The success of immunological control methods is dependent upon the use of potential key antigens as tick vaccine candidates. Previously, we cloned a gene encoding 27 kDa and 30 kDa proteins (P27/30) of Haemaphysalis longicornis, and identified the P27/30 is a troponin I-like protein. In this study, the recombinant P27/30 (rP27/30) expressed in Escherichia coli was used to immunize mice and the mice were challenge-infested with ticks at different developmental stages of the same species. The rP27/30 protein stimulated a specific protective anti-tick immune response in mice, evidenced by the statistically significant longer pre-feeding periods in adult ticks. Furthermore, significantly longer feeding periods were noted in both larval and adult ticks. On the other hand, only larval ticks exhibited low attachment rates (31.1%). Immunization of mice with rP27/30 protein confers protection against hard tick Haemaphysalis longicornis infestation. These results demonstrated that the rP27/30 protein might be a useful vaccine candidate antigen for biological control of ticks.
Animals ; Feeding Behavior ; Female ; Ixodidae/*immunology ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Microfilament Proteins/*immunology ; Recombinant Proteins/immunology ; Tick Infestations/*prevention&control ; Vaccines, Synthetic/immunology

We investigated the induction of resistance to Haemaphysalis longicornis infestation in rabbits that had been immunized with recombinant H. longicornis P27/30 protein. The success of immunological control methods is dependent upon the use of potential key antigens as tick vaccine candidates. Previously, we cloned a gene encoding 27 kDa and 30 kDa proteins (P27/30) of H. longicornis, and identified P27/30 as a troponin I-like protein. In this study, rabbits that were immunized with recombinant P27/30 expressed in Escherichia coli showed the statistically significant longer feeding duration for larval and adult ticks (P< 0.05), low engorgement rates in larval ticks (64.4%), and an apparent reduction in egg weights, which suggest that H. longicornis P27/30 protein is a potential candidate antigen for a tick vaccine. These results demonstrated that the recombinant P27/30 protein might be a useful vaccine candidate antigen for biological control of H. longicornis.
Animals ; Antibodies/blood ; Escherichia coli/genetics ; Female ; Gene Expression ; Insect Proteins/immunology ; Ixodidae/*immunology ; Microfilament Proteins/*immunology ; Rabbits ; Recombinant Proteins/*immunology ; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't ; Tick Infestations/*immunology/prevention & control

OBJECTIVETo identify and select smooth muscle progenitor cells from mouse bone marrow mesenchyme stem cell population and to characterize smooth muscle progenitor cells in peripheral blood.

METHODSRecombinant expression vector with the promoter of sm22alpha was constructed to have an enhancement type green fluorescent protein expression plasmid (EGFP-1). The construct was transfected into mouse bone marrow mesenchyme stem cells using Lipofectamine 2000. Morphological assessment was performed and the expressions of myocardin at protein and mRNA levels by fluorescence microscope and RT-PCR were evaluated at 3, 5, 7, and 10 d targeting CD34 positive bone mesenchyme stem cells.

RESULTSThe transfection efficiency of the positive control group was 70% +/- 1.5% (P > 0.05). Expected green fluorescent proteins expressed at 3rd day. The numbers of green fluorescent cells in experimental groups increased with the time and reached the peak at the 7th day, and declined thereafter. The shapes of the green fluorescent cells were also different from each others. The positive ratios of green fluorescent cells at different time points: 3 d: 7% +/- 0.13%, 5 d: 10% +/- 0.32%, 7 d: 20% +/- 0.26%, 10 d: 12% +/- 0.18%, P < 0.05. Myocardin mRNA expression roughly correlated with green fluorescent expressions. CD34 was expressed on the 5th day in transfected bone mesenchyme stem cells. The CD34 positive ratio was 5.2% +/- 0.21% (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSThere are smooth muscle progenitor cells among mouse bone marrow mesenchyme stem cell population. Smooth muscle progenitor cells can be selected using a Psm22alpha-EGFP-1 recombinant expression approach.

Animals ; Antigens, CD34 ; immunology ; Bone Marrow Cells ; cytology ; immunology ; Cell Separation ; methods ; Cell Shape ; Green Fluorescent Proteins ; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells ; cytology ; immunology ; Mice ; Microfilament Proteins ; genetics ; Microscopy, Fluorescence ; Muscle Proteins ; genetics ; Myocytes, Smooth Muscle ; cytology ; Nuclear Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Promoter Regions, Genetic ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; Recombinant Proteins ; genetics ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Trans-Activators ; genetics ; metabolism ; Transfection

Animals ; Carrier Proteins ; genetics ; Immunohistochemistry ; Lacrimal Apparatus ; metabolism ; Lung ; metabolism ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred NOD ; Microfilament Proteins ; genetics ; RNA, Small Interfering ; genetics ; physiology ; Random Allocation ; Sjogren's Syndrome ; genetics ; immunology ; therapy

To select candidate genes, we attempted to comparative analysis of protein levels between rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients and healthy controls by two-dimensional electrophoresis (2-DE) and matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS). We identified 17 proteins that showed up- or down-regulated spots in RA patients. We found that coactosin-like1 (COTL1) were highly expressed in RA patients compared with healthy controls. We performed a case-control study to determine whether the COTL1 gene polymorphisms were associated with RA and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). The genotype frequency of c.-1124G>T and the allelic frequency of c.484G>A in RA patients, and the genotype frequency of c.484G>A in SLE patients were significantly different from healthy controls (P = 0.009, 0.027, and 0.025, respectively). We also investigated the correlation with the levels of rheumatoid factor (RF) and anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide (CCP) antibody in RA patients, and anti-nuclear antibodies (ANA) in SLE patients. The c.484G>A polymorphism in RA patients has significant association with the levels of anti-CCP antibody (P = 0.03). Our findings demonstrated that c.-1124G>T and c.484G>A polymorphisms of the COTL1 gene might be associated with the genetic susceptibility of autoimmune disorders.
Arthritis, Rheumatoid/*genetics/immunology/metabolism ; Autoimmune Diseases/genetics/immunology ; Case-Control Studies ; Electrophoresis, Gel, Two-Dimensional ; Genotype ; Humans ; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic/genetics/immunology ; Microfilament Proteins/*genetics/metabolism ; Polymorphism, Genetic/*genetics ; Proteome/genetics ; Proteomics/*methods ; Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization

To select candidate genes, we attempted to comparative analysis of protein levels between rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients and healthy controls by two-dimensional electrophoresis (2-DE) and matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS). We identified 17 proteins that showed up- or down-regulated spots in RA patients. We found that coactosin-like1 (COTL1) were highly expressed in RA patients compared with healthy controls. We performed a case-control study to determine whether the COTL1 gene polymorphisms were associated with RA and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). The genotype frequency of c.-1124G>T and the allelic frequency of c.484G>A in RA patients, and the genotype frequency of c.484G>A in SLE patients were significantly different from healthy controls (P = 0.009, 0.027, and 0.025, respectively). We also investigated the correlation with the levels of rheumatoid factor (RF) and anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide (CCP) antibody in RA patients, and anti-nuclear antibodies (ANA) in SLE patients. The c.484G>A polymorphism in RA patients has significant association with the levels of anti-CCP antibody (P = 0.03). Our findings demonstrated that c.-1124G>T and c.484G>A polymorphisms of the COTL1 gene might be associated with the genetic susceptibility of autoimmune disorders.
Arthritis, Rheumatoid/*genetics/immunology/metabolism ; Autoimmune Diseases/genetics/immunology ; Case-Control Studies ; Electrophoresis, Gel, Two-Dimensional ; Genotype ; Humans ; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic/genetics/immunology ; Microfilament Proteins/*genetics/metabolism ; Polymorphism, Genetic/*genetics ; Proteome/genetics ; Proteomics/*methods ; Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization

OBJECTIVETo quantitatively analyze the effect of modified Biejiajian Pill (BJJP) on the pathological change and degree of albumin induced immune hepatic fibrosis in rats.

METHODSRats were immunized by multiple subcutaneous injections of human serum albumin (8 g/L) , and were medicated in groups respectively after antibody producing, BJJP high-dose (13 g/kg) group, medium-dose (6.5 g/kg) group, low-dose (3.25 g/kg) group, the model group, colchicines (1.0 mg/kg) group, and Ganpikang (22.23 mg/kg) group. Then, caudal vein injection of albumin was given 40 min after medication to induce liver fibrosis. Animals were sacrificed finally to observe the pathological change, and the distribution and content of collagen and plastin were determined quantitatively with HE and Masson stain.

RESULTSBJJP high-, medium-, and low-dose groups could obviously improve the pathological change of the hepatic fibrosis rats (decreasing rate of the total score was 62.50%, 40.75%, and 8.33%, respectively), and the content of collagen reduced markedly (P<0.05, P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONBJJP can effectively prevent and reduce the pathological change of albumin induced immune hepatic fibrosis in rats.

Albumins ; pharmacology ; Animals ; Collagen ; metabolism ; Disease Models, Animal ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Liver ; drug effects ; metabolism ; pathology ; Liver Cirrhosis ; chemically induced ; immunology ; metabolism ; pathology ; Membrane Glycoproteins ; metabolism ; Microfilament Proteins ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Spleen ; drug effects ; immunology

AIMTo understand the biological functions of the ectoplasmic specializations between Sertoli cells and maturing spermatids in seminiferous epithelia.

METHODSIn order to disrupt the function of the ectoplasmic specializations, nectin-2, which is expressed at the specialization, was neutralized with anti-nectin-2 antibody micro-injected into the lumen of the mouse seminiferous tubule. Anti-nectin-3 antibody was also micro-injected into the lumen in order to neutralize nectin-3, which is expressed at the specialization.

RESULTSThe actin filaments at the specialization disappeared, and exfoliation of maturing spermatids was observed by electron microscopy.

CONCLUSIONNectin-2 was neutralized by anti-nectin-2 antibody and nectin-3 was neutralized by anti-nectin-3 antibody, respectively. Inactivated nectin-2 and nectin-3 disrupted the nectin-afadin-actin system, and finally the actin filaments disappeared. As a result, the specialization lost the holding function and detachment of spermatids was observed. One of the functions of the specialization seems to be to hold maturing spermatids until spermiation.

Actins ; metabolism ; Animals ; Antibodies ; immunology ; pharmacology ; Cell Adhesion Molecules ; immunology ; metabolism ; Cell Communication ; drug effects ; physiology ; Intercellular Junctions ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred ICR ; Microfilament Proteins ; metabolism ; Microscopy, Confocal ; Nectins ; Seminiferous Epithelium ; cytology ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Sertoli Cells ; cytology ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Spermatids ; cytology ; drug effects ; metabolism