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Ardiaca García M, Montesinos Barceló A, Bonvehí Nadeu C, Jekl V. Respiratory Diseases in Guinea Pigs, Chinchillas and Degus. Vet Clin North Am Exot Anim Pract 2021; 24:419-457. [PMID: 33892894 DOI: 10.1016/j.cvex.2021.02.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
The diagnosis and treatment of respiratory disease in pet guinea pigs, chinchillas, and degus still face profoundly serious challenges owing to their relatively small size, conspicuous clinical signs, difficulty for sampling, and insufficient scientific evidence to correlate signs and particular pathologies. This article is intended to summarize the available information on the relevant anatomy, physiology, and respiratory pathology in these species.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Andrés Montesinos Barceló
- Centro Veterinario Los Sauces, Calle Santa Engracia, 63, Madrid 28010, Spain; Department of Animal Medicine and Surgery, Veterinary Faculty, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Avenida Puerta de Hierro, s/n 28040 Madrid Spain
| | | | - Vladimír Jekl
- Small Mammal, Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacy, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Brno, Czech Republic; Jekl and Hauptman Veterinary Clinic, Focused on Exotic Companion Mammal Care, Mojmírovo Náměstí 3105/6a, Brno 612 00, Czech Republic
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Chen R, Wang K, Feng Z, Zhang MY, Wu J, Geng JJ, Chen ZN. CD147 deficiency in T cells prevents thymic involution by inhibiting the EMT process in TECs in the presence of TGFβ. Cell Mol Immunol 2020; 18:171-181. [PMID: 31900457 PMCID: PMC7853129 DOI: 10.1038/s41423-019-0353-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2019] [Accepted: 12/10/2019] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Thymic involution during aging is a major cause of decreased T-cell production and reduced immunity. Here, we show that the loss of CD147 on T cells prevents thymic senescence, resulting in slowed shrinkage of the thymus with age and increased production of naive T cells. This phenotype is the result of slowing of the epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) process in thymic epithelial cells (TECs), which eventually leads to reduced adipocyte accumulation. In an in vitro coculture system, we found that TGFβ is an important factor in the EMT process in TECs and that it can reduce the expression of E-cadherin through p-Smad2/FoxC2 signaling. Moreover, CD147 on T cells can accelerate the decline in E-cadherin expression by interacting with Annexin A2 on TECs. In the presence of TGFβ, Annexin A2 and E-cadherin colocalize on TECs. However, CD147 on T cells competitively binds to Annexin A2 on TECs, leading to the isolation of E-cadherin. Then, the isolated E-cadherin is easily phosphorylated by phosphorylated Src kinase, the phosphorylation of which was induced by TGFβ, and finally, p-E-cadherin is degraded. Thus, in the thymus, the interaction between T cells and TECs contributes to thymic involution with age. In this study, we illuminate the mechanism underlying the triggering of the EMT process in TECs and show that inhibiting TGFβ and/or CD147 may serve as a strategy to hinder age-related thymic involution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruo Chen
- Department of Cell Biology, College of Life Science and Technology, Jinan University, Guangdong, China.,National Translational Science Center for Molecular Medicine & Department of Cell Biology, Fourth Military Medical University, Shaanxi, China
| | - Ke Wang
- National Translational Science Center for Molecular Medicine & Department of Cell Biology, Fourth Military Medical University, Shaanxi, China
| | - Zhuan Feng
- National Translational Science Center for Molecular Medicine & Department of Cell Biology, Fourth Military Medical University, Shaanxi, China
| | - Ming-Yang Zhang
- National Translational Science Center for Molecular Medicine & Department of Cell Biology, Fourth Military Medical University, Shaanxi, China
| | - Jiao Wu
- National Translational Science Center for Molecular Medicine & Department of Cell Biology, Fourth Military Medical University, Shaanxi, China
| | - Jie-Jie Geng
- National Translational Science Center for Molecular Medicine & Department of Cell Biology, Fourth Military Medical University, Shaanxi, China.
| | - Zhi-Nan Chen
- Department of Cell Biology, College of Life Science and Technology, Jinan University, Guangdong, China. .,National Translational Science Center for Molecular Medicine & Department of Cell Biology, Fourth Military Medical University, Shaanxi, China.
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Zhang Q, Yang K, Huang Y, He J, Yu S, Cui Y. Distribution of T-cell markers CD4 and CD8α in lymphoid organs of healthy newborn, juvenile, and adult highland-plateau yaks. Am J Vet Res 2017; 78:609-617. [DOI: 10.2460/ajvr.78.5.609] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
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Tan J, Wang Y, Zhang N, Zhu X. Induction of epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) and inhibition on adipogenesis: Two different sides of the same coin? Feasible roles and mechanisms of transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1) in age-related thymic involution. Cell Biol Int 2016; 40:842-6. [PMID: 27189906 DOI: 10.1002/cbin.10625] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2016] [Revised: 05/08/2016] [Accepted: 05/14/2016] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Age-related thymic involution is characterized by a loss of thymic epithelial cells (TECs) and a concomitant increase in adipocytes, but the mechanisms involved in thymic adipogenesis are still not clear. Transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1) is a pleiotropic cytokine that has been reported to be up-regulated with age in thymic stromal cells in both human and mouse. However, the exact role of TGF-β1 in age-related thymic involution remains to be further elucidated. On the basis of previous findings, we propose a novel hypothesis that TGF-β1 functions a dual role in age-related thymic involution. On one hand, up-regulation of TGF-β1 promotes epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) process in TECs via activating forkhead box protein C2 (FoxC2). On the other hand, TGF-β1 inhibits the transdifferentiation of EMT-derived mesenchymal cells to adipocytes in the thymus. If confirmed, our hypothesis will not only provide further evidence supporting that the transdifferentiation of TECs into pre-adipocytes represents a source of thymic adiposity during age-related thymic involution, but also uncover a unique role of TGF-β1 in the transdifferentiation of TECs into pre-adipocytes. Collectively, the inhibition of TGF-β1 may serve as a strategy to hinder age-related thymic involution or even to restore thymic function in the elderly.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianxin Tan
- Research Center, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang 110004, People's Republic of China
| | - Yajun Wang
- Research Center, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang 110004, People's Republic of China
| | - Nannan Zhang
- Research Center, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang 110004, People's Republic of China.,Department of Nerve Function, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang 110004, People's Republic of China
| | - Xike Zhu
- Research Center, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang 110004, People's Republic of China
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Zhang Q, Yang K, Yangyang P, He J, Yu S, Cui Y. Age-related changes in the morphology and protein expression of the thymus of healthy yaks (Bos grunniens). Am J Vet Res 2016; 77:567-74. [DOI: 10.2460/ajvr.77.6.567] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
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Youm YH, Yang H, Sun Y, Smith RG, Manley NR, Vandanmagsar B, Dixit VD. Deficient ghrelin receptor-mediated signaling compromises thymic stromal cell microenvironment by accelerating thymic adiposity. J Biol Chem 2008; 284:7068-77. [PMID: 19054770 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m808302200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 69] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
With progressive aging, adipocytes are the major cell types that constitute the bulk of thymic microenvironment. Understanding the origin of thymic adipocytes and mechanisms responsible for age-related thymic adiposity is thus germane for the design of long lasting thymic rejuvenation strategies. We have recently identified that ghrelin, an orexigenic anti-inflammatory peptide, can partially reverse age-related thymic involution. Here we demonstrate that Ghrl and ghrelin receptor (growth hormone secretagogue receptor (GHSR)) are expressed in thymic stromal cells and that their expression declines with physiological aging. Genetic ablation of ghrelin and GHSR leads to loss of thymic epithelial cells (TEC) and an increase in adipogenic fibroblasts in the thymus, suggesting potential cellular transitions. Using FoxN1Cre;R26RstopLacZ double transgenic mice, we provide qualitative evidence that thymic epithelial cells can transition to mesenchymal cells that express proadipogenic regulators in the thymus. We found that loss of functional Ghrl-GHSR interactions facilitates EMT and induces thymic adipogenesis with age. In addition, the compromised thymic stromal microenvironment due to lack of Ghrl-GHSR interactions is associated with reduced number of naive T cells. These data suggest that Ghrl may be a novel regulator of EMT and preserves thymic stromal cell microenvironment by controlling age-related adipocyte development within the thymus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yun-Hee Youm
- Laboratory of Neuroendocrine-Immunology, Pennington Biomedical Research Center, Louisiana State University System, Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70808, USA
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Plećas-Solarović B, Pesić V, Radojević K, Leposavić G. Morphometrical Characteristics of Age-Associated Changes in the Thymus of Old Male Wistar Rats. Anat Histol Embryol 2006; 35:380-6. [PMID: 17156091 DOI: 10.1111/j.1439-0264.2006.00695.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
In order to provide a morphometrical description of the changes in the aged rat thymus and to relate them to apoptotic and proliferative activity of thymocytes, the thymuses from 3- and 18-month-old male Wistar rats and the percentages of bromodeoxyuridine-incorporating and apoptotic cells in cultures of thymocytes were assessed by stereological analysis and flow cytometry, respectively. In old rats the volume of lymphoepithelial thymic tissue is markedly reduced, reflecting a sharp decrease in the total number of thymocytes. A reduction in the proliferative capacity of thymocytes and increase in their susceptibility to apoptosis are, most likely, primarily responsible for a 7-fold reduction in thymic cellularity in old animals. Furthermore, only the volume of cortical compartment was affected by aging, while that of medulla, despite of reduced cellularity, was not significantly altered. The loss of functional tissue in aged thymus is compensated by a substantial increase in the volume of inter-lobular connective and adipose tissue, so the thymic weight remained unaltered in old rats. These results suggest that thymus of aged Wistar rats exhibits morphological characteristics similar to those found in aged human thymus and thus may serve as an animal model for further investigations of thymus-related changes in immunological aging.
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Affiliation(s)
- B Plećas-Solarović
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Belgrade, Vojvode Stepe 450, 11221 Belgrade, Serbia.
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Hale LP, Markert ML. Corticosteroids regulate epithelial cell differentiation and Hassall body formation in the human thymus. THE JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY 2004; 172:617-24. [PMID: 14688374 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.172.1.617] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
The presence of characteristic epithelial swirls called Hassall bodies within the human thymic medulla has been used as an indicator of ongoing or recent thymopoiesis. We present a case where Hassall bodies were present in the absence of current or past thymopoiesis. The patient had been treated with corticosteroids for presumed asthma before his diagnosis of X-linked SCID. Two other cases of nonimmunodeficient patients treated with high-dose corticosteroids had markedly increased numbers of thymic Hassall bodies. To determine whether corticosteroid treatment induces thymic epithelial (TE) differentiation to form Hassall bodies, mAbs reactive with specific cytokeratins (CKs), filaggrin, and involucrin were used to define distinct stages of TE cell differentiation. Treatment of primary TE monolayers with hydrocortisone in vitro induced expression of involucrin and high-molecular-mass CKs that are characteristic of TE differentiation. Treatment of thymic organ cultures with hydrocortisone induced both medullary and subcapsular cortical TE cells to express CK6, a differentiation marker that is normally expressed only by Hassall bodies in vivo. These experimental studies combined with the case observations indicate that exogenous corticosteroids can regulate terminal differentiation of TE cells both in vitro and in vivo. Thus, the presence of Hassall bodies in thymus from corticosteroid-treated patients cannot be taken as an absolute indication of previous thymopoiesis. Because corticosteroids are also made within the thymus under normal physiologic conditions, these studies support the hypothesis that endogenous corticosteroids may play a role in normal TE differentiation and Hassall body formation in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura P Hale
- Department of Pathology, Duke University Medical Center, DUMC 3712, Durham, NC 27710, USA.
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Lin X, Gingrich JR, Bao W, Li J, Haroon ZA, Demark-Wahnefried W. Effect of flaxseed supplementation on prostatic carcinoma in transgenic mice. Urology 2002; 60:919-24. [PMID: 12429338 DOI: 10.1016/s0090-4295(02)01863-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 72] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To investigate the effects of flaxseed supplementation on prostatic neoplasia in the transgenic adenocarcinoma mouse prostate (TRAMP) model. METHODS A total of 135 male TRAMP mice 5 to 6 weeks old were randomized to a control group (AIN-76A diet) or an experimental group (AIN-76A diet plus 5% flaxseed by weight). One half of the mice in each group were treated for 20 weeks and the remainder for 30 weeks. At autopsy, urogenital tissues (four prostatic lobes, seminal vesicles, and emptied bladder), lungs, lymph nodes, and grossly abnormal tissues were collected for histologic evaluation. RESULTS Of the control mice, 100% developed prostate cancer versus 97% of the mice in the flaxseed group. The tumor/urogenital weight was 3.6 +/- 0.4 g in the controls versus 1.9 +/- 0.2 g in the flaxseed-treated mice (P = 0.0005). At 20 weeks, no significant difference in tumor grade was seen between the two groups; however, at 30 weeks, the flaxseed-treated mice had significantly less aggressive tumors than did the controls (P = 0.01). The prevalence of lung and lymph node metastases was 13% and 16%, respectively, in the control mice versus 5% and 12%, respectively, in the experimental group (difference not significant). After 20 weeks of treatment, cellular proliferation (Ki-67) differed significantly between the control and experimental groups (38.1 +/- 2.03 versus 26.2 +/- 2.03; P <0.0001), and the apoptotic index (deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP-digoxigenin nick end labeling) was 1.45 +/- 0.14 versus 3.3 +/- 0.31 (P <0.0001). Similar differences were seen after 30 weeks of treatment. CONCLUSIONS A diet supplemented with 5% flaxseed inhibits the growth and development of prostate cancer in the TRAMP model.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xu Lin
- Division of Urologic Surgery, Department of Surgery, and Center for Aging and Human Development, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina 27710, USA
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