115 CHARACTERIZING NEUTROPHIL PROFILES IN HORSES FOR RHINOCEROS CAPTURE

Conservation of several African species is becoming essential, and efforts to move threatened animals are causing physiological and reproductive problems. To save these species, a more comprehensive knowledge of their biology and response to stressors is required. Capture stress of rhinoceroses has been quantified (Kruger et al. 2011 Reprod. Fertil. Dev. 23, 181–182) by evaluating leucocyte coping capacity (LCC). LCC is the measurement of the fluorescence of circulating active neutrophils, then expressed as optical density (OD)/1000 neutrophils. The LCC then provides a standardized value between species as we used identical conditions and reagents. To quantify the role of LCC in rhinoceros conservation, it is essential to characterize normal LCC profiles of healthy unstressed rhinoceroses. Horse neutrophils are very similar to rhinoceros neutrophils in their biological activity. The objective of the study was to characterize normal LCC profiles in stallions, geldings, nonpregnant mares, pregnant mares, as well as fillies and colts of various ages as a benchmark for adult and juvenile rhinoceroses. The LCC profiles are shown in Figures 1 to 3. For the colts (days, weeks, and months old) there was little difference in their LCC profile over time. For the fillies (days, weeks, and months old) the LCC response for fillies only days old was significantly (P < 0.05) greater when compared to fillies that were weeks and months old. For the adult horses, the stallions had the lowest overall LCC and were very similar to nonpregnant mares. The LCC of pregnant mares was of significantly (P < 0.5) greater magnitude than that of stallions and nonpregnant mares. The LCC response of gelding was significantly (P < 0.5) greater than that of stallions and nonpregnant mares, but significantly (P < 0.5) lower than that of pregnant mares. The stallion and pregnant mare responses mirrored the quantitative responses of breeding rhinoceros bulls and pregnant rhinoceros cows. From the data (Figure 4) we suggest that breeding males (stallions, elephants, and rhinoceros bulls) have the lowest LCC activity curves, as their breeding activities result in higher daily stresses. We hypothesized that the stressed bulls have their neutrophil activity down regulated by circulating corticosteroids. The converse is true for pregnant females (mares and cows), as they may have more vigorous neutrophils and therefore the highest LCC curves. These basic studies support and validate the role of rapid LCC in stress evaluation of wild caught rhinoceroses and horses could be applicable for captured elephant.

The cellular Toll-like receptor 4 antagonist E5531 can act as an agonist in horse whole blood

Sepsis and endotoxaemia are important causes of morbidity and mortality in humans. Research on sepsis focuses on rodent models most of which are poorly responsive to lipopolysaccharide (LPS), and thus do not mimic very well the high sensitivity of humans. Therefore, there is a need to develop more clinically relevant models. Horses suffer from a similar endotoxaemic syndrome to humans with high morbidity and mortality. LPS analogues that act as antagonists at Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) are being developed as novel treatments for endotoxaemia. Due to differences in recognition of ligands by TLR4 from different mammalian species, individual LPS molecules may act as agonists in some species and antagonists in others. The synthetic lipid A analogue E5531 is an antagonist at TLR4 in humans and mice, but its effects at TLR4 from other species are unknown. In the studies reported here, Escherichia coli LPS is a full agonist on equine bone marrow macrophage-like cells and its effects are antagonised by E5531. Similarly, E. coli LPS is an agonist and E5531 an antagonist on monocytes isolated from peripheral blood of healthy horses and human embryonic kidney (HEK) cells, transiently transfected to express horse TLR4 and its associated cell surface proteins MD2 and CD14. In contrast, both E. coli LPS and E5531 behave as agonists in horse whole blood by inducing production of equivalent amounts of the inflammatory mediator prostaglandin. This finding suggests that modification of E5531 may occur in whole blood, for example, deacylation, which alters its activity. This comparative study has revealed a novel pharmacological action of E5531 and emphasises the importance of extending studies of this nature beyond the normal rodent models.

Cloning and pharmacological characterization of the equine adenosine A2A receptor: a potential therapeutic target for the treatment of equine endotoxemia

The aim of the current study was to clone the equine adenosine A(2A) receptor gene and to establish a heterologous expression system to ascertain its pharmacologic profile via radioligand binding and functional assays. An eA(2A)-R expression construct was generated by ligation of the eA(2A) cDNA into the pcDNA3.1 expression vector, and stably transfected into human embryonic kidney cells (HEK). Binding assays identified those clones expressing the eA(2A)-R, and equilibrium saturation isotherm experiments were utilized to determine dissociation constants (K(D)), and receptor densities (B(max)) of selected clones. Equilibrium competition binding revealed a rank order of agonist potency of ATL > CV-1808 > NECA > 2-CADO > CGS21680, and a rank order of antagonist potency as ZM241385 > 8-phenyltheophylline > p-sulfophenyltheophylline > caffeine. Furthermore, adenylate cyclase assays using selective A(2A)-R agonists revealed that the eA(2A)-R functionally coupled to Galpha(s) as indicated by an increase in intracellular [(3)H]cAMP upon receptor activation. Finally, NF-kappaB reporter gene assays revealed a CGS21680 concentration-dependent inhibition of NF-kappaB activity. These results indicate that the heterologously expressed eA(2A)-R has a pharmacological profile similar to that of other mammalian A(2A) receptors and thus can be utilized for further characterization of the eA(2A)-R to ascertain whether it can serve as a suitable pharmacological target for equine inflammatory disease.

Cloning and pharmacological characterization of the equine adenosine A3 receptor

The aim of this study was to establish a heterologous expression system for the equine adenosine A(3) receptor (eA(3)-R) in an effort to ascertain its pharmacologic profile. Initially, radioligand binding assays identified clones expressing the eA(3)-R in human embryonic kidney cells (HEK) based on the specific binding of [(125)I]AB-MECA. Subsequently, adenylate cyclase assays were utilized to demonstrate functional coupling of the eA(3)-R to the G-protein/adenylate cyclase system. Equilibrium competition binding assays were then performed using selective and non-selective A(3) agonists and antagonists. Results from these experiments revealed a rank order of agonist potency to be IB-MECA > NECA > CGS21680, and an antagonist potency of MRS1220 > ZM241385 > 8-p-sulphophenyltheophylline; these rank orders were in agreement with that of other mammalian A(3)-R's. Lastly, NF-kappaB reporter gene assays revealed an IB-MECA concentration-dependent inhibition of TNFalpha-stimulated NF-kappaB activity. These results indicate that the heterologously expressed eA(3)-R is functional, has a pharmacological profile similar to that of other mammalian A(3) receptors, and its activation has an inhibitory effect on a key regulatory pathway in the inflammatory response. Thus, the eA(3)-R may serve as a pharmacological target in the treatment of equine inflammatory disease.

Cholera toxin partially inhibits the T-cell response to phytohaemagglutinin through the ADP-ribosylation of a 45 kDa membrane protein

This study examines the influence of cholera toxin (CT) on T lymphocyte activation by the mitogenic lectin phytohaemagglutinin (PHA). CT suppressed lectin-induced [3H]thymidine uptake in a dose-dependent fashion and acted synergistically with PHA in the generation of intracellular cyclic AMP. The toxin was assumed to act on Gs, because it also stimulated ADP-ribosylation of a 45 kDa membrane protein in vitro; no additional substrates were seen. The inhibitory effect of the adenylate cyclase/cyclic AMP pathway was shown to be directed at a concomitant stimulatory pathway, namely inositol phospholipid turnover. Lectin-stimulated 32P incorporation into both phosphatidylinositol as well as its 4,5-biphosphate derivative was depressed in the presence of CT or exogenous dibutyryl cyclic AMP. This, in turn, was associated with reduced activation of C-kinase as determined by decreased lectin-induced translocation from the cytosol to the surface membrane. These results indicate that Gs probably acts as a transducer between the PHA receptor and adenylate cyclase and may give rise to an exaggerated adenylate cyclase response in the presence of CT. It would seem as if reduction in inositol phospholipid turnover is related to the elevation of cyclic AMP rather than a CT effect on a putative transducer which acts directly on phospholipase C. Our study does not exclude the existence of non-CT-sensitive transducers in this capacity.

Rapid purification of protein kinase C from rat brain. A novel method employing protamine-agarose affinity column chromatography

We describe a rapid purification of protein kinase C from rat brain cytosol employing a specific substrate, protamine-coupled to agarose. Sequential chromatography on DEAE-Sephacel, phenyl-Sepharose CL-4B, and protamine-agarose columns resulted in a 1,500-fold purification of protein kinase C. SDS-PAGE analysis of the purified enzyme resolved a doublet protein of 77-80 kDa. This doublet was recognized by a polyclonal antiserum against protein kinase C. Proteolytic digestion of each protein band generated similar peptide fragments. The underlying principle of the protamine sulfate purification method was also clarified. Protamine can serve as a Ca2+/phospholipid-independent substrate. We demonstrate phosphorylation of protamine on the column; phosphorylated protamine did not bind the enzyme with the same affinity and this covalent modification was most probably responsible for releasing the bound enzyme from the column after addition of Mg2+ and ATP. The C kinase inhibitor, H7, inhibits protamine phosphorylation in a dose-dependent fashion but does not prevent binding of the enzyme to a protamine-agarose column. We therefore conclude that protamine interacts with the active center of the enzyme enabling it to be phosphorylated, upon which it loses its binding affinity for C kinase.