Animals ; Antibodies, Neutralizing/biosynthesis* ; Antibodies, Viral/biosynthesis* ; Body Weight/immunology* ; COVID-19/virology* ; Disease Models, Animal ; Disease Progression ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Lung/virology* ; Male ; Mesocricetus ; Nasal Cavity/virology* ; RNA, Viral/immunology* ; SARS-CoV-2/pathogenicity* ; Severity of Illness Index ; Viral Load

C57BL/6N is the most widely used inbred mouse strain applied in a wide variety of research areas including cancer, cardiovascular biology, developmental biology, diabetes and obesity, genetics, immunology, neurobiology, and sensorineural research. To compare the fertilization rates of C57BL/6NKorl mice with two commercial C57BL/6N stocks, differences in reproductive organ structures, sperm and egg numbers, fertilization rates, and embryo development rates among C57BL/6NKorl (Korea FDA source), C57BL/6NA (USA source), and C57BL/6NB (Japan source) mice were determined. Among the stocks, no significant differences were detected in organ weight and histological structure of male and female reproductive organs, although body weight was higher in C57BL/6NKorl mice than that in the other groups. The concentration and morphology of sperm and eggs in C57BL/6NKorl mice were similar to those of C57BL/6NA and C57BL/6NB mice. Furthermore, the three stocks had similar in vitro fertilization and embryo development rates, although these rates tended to be higher in C57BL/6NB mice. Pup body weight was higher in C57BL/6NKorl and C57BL/6NB mice than that in C57BL/6NA mice. The results of the present study suggest that C57BL/6NKorl, C57BL/6NA, and C57BL/6NB mice obtained from three different sources have similar fertilization and embryo development rates, although there were slight differences in the magnitude of their responses rates.
Allergy and Immunology ; Animals ; Biology ; Body Weight ; Developmental Biology ; Eggs ; Embryonic Development ; Female ; Fertilization in Vitro ; Fertilization* ; Genetics ; Humans ; Male ; Mice* ; Mice, Inbred Strains ; Neurobiology ; Obesity ; Organ Size ; Ovum ; Pregnancy ; Spermatozoa

Swine influenza viruses (SwIVs) cause considerable morbidity and mortality in domestic pigs, resulting in a significant economic burden. Moreover, pigs have been considered to be a possible mixing vessel in which novel strains loom. Here, we developed and evaluated a novel M2e-multiple antigenic peptide (M2e-MAP) as a supplemental antigen for inactivated H3N2 vaccine to provide cross-protection against two main subtypes of SwIVs, H1N1 and H3N2. The novel tetra-branched MAP was constructed by fusing four copies of M2e to one copy of foreign T helper cell epitopes. A high-yield reassortant H3N2 virus was generated by plasmid based reverse genetics. The efficacy of the novel H3N2 inactivated vaccines with or without M2e-MAP supplementation was evaluated in a mouse model. M2e-MAP conjugated vaccine induced strong antibody responses in mice. Complete protection against the heterologous swine H1N1 virus was observed in mice vaccinated with M2e-MAP combined vaccine. Moreover, this novel peptide confers protection against lethal challenge of A/Puerto Rico/8/34 (H1N1). Taken together, our results suggest the combined immunization of reassortant inactivated H3N2 vaccine and the novel M2e-MAP provided cross-protection against swine and human viruses and may serve as a promising approach for influenza vaccine development.
Animals ; Antibodies, Viral/blood ; Antigens, Viral/genetics/*immunology ; Body Weight ; Cross Protection/*immunology ; Disease Models, Animal ; Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte/genetics/immunology ; Female ; Influenza A Virus, H3N2 Subtype/genetics/*immunology ; Influenza Vaccines/*immunology ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Orthomyxoviridae Infections/*immunology/mortality/pathology/prevention & control ; Peptides/genetics/*immunology ; Random Allocation ; Survival Analysis ; Vaccines, Synthetic/immunology ; Virus Replication

OBJECTIVETo investigate the relationship between atopic allergy and depression and the role of DBP in the development of depression.

METHODSBALB/c mice were randomly divided into eight groups: saline; ovalbumin (OVA)-immunized; saline+DBP (0.45 mg/kg•d); saline+DBP (45 mg/kg•d); DBP (0.45 mg/kg•d) OVA-immunized; DBP (45 mg/kg•d) OVA-immunized; saline+hydrocortisone (30 mg/kg•d); and hydrocortisone (30 mg/kg•d)-exposed OVA-immunized. Behavior (e.g. open-field, tail suspension, and forced swimming tests), viscera coefficients (brain and spleen), oxidative damage [e.g. reactive oxygen species (ROS), malondialdehyde (MDA), and glutathione (GSH)], as well as levels of IgE and IL-4, were then analyzed.

RESULTSIn the saline and OVA groups, the degree of depression symptoms in mice increased with increasing DBP concentration. Additionally, the OVA-immunity groups were associated with more serious depressive behavior compared with the same exposure concentration in the saline group. Oxidative damage was associated with a dose-dependent increase in DBP in the different groups. IL-4 and IgE levels were associated with low-dose DBP stimulation, which changed to high-dose inhibition with increasing DBP exposure, possibly due to spleen injury seen at high DBP concentrations.

CONCLUSIONDevelopment of an atopic allergy has the potential to increase the risk of depression in mice, and it seems that DBP helps OVA to exert its effect in our present model. Moreover, the results of our study implicate a certain connection between brain oxidative stress and depression, which deserves a further exploration.

Animals ; Behavior, Animal ; drug effects ; Body Weight ; Depression ; blood ; chemically induced ; immunology ; Dibutyl Phthalate ; immunology ; toxicity ; Environmental Pollutants ; immunology ; toxicity ; Hydrocortisone ; Hypersensitivity, Immediate ; blood ; complications ; Immunization ; Immunoglobulin E ; blood ; Interleukin-4 ; blood ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Ovalbumin ; Oxidative Stress

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects and mechanisms of Gong-tone music on the immunological function in rats with the Chinese medicine syndrome of Liver (Gan)-qi stagnation and Spleen (Pi)-qi deficiency (LSSD).

METHODSTwenty five male Wistar rats of SPF grade were randomly divided into 5 groups: normal group, model group, Xiaoyao Powder () group, Gong-tone group and combined group (the combination of Gong-tone and Xiaoyao Powder), with 5 rats in each group. The rat model for the Chinese medicine syndrome of LSSD was induced by chronic bandage and irregular diet. The course of treatment was 21 days. After the treatment, the levels of serum gastrin and IgG were detected by enzyme-linked immunoabsorbent assay (ELISA). Phagocytosis of macrophages was detected by the neutral red uptake assay and T cell proliferation was investigated by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazolyl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay.

RESULTSThe serum gastrin, macrophage phagocytosis, IgG level and proliferation ability of T cells in the model group were significantly decreased compared with those in the normal group (P <0.05). Compared with those in the model group, the serum levels of gastrin, macrophage phagocytosis, IgG level and proliferation ability of T cells in Gong-tone, Xiaoyao Powder, and combined groups were significantly increased (P <0.05). The combined group was superior to either Gong-tone group or Xiaoyao Powder group.

CONCLUSIONGong-tone music may upregulate the immunological function and play a role in adjuvant therapy in the Chinese syndrome of LSSD.

Animals ; Auditory Perception ; Behavior, Animal ; Body Weight ; Cell Proliferation ; Depression ; blood ; immunology ; Gastrins ; blood ; Immunoglobulin G ; blood ; Liver ; immunology ; Macrophages ; cytology ; Male ; Music ; Phagocytosis ; Qi ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Spleen ; immunology ; Syndrome ; T-Lymphocytes ; cytology ; drug effects ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the immunotoxicological effects of genetically modified wheat with TaDREB4 gene in female BALB/c mice.

METHODSFemale mice weighing 18-22 g were divided into five groups (10 mice/group), which were set as negative control group, common wheat group, parental wheat group, genetically modified wheat group and cyclophosphamide positive control group, respectively. Mice in negative control group and positive control group were fed with AIN93G diet, mice in common wheat group, non-genetically modified parental wheat group and genetically modified wheat group were fed with feedstuffs added corresponding wheat (the proportion is 76%) for 30 days, then body weight, absolute and relative weight of spleen and thymus, white blood cell count, histological examination of immune organ, peripheral blood lymphocytes phenotyping, serum cytokine, serum immunoglobulin, antibody plaque-forming cell, serum half hemolysis value, mitogen-induced splenocyte proliferation, delayed-type hypersensitivity reaction and phagocytic activities of phagocytes were detected.

RESULTSNo immunotoxicological effects related to the consumption of the genetically modified wheat were observed in BALB/c mice when compared with parental wheat group, common wheat group and negative control group.

CONCLUSIONFrom the immunotoxicological point of view, results from this study demonstrate that genetically modified wheat with TaDREB4 gene is as safe as the parental wheat.

Animals ; Antibody-Producing Cells ; immunology ; Body Weight ; Cytokines ; blood ; Female ; Genes, Plant ; Hemolysis ; Hypersensitivity, Delayed ; Immune System ; drug effects ; Immunoglobulins ; blood ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Organ Size ; Phagocytosis ; Plants, Genetically Modified ; toxicity ; Spleen ; immunology ; Thymus Gland ; immunology ; Triticum ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo optimize the extraction technology and determine the immune activity of polysaccharides from Marsdenia tenacissima.

METHODThe optimum extraction technology of polysaccharide from M. tenacissima was detected by orthogonal experiments with the extraction rate of polysacchride and the total sugar content as indicators. The immunocompromised mice model was established by intraperitoneal injection cyclophosphamide to detected the content of IL-2, IL-6 in serum, CD4+, CD8+ in the peripheral blood by ELISA and flow cytometry, respectively.

RESULTBy the extraction rate of polysaccharide, the sequence of seriousness of all affecting factors from high to low was extracting times, temperature, heating time and water ratio. By the total sugar content, the sequence was temperature, extracting times, water ratio and heating time. Compared with the model group, the pleen index, IL-2, IL-6, CD4/CD8+ were increased significantly (P < 0.05) in the 0.14 g x kg(-1) group and 0. 28 g x kg(-1) group.

CONCLUSIONT he optimum extraction condition was as follows: extraction three times/1.5 hours at 100 degrees C with 1:8 ratio of M. tenacissima to water. The polysaccharide of M. tenacissima can enhance the cellular immune and humoral immune.

Animals ; Body Weight ; drug effects ; CD4-CD8 Ratio ; Chemical Fractionation ; methods ; Interleukin-2 ; blood ; Interleukin-6 ; blood ; Marsdenia ; chemistry ; Mice ; Polysaccharides ; immunology ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Spleen ; immunology ; Temperature ; Time Factors

To investigate the effects of human anti-BAFF scFv-Fc against the hsBAFF, ICR mice were randomly divided into six groups: control, hsBAFF (1 mg x kg(-1)), hsBAFF (1 mg x kg(-1)) + Ab (1 mg x kg(-1)), hsBAFF (1 mg x kg(-1)) + Ab (2 mg x kg(-1)), hsBAFF (1 mg x kg(-1)) + human IgG (1 mg x kg(-1)) and hsBAFF (1 mg x kg(-1)) + human IgG (2 mg x kg(-1)) groups. The effects of scFv-Fc administration on the proliferation of B lymphocytes were evaluated using an MTT assay. The titres of antibody in the serum and B lymphocytes differentiation were assessed by ELISA and flow cytometry, respectively. The results showed that administration of scFv-Fc to mice injected with hsBAFF significantly prevented human BAFF-induced increases in splenic B cell numbers and serum immunoglobulin levels. Furthermore, this fully human antibody would avoid inducing the human anti-mouse antibody (HAMA) response when used in humans. These findings suggest that the compact antibody may be useful in therapeutic or diagnostic application of the BAFF-associated autoimmune diseases in human.
Animals ; B-Cell Activating Factor ; immunology ; metabolism ; B-Lymphocytes ; cytology ; Body Weight ; Cell Differentiation ; Cell Proliferation ; Cells, Cultured ; Female ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin Fc Fragments ; immunology ; metabolism ; Immunoglobulin G ; blood ; immunology ; Immunoglobulin M ; blood ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred ICR ; Random Allocation ; Recombinant Fusion Proteins ; immunology ; metabolism ; Single-Chain Antibodies ; immunology ; metabolism ; Spleen ; cytology

The critical time of avian leukosis virus subgroup J (ALV-J)-mediated immunosuppression was determined by body weight, relative immune organ weight, histopathology, and presence of group specific antigen and antibodies in specific pathogen-free (SPF) chickens. CD4+ and CD8+ cell activity in the spleen, total and differential leukocyte counts in blood, and viral RNA levels in spleen were measured. Significant growth suppression was observed in the two ALV-J-infected groups. A strong immune response by infected groups was present in spleen at 2-weeks-of-age, but after 4-weeks-of-age, the response decreased quickly. The thymus and bursa showed persistent immunosuppression until 4-weeks-of-age. Proliferation of fibroblasts and dendritic cells were observed in immune organs at 4- and 5-weeks-of-age. However, the granulocyte cell number was markedly lower in the infected groups than in the control group. In group 1 (day 1 infection) CD4+ cells increased during the second week but significantly decreased during the fourth week, while group 2 (day 7 infection) showed the opposite effect. Viral RNA increased significantly by the fourth week. These data identify 3~4 weeks post-infection as the key time at which the ALV-J virus exerts its immunosuppressive effects on the host.
Animals ; Antibodies, Viral/blood ; Antigens, CD4/blood ; Antigens, CD8/blood ; Avian Leukosis/*immunology/transmission/virology ; Avian leukosis virus/classification/*immunology ; Body Weight ; *Chickens ; China ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay/veterinary ; Immune Tolerance ; Leukocyte Count/veterinary ; Poultry Diseases/*immunology/transmission/virology ; RNA, Viral/genetics ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction/veterinary ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction/veterinary ; Specific Pathogen-Free Organisms ; Spleen/immunology

This study was aimed to explore the effect of donor characteristics (age, sex and so on.) on CD34(+) cell yields in apheresis from healthy donors mobilized by recombinant granulocyte colony-stimulating factor(rhG-CSF). In 61 healthy donors, the characteristics associated with CD34(+) cell yield were analysed. The relationship between the CD34(+) cell yields and donor characteristics was statistically assessed with multivariate forward, backward and stepwise regression methods. A variety of parameters were analyzed which included donor age, sex, weight, height, body mass index (BMI) and time for collection of peripheral blood apheresis, while the mean number of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (MNCs), CD34(+) cell count, CD34(+) cell proportion based on MNC and CD34(+) cell count per kg of donor weight were used as the variables. The results showed that age of donors was the main factor impacting CD34(+) cell yields (-0.60 < r < -0.45, p < 0.005). In a partial correlation analysis the body weight, height and BMI were served as control factors, the negative correlation of age with CD34(+) cell yields was still found (-0.50 < r < -0.35, p < 0.02). BMI was only weakly correlated with the yields of CD34(+) cells per kg(r = -0.297, p < 0.05). As a whole, sex showed no relation with the CD34(+) cell yields. Compared with the female group less than 35 years old, height, weight and BMI in male group of low age exerted a positive impact on CD34(+) cell yield. The optimal time for collection of PB was day 4 after treatment with rhG-CSF, when 70% of the donors could reach the peak CD34(+) cell yields. It is concluded that the age of the donors is the first factor determining the choice of donors for allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, the sex, height, weight and BMI are secondary factors impacting yield of CD34(+) cells from donors mobilized with rhG-CSF.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Age Factors ; Antigens, CD34 ; immunology ; metabolism ; Blood Cell Count ; Blood Cells ; cytology ; immunology ; Body Height ; Body Mass Index ; Body Weight ; Child ; Female ; Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor ; administration & dosage ; Hematopoietic Stem Cell Mobilization ; methods ; Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Recombinant Proteins ; Sex Factors ; Tissue Donors ; Young Adult