Anti-lipopolysaccharide factor D from kuruma shrimp exhibits antiviral activity

Anti-lipopolysaccharide factors (ALFs) exhibit a potent antimicrobial activity against a broad range of bacteria, filamentous fungi, and viruses. In previous reports, seven groups of ALFs (groups A-G) were identified in penaeid shrimp. Among them, group D showed negative net charges and weak antimicrobial activity. Whether this group has antiviral function is not clear. In this study, the ALF sequences of penaeid shrimp were analyzed, and eight groups of ALF family (groups A-H) were identified. The four ALFs including MjALF-C2, MjALF-D1, MjALF-D2, and MjALF-E2 from kuruma shrimp Marsupenaeus japonicus were expressed recombinantly in Escherichia coli, and the antiviral activity was screened via injection of purified recombinant ALFs into shrimp following white spot syndrome virus (WSSV) infection. Results showed that the expression of Vp28 (WSSV envelope protein) decreased significantly in the MjALF-D2-injected shrimp only. Therefore, MjALF-D2 was chosen for further study. Expression pattern analysis showed that MjAlf-D2 was upregulated in shrimp challenged by WSSV. The WSSV replication was detected in RNA, genomic DNA, and protein levels using VP28 and Ie1 (immediate-early gene of WSSV) as indicators in MjALF-D2-injected shrimp following WSSV infection. Results showed that WSSV replication was significantly inhibited compared with that in the rTRX- or PBS-injected control groups. After knockdown of MjAlf-D2 in shrimp by RNA interference, the WSSV replication increased significantly in the shrimp. All these results suggested that MjALF-D2 has an antiviral function in shrimp immunity, and the recombinant ALF-D2 has a potential application for viral disease control in shrimp aquaculture.

Impact of varicocelectomy on the proteome profile of testicular tissues of rats with varicocele

Varicocele (VC) is a common cause of male infertility, but the molecular mechanisms involved in its pathogenesis are unknown. We investigated the impact of varicocelectomy (VCT) on proteome profiles in testicular tissues of rats with VC, and analysed associated target genes and signalling pathways. Sixty male rats with VC were divided into two groups: control (n = 30), and VCT (n = 30). Tissues were collected 4 weeks after sham or VCT surgery. Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionisation time-of-flight/time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF/TOF MS) was used to analyse the comparative proteome profiles. Kyoto Encyclopaedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) Orthology-Based Annotation System was used for bioinformatic analysis. Fifteen proteins were differentially expressed between control and VCT groups. These differentially expressed proteins are associated with several specific cellular processes associated with the pathogenesis of testicular growth arrest associated with VC. Furthermore, the evaluation by transmission electron micrograph showed that VCT could decrease apoptosis of spermatogenic cells in rats. Understanding such molecular pathways might provide physicians with a better insight into VC and with potential targets for treatment.

TFP5 prevents 1-methyl-4-phenyl pyridine ion-induced neurotoxicity in mouse cortical neurons

The present study aimed to investigate the protective effect of a modified p5 peptide, TFP5, on 1-methyl-4-phenyl pyridine ion (MPP⁺)-induced neurotoxicity in cortical neurons and explore the therapeutic effect of TFP5 on Parkinson's disease (PD). MPP⁺ was applied to a primary culture of mouse cortical neurons to establish the cell model of PD. Neurons were divided into four groups: Control, model (MPP⁺), scrambled peptide (Scb) (Scb + MPP⁺) and TFP5 (TFP5 + MPP⁺) groups. Pretreatment with Scb or TFP5 was applied to the latter two groups, respectively, for 3 h, while phosphate-buffered saline was applied to the control and model groups. MPP⁺ was then applied to all groups, with the exception of the control group, and neurons were cultured for an additional 24 h. Neuron viability was evaluated using a Cell Counting kit-8 (CCK8) assay. To explore the mechanism underlying the protective effects of TFP5, the expression levels of p35, p25 and phosphorylated myocyte enhancer factor 2 (p-MEF2D) were determined by western blotting. Fluorescence microscopy showed that TFP5 was able to pass through cell membranes and distribute around the nucleus. CCK8 assay showed that neuronal apoptosis was dependent on MPP⁺ concentration and exposure time. Cell viability decreased significantly in the model group compared with the control group (55±7 vs. 100±0%; P<0.01), and increased significantly in the TFP5 group compared with the model group (98±2 vs. 55±5%; P<0.01) and Scb group (98±2 vs. 54±4%; P<0.01). Scb exhibited no protective effect. Western blotting results showed that MPP⁺ induced p25 and p-MEF2D expression, TFP5 and Scb did not affect MPP⁺-induced p25 expression, but TFP5 reduced MPP⁺-induced p-MEF2D expression. In summary, TFP5 protects against MPP⁺-induced neurotoxicity in mouse cortical neurons, possibly through inhibiting the MPP⁺-induced formation and elevated kinase activity of a cyclin-dependent kinase 5/p25 complex.

[Missense mutation R1345Q in CACNA1A gene causes a new type of ataxia with episodic tremor: clinical features, genetic analysis and treatment in a familial case]

OBJECTIVE

Mutations in CACNA1A, which encodes the P/Q-type calcium channel subunit, are responsible for at least 3 allelic diseases, namely type 2 episodic ataxia (EA-2), familial hemiplegic migraine?type-1 (FHM1), and spinocerebellar ataxia type-6?(SCA 6). Herein we present a case of ataxia with episodic tremors in a 19-year-old man with a missense mutation of CACNA1A gene and summarize the clinical features, genetic analysis and treatment in this case and in his affected family members.

METHODS

Physical examinations were conducted for the patient and his affected family members. DNA sample from the proband was analyzed with next-generation sequencing technology to identify the causative mutation. Sanger sequencing was used to confirm the gene mutation in the family members.

RESULTS

Physical examinations of the patient revealed signs of ataxia, drunken gait, and tremor of his head and body. Four other members in his family had similar but much milder symptoms. A heterozygous missense mutation in CACNA1A (NM_001127221.1 c.4034G->A, p.R1345Q, exon 25) was identified in the proband, which was confirmed in the affected family members. The proband did not respond to methazolamide treatment, but his tremor symptom was well controlled with flunarizine, a calcium channel blocker.

CONCLUSION

Based on the clinical features, mutation analysis and treatment response, we suggest that this patient with a missense CACNA1A mutation, R1345Q, has a new type of ataxia with episodic tremor other than any of EA2, FHM1, or SCA 6.

Gene expression and enzyme activity of lipoprotein lipase correlate with intramuscular fat content in Guangxi san-huang and Arbor Acres chickens

Lipoprotein lipase (LPL) is a key enzyme in lipid metabolism. This study investigated LPL gene expression, LPL enzyme activity, and the correlation of each with intramuscular fat (IMF) in Chinese Guangxi san-huang (GXSH) and Arbor Acres (AA) chickens. The results showed that age and breed had significant effects on LPL expression and enzyme activity. Correlation analyses showed significant positive correlations between LPL expression levels and IMF contents in the breast and thigh tissues of both GXSH (r = 0.712, P = 0.001; r = 0.792, P < 0.001, respectively) and AA (r = 0.644, P < 0.001; r = 0.545, P < 0.001, respectively) chickens. The results also indicated a significant positive correlation between LPL enzyme activity and IMF contents in the breast and thigh tissues of both GXSH (r = 0.615, P = 0.001; r = 0.685, P < 0.001, respectively) and AA (r = 0.600, P = 0.001; r = 0.528, P = 0.003, respectively) chickens. The results indicated that the LPL gene was significantly correlated with IMF in these two breeds. The results presented here could contribute to knowledge of LPL mRNA developmental expression patterns and enzyme activity, and it could facilitate further research on the molecular mechanisms underlying IMF deposition in chickens.

Complete mitochondrial genome of the Cyclemys dentata and phylogenetic analysis of the major family Geoemydidae

In the present study, the complete mitochondrial (mt) genome of Cyclemys dentata was determined using PCR reactions. The structural organization and gene order of C. dentata were equivalent to those of most other vertebrates. The mt genome was 16,489 bp in length, has rich A+T content, consisting of 13 protein-coding genes, 2 ribosomal RNA genes, 22 transfer RNA genes, and a control region (D-loop). All protein-coding genes started with ATG, many genes have complete stop codons, except ND2, COX3, ND3, and cyt-b genes had incomplete stop codons of T. The light-strand replication origin (OL) of C. dentata might fold into a stable stem-loop secondary structure, and its loop had 2 nt less than that of the Cyclemys atripons OL sequence. The D-Loop of C. dentata contained a central domain (CD), 2 extended termination associated sequences (ETAS1, ETAS2) and 3 conserved sequence blocks (CSB1, CSB2, CSB3). The average length of 20 turtles' mt genomes was 16,692.5 bp, including 34.1% A, 27.0% T, 26.0% C and 12.9% G. The C. dentata mitochondrial genome could provide useful data for further studies on phylogenetics and conservation genetics of this species. The phylogenetic relationships of the family Geoemydidae were analyzed by maximum-likelihood (ML) and neighbor-joining (NJ) based on concatenated sequences of 13 protein-coding genes from 20 turtle species. The ML and NJ trees had homologous topologies. The results support the existing classification of the genera of Geoemydidae, that C. dentata was a sister species of C. atripons, Pyxidea nested in Cuora, and Chinemys was synonymous with Mauremys.

Four crustins involved in antibacterial responses in Marsupenaeus japonicus

Crustins are a family of cationic, cysteine-rich antimicrobial peptides with a whey acidic protein (WAP) domain in the C-terminal. They have diverse functions in antimicrobial immune responses. Four groups of crustins (crustins I, II, III, and IV) have been identified in crustaceans, but type I crustins have not been reported in penaeid shrimp until now. In this study, we identified four crustins in kuruma shrimp Marsupenaeus japonicus, and named them MjCrus I-2, 3, 4 and 5. These four crustins belong to type I crustins, which contain a signal peptide, cysteine-rich region at the N-terminus, and WAP domain at the C-terminus. Tissue distribution demonstrated that MjCrus I-2, 3 and 5 had high expression levels in hemocytes, gills and stomach. whereas MjCrus I-4 was distributed in all tissues detected. MjCrus I-2 to 5 showed different expression patterns in different tissues after Gram-positive bacterial (Staphylococcus aureus), Gram-negative bacterial (Vibrio anguillarum), and white spot syndrome virus (WSSV) challenge. The expression of MjCrus I-2 to 5 was upregulated by bacterial or WSSV challenge. The three crustins were recombinantly expressed in Escherichia coli, and the purified proteins showed few antimicrobial activities. Three MjCrus Is could bind to different bacteria. MjCrus I-2 and 3 showed different inhibitory abilities to secreted bacterial proteases. MjCrus I-4 could not inhibit bacterial proteases. After knockdown of MjCrus I-3, the bacterial scavenging ability to V. anguillarum was impaired. These results suggested that type I crustins played an important role in the innate immunity of shrimp.

A new group of anti-lipopolysaccharide factors from Marsupenaeus japonicus functions in antibacterial response

Anti-lipopolysaccharide factors (ALFs) are a group of critical effector molecules with a broad spectrum of antimicrobial activities in crustaceans. Four groups of ALFs (A, B, C, and D) have been identified in peneaid shrimp. In the study, we identified a new group of ALFs (designated as MjALF-E) from Marsupenaeus japonicus. This new group (group E) included MjALF-E1 and E2. MjALF-E1 was highly expressed in hemocytes, heart, and intestine, whereas E2 was highly expressed in gills, stomach, and intestine. Expressions of both MjALF-E1 and E2 were upregulated by bacterial challenge. Synthesized LPS-binding domain peptides of MjALF-E1 and E2 strongly bind to bacterial cell wall components lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and peptidoglycan (PGN). The recombinant rMjALF-E2 showed relatively weak binding activity to LPS and PGN. Both synthesized peptides and rMjALF-E2 exhibited antimicrobial activity against Gram-negative bacteria, whereas rMjALF-E2 could promote the clearance of bacteria in vivo. After knockdown of MjALF-E2 and infection with Vibrio anguillarum, shrimp showed high and rapid mortality compared with GFPi shrimp. These results suggest that MjALF-Es serves a protective function against bacterial infection in shrimp.

Role of evolutionarily conserved signaling intermediate in Toll pathways (ECSIT) in the antibacterial immunity of Marsupenaeus japonicus

The Toll/Toll-like receptor (TLR) signaling pathway has an important role in the innate immunity of animals. Evolutionarily conserved signaling intermediate in Toll pathways (ECSIT) is a protein that functions as an adaptor protein for the Toll/TLR and bone morphogenetic protein signaling pathways. ECSIT is also a key component in the macrophage bactericidal activity of mammals. However, the function of ECSIT in crustaceans remains unclear. In this study, we cloned and identified a functional ECSIT homologue, MjECSIT 1, from kuruma shrimp Marsupenaeus japonicus. The complementary DNA of MjEcsit 1 is 1442 base pairs long, with an open reading frame of 1221 base pairs that encodes a 407-residue polypeptide. Transcripts of MjEcsit 1 are detected in hemocytes, gills, hepatopancreas, stomach, heart, intestines, testes, and ovaries. Such transcripts are upregulated by Gram-positive bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus) and Gram-negative bacteria (Vibrio anguillarum) injections. The knockdown of MjEcsit 1 by double-stranded RNA injection increases the sensitivity of M. japonicus to S. aureus challenge and weakens the bacterial clearance ability of M. japonicus in vivo. In addition, suppressing MjEcsit 1 restrains the upregulation of two anti-lipopolysaccharide factors by S. aureus injection. The results indicate that MjECSIT 1 is important in the antibacterial immunity of M. japonicus.

Calnexin functions in antibacterial immunity of Marsupenaeus japonicus

Calnexin (Cnx) is an endoplasmic reticulum membrane-bound lectin chaperone that comprises a dedicated maturation system with another lectin chaperone calreticulin (Crt). This maturation system is known as the Cnx/Crt cycle. The main functions of Cnx are Ca(2+) storage, glycoprotein folding, and quality control of synthesis. Recent studies have shown that Cnx is important in phagocytosis and in optimizing dendritic cell immunity. However, the functions of Cnx in invertebrate innate immunity remain unclear. In this research, we characterized Cnx in the kuruma shrimp Marsupenaeus japonicus (designated as MjCnx) and detected its function in shrimp immunity. The expression of MjCnx was upregulated in several tissues challenged with Vibrio anguillarum. Recombinant MjCnx could bind to bacteria by binding polysaccharides. MjCnx protein existed in the cytoplasm and on the membrane of hemocytes and was upregulated by bacterial challenge. The recombinant MjCnx enhanced the clearance of V. anguillarum in vivo, and the clearance effects were impaired after silencing MjCnx with RNA interference assay. Recombinant MjCnx promoted phagocytosis efficiency of hemocytes. These results suggest that MjCnx functions as one of the pattern recognition receptors and has crucial functions in shrimp antibacterial immunity.

Antibacterial activity of serine protease inhibitor 1 from kuruma shrimp Marsupenaeus japonicus

Serine protease inhibitors (Serpins) are a large family of protease inhibitors involved in many critical biological processes such as blood coagulation, fibrinolysis, programmed cell death, development, and innate immunity. We identified MjSerp1, a serpin in the kuruma shrimp Marsupenaeus japonicus. The MjSerp1 cDNA has a 1239 bp open reading frame (ORF) that encodes a 412-amino acid protein with a 23 aa signal peptide and a classic serpin domain. MjSerp1 has a calculated molecular mass of 46.3 kDa and a predicted isoelectric point of 5.51. MjSerp1 is mainly expressed in the hepatopancreas and the intestines, and is moderately expressed in hemocytes. Expression pattern analysis indicated that MjSerp1 is upregulated in the hepatopancreas after Vibrio anguillarum challenge. rMjSerp1 inhibits three Gram-positive bacteria and two Gram-negative bacteria, but does not inhibit phenoloxidase activity. The microorganism binding assay showed that rMjSerp1 closely binds to both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. MjSerp1 also exhibits inhibitory activity against microbial serine proteases, such as subtilisin A and proteinase K, indicating that MjSerp1 acts as a microbial serine protease inhibitor. rMjSerp1 injection into shrimp enhances V. anguillarum clearance, but MjSerp1 knockdown through RNA interference impairs Vibrio clearance in vivo. These results indicate that MjSerp1 functions as a direct effector in the bacterial clearance of M. japonicus. All together, our findings provide novel evidences for the serine protease inhibitor in shrimp immunity.

A single whey acidic protein domain containing protein (SWD) inhibits bacteria invasion and dissemination in shrimp Marsupenaeus japonicus

The single whey acidic protein (WAP) domain containing proteins (SWDs) in crustacean belong to type III crustins and have antiprotease activities and/or antimicrobial activities. Their functions in vivo in crustacean immunity need to be clarify. In this study, a new single WAP domain containing protein (SWD) was obtained from Marsupenaeus japonicus, designated as MjSWD. The full-length cDNA of MjSWD was 522 bp.The open reading frame of MjSWD encoded a protein of 79 amino acids, with a 24 amino acid signal peptide and a WAP domain. Tissue distribution analysis revealed that MjSWD transcripts were generally expressed in all the tested tissues, including hemocytes, heart, hepatopancreas, gill, stomach and intestine. The time course expression of MjSWD was analyzed by quantitative real time PCR, and the results exhibited that MjSWD was upregulated after bacteria (Vibrio anguillarum, Staphylococcus aureus) and white spot syndrome virus (WSSV) challenge in gills and stomach of the shrimp. The purified recombinant protein of MjSWD could bind to several Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria though binding to microbial polysaccharides (peptidoglycan). MjSWD could inhibit the activity of Subtilisin A and Proteinase K and bacteria-secreted proteases. The results of natural infection with MjSWD incubated bacteria showed that the inhibition of MjSWD against bacterial secreted proteases was contributed to inhibiting bacteria invasion and dissemination in the shrimp. The MjSWD is, thus, involved in the shrimp antibacterial innate immunity.

Immunisation against inhibin enhances follicular development, oocyte maturation and superovulatory response in water buffaloes

This study was carried out to test the feasibility of enhancing embryo production in vivo and in vitro by immunoneutralisation against inhibin or follistatin. In Experiment 1, multi-parity buffaloes were assigned into three groups: High group (n=8), which received one primary (2mg) and two booster (1mg) vaccinations (28-day intervals) with a recombinant inhibin α subunit in 1 mL of white oil adjuvant; Low group (n=8), which received half that dose; and Control group (n=7), which received only adjuvant. Immunisation against inhibin stimulated development of ovarian follicles. Following superovulation and artificial insemination, inhibin-immunised buffaloes had more developing follicles than the Control buffaloes. The average number of embryos and unfertilised ova (4.5±0.6, n=6) in the High group was higher (P<0.05) than in the Control group (2.8±0.6, n=5) and was intermediate (4.1±0.7, n=7) in the Low group. The pooled number of transferable embryos of the High and Low groups (3.2±0.5, n=13) was also higher (P<0.05) than that (1.6±0.7, n=5) of the controls. The immunised groups also had higher plasma concentrations of activin, oestradiol and progesterone. In Experiment 2, the addition of anti-inhibin or anti-follistatin antibodies into buffalo oocyte IVM maturation medium significantly improved oocyte maturation and cleavage rates following parthenogenic activation. Treatment with anti-follistatin antibody also doubled the blastocyst yield from activated embryos. These results demonstrated that immunisation against inhibin stimulated follicular development, enhanced oocyte quality and maturation competence, yielded more and better embryos both in vivo and in vitro.

Germline mutational analysis of CDH1 and pathologic features in familial cancer syndrome with diffuse gastric cancer/breast cancer proband in a Chinese family

AIMS

Hereditary non-polyposis colorectal cancer, thyroid medullary carcinoma, breast/ovarian cancer and gastric cancer/breast cancer syndrome are encountered in surgery. Some gastric cancer/breast cancer syndrome may be the result of a CDH1 germline mutation. This is the first report of CDH1 germline mutations gastric cancer/breast cancer syndrome in Chinese patients.

METHODS

Peripheral blood from the proband, as well as, her first and second degree relatives was collected and CDH1 gene exon 1-16 mutations were screened. E-cadherin/beta-catenin proteins expression and histopathologic features were examined on gastric cancer/breast cancer tissues from the proband.

RESULTS

A C-->T nucleotide substitution at exon 13 (mRNA 2200 locus, Accession number NM-004360) was found. This was a transition from GCC-->GCT in DNA sequence (Ala154Ala). Diffuse-type gastric cancer and infiltrating ductal breast carcinoma were present. Both tumours preserved E-cadherin/beta-catenin expression immunohistochemically.

CONCLUSIONS

Familial cancer syndrome with diffuse-type gastric cancer/breast cancer proband in Chinese has a propensity of early onset during lifespan. No truncating or splice-site CDH1 mutations had been identified in this family. A silent nucleotide variation in exon 13 of the CDH1 gene may contribute to some forms of cancer susceptibility.

[Activated monocytes involved in allograft rejection of rats: spontaneous plaque-forming cell as a new monocyte effector]

Spontaneous plaque-forming cell, SPFC, is a new hemolytic effector of monocytes, which is generated 6 to 7 days after antigen unstimulation or stimulation in man. SPFC is also detected in rats. A significant concomitant response of the SPFC, in number of SPFC at the peak response around the rejection day, and histoincompatibility of allogeneic combinations in skin or heart allograft transplantation of rats was found. Peak number of SPFC (28,850 + 1,343/10(6) on day 6 in H-1 incompatible combination (ACI-Lewis) was higher than that (11,606 + 4,235/10(6)) on day 10 in H-1 compatible combination (F344-Lewis) (p less than 0.05, Student'st-test). The day of peak SPFC response in each experimental group was also concordant with the day of rejection. The OX42 monoclonal antibody against CR3 of leukocyte-adhesion molecules inhibited hemolysis of the SPFC. Since the erythrocyte is a ligand of CR3, it is likely that hemolysis of SPFC is mediated by the CR3 adhesion molecules. In conclusion, SPFC may be an immunologic indicator of allograft rejection in rats.

[Diagnosis and surgical treatment of bronchial adenoma]

Twenty one patients with bronchial adenoma, treated surgically in our hospital, include three different neoplasms: carcinoid, cylindroma and mucoepidermoid adenoma. In this series, clinical characteristics were: bronchial obstruction when the tumor protrudes into the lumen and infection, first in the bronchus (bronchitis or bronchiectasis) then in the parenchyma (acute, recurrent or chronic pneumonia, tension abscess). Ball-valve action of the tumor may result in lobar or segmental emphysema. Preoperatively, most of the patients had been misdiagnosed as bronchitis, carcinoma of lung, bronchiectasis or acute tension abscess. In our series, all the patients were alive in a follow up of 2-8 years. Yet one patient is living with local recurrence and distant metastasis. To our experience, pneumonia recurring in the same area of the lung, localized wheezing, with or without endocrine symptoms, lobar or segmental emphysema may suggest bronchial adenoma. Tomography and endoscopy are important for diagnosis. For the treatment, sleeve resection of the main bronchus was done in 2, bronchoplastic lobectomy in 7, lobectomy in 10, and pneumonectomy in 2. Sleeve resection of the main bronchus or bronchoplastic lobectomy is recommended as a reliable procedure for this disease.