumor cells and induced apoptosis in vitro. Oral administration of RHWPs to tumor-bearing mice significantly inhibited the growth of the S180 xenografts, accelerated apoptosis in tumor cells, and expanded the necrotic regions. Furthermore, RHWPs also markedly increased the levels of TNF-α, IFN-γ, and IL-2 in the sera of tumor-bearing mice, and activated immune cells such as lymphocytes, NK cells, and macrophages, thereby inducing tumor cell apoptosis. Taken together, RHWPs are a promising anti-tumor agent that ought to be explored further.

Association of IL-4 and IL-4R Polymorphisms with Litter Size Traits in Pigs

Simple Summary

The IL-4 and IL-4R cytokine genes are responsible for immune response in the reproductive system and are related to embryonic implantation and fetal survival during pregnancy in females. However, to date, their effects on litter size traits in pigs have been not elucidated. Therefore, the present study was conducted to verify the porcine IL-4 and IL-4R polymorphisms and assess how they affect litter size traits in commercial pigs. The findings suggested that the porcine IL-4 g.134993898T > C and IL-4R c.1577A > T polymorphisms were associated with the litter size traits. Therefore, the porcine IL-4 and IL-4R genes may be potentially effective genetic markers to improve the litter size traits in pigs.

Abstract

The interleukin-4 (IL-4) and interleukin-4 receptor (IL-4R) are cytokines that are involved in the immune and reproductive systems. This study aimed to verify the polymorphisms in the porcine IL-4 and IL-4R genes and to assess their effects on litter size traits in commercial pigs. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the porcine IL-4 and IL-4R genes were genotyped by the polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) method. A non-coding SNP of IL-4 g.134993898T > C and a non-synonymous SNP of IL-4R c.1577A > T (amino acid change at position 526, Q526L) were found to be segregating in Landrace sows. The IL-4 g.134993898T > C polymorphism was significantly associated with the number of piglets weaned alive (NWA) trait. The IL-4R c.1577A > T polymorphism was significantly associated with the number born alive (NBA) and NWA traits. Moreover, the accumulation of favorable alleles of these two SNP markers revealed significant associations with the NBA, NWA, and mean weight of piglets at weaning (MWW) traits. These findings indicate that the porcine IL-4 and IL-4R genes may contribute to the reproductive traits of pigs and could be used as candidate genes to improve litter size traits in the pig breeding industry.

Embryo gene expression in pig pregnancy

Pregnancy is a complex process in which significant changes occur continually in both the corpora lutea and in the endometrium of the females and varies depending on the embryonic, pre-implantation or foetal stages. In the embryonic stages, the majority of genes expressed in the pig embryo correspond to the loss of cellular pluripotency. In contrast, the implantation consists of three phases: elongation of the conceptus, adhesion and union of the embryo to the endometrial epithelium. During these phases, many factors are expressed, including growth factors, molecules that facilitate adhesion and cytokines. All these changes are ultimately regulated by different lipid and hormonal substances, specifically by progesterone, oestradiol and prostaglandins, which regulate the expression of many proteins necessary for the development of the embryo, endometrial remodelling and embryo-maternal communication. This paper is a review of primary gene regulatory mechanisms in pigs during different stages of implantation.