Molecular characterization and phylogenetic analysis of porcine circovirus 2 from Kerala, India.

Porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2), the causative agent of porcine circovirus-associated diseases (PCVADs), has a worldwide distribution, and is considered as one of the most important emerging viral pathogens of economic importance. In Kerala, a total of 62 tissue samples were collected during post mortem from pigs suspected to have died of PCV2 infection. The animals exhibited symptoms like respiratory illness, gradual wasting, rough hair coat, polypnoea, dyspnoea, pallor, diarrhoea, icterus, etc. PCV2 was detected in 36 (58.06%) samples by PCR. Phylogenetic analyses of complete ORF2, and complete genome sequences were carried out and genotypes 2d, 2 h and 2b were detected. The genotype predominant in Kerala was 2d. It was observed that genotypes 2 h and 2b have been recently introduced into North Kerala as it was not detected in the region prior to 2016. Close relationship of Kerala sequences with sequences from Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh and Mizoram were noticed in the phylogenetic tree and also at the amino acid level. A unique K243N mutation was observed in one of the samples. It was also noticed that the most variable amino acid position in ORF2 was 169 where the occurrence of three possible amino acids were observed. The results of the study indicate that multiple genotypes of PCV2 are prevalent in pigs in Kerala and that the percent positivity is higher than that recorded in the State previously. Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s13337-023-00814-1.

The therapeutic effect of bone marrow-derived liver cells in the phenotypic correction of murine hemophilia A.

The transdifferentiation of bone marrow cells (BMCs) into hepatocytes has created enormous interest in applying this process to the development of cellular medicine for degenerative and genetic diseases. Because the liver is the primary site of factor VIII (FVIII) synthesis, we hypothesized that the partial replacement of mutated liver cells by healthy cells in hemophilia A mice could manage the severity of the bleeding disorder. We perturbed the host liver with acetaminophen to facilitate the engraftment and hepatic differentiation of lineage-depleted enhanced green fluorescent protein-expressing BMCs. Immunohistochemistry experiments with the liver tissue showed that the donor-derived cells expressed the markers of both hepatocytes (albumin and cytokeratin-18) and endothelial cells (von Willebrand factor). The results of fluorescent in situ hybridization and immunocytochemistry experiments suggested that differentiation was direct in this model. The BMC-recipient mice expressed FVIII protein and survived in a tail clip challenge experiment. Furthermore, a coagulation assay confirmed that the plasma FVIII activity was maintained at 20.4% (+/- 3.6%) of normal pooled plasma activity for more than a year without forming its inhibitor. Overall, this report demonstrated that BMCs rescued the bleeding phenotype in hemophilia A mice, suggesting a potential therapy for this and other related disorders.

Donor antigen-primed regulatory T cells permit liver regeneration and phenotype correction in hemophilia A mouse by allogeneic bone marrow stem cells.

INTRODUCTION: Cell replacement therapy may be considered as an alternate approach to provide therapeutic dose of plasma factor VIII (FVIII) in patients with hemophilia A (HA). However, immune rejection limits the use of allogeneic cells in this mode of therapy. Here, we have examined the role of donor major histocompatibility complex (MHC)-stimulated host CD4(+)CD25(+) regulatory T (Treg) cells in suppressing immune responses against allogeneic uncommitted (Lin(-)) bone marrow cells (BMCs) for correction of bleeding disorder in HA mice. METHODS: Allogeneic donor Lin(-) BMCs were co-transplanted with allo-antigen sensitized Treg cells in HA mice having acetaminophen-induced acute liver injury. Plasma FVIII activity was determined by in vitro functional assay, and correction of bleeding phenotype was assessed on the basis of capillary blood clotting time and tail-clip challenge. The immunosuppression potential of the sensitized Treg cells on CD4(+) T cells was studied both in vitro and in vivo. Suppression of inflammatory reactions in the liver against the homed donor cells by sensitized Treg cells was analysed by histopathological scoring. Allo-specificity of sensitized Treg cells and long-term retention of immunosuppression were examined against a third-party donor and by secondary challenge of allogeneic donor cells, respectively. The engraftment and phenotype change of donor BMCs in the liver and their role in synthesis of FVIII and liver regeneration were also determined. RESULTS: Co-transplantation of allogeneic Lin(-) BMCs with sensitized Treg cells led to systemic immune modulation and suppression of inflammatory reactions in the liver, allowing better engraftment of allogeneic cells in the liver. Allo-antigen priming led to allo-specific immune suppression even after 1 year of transplantation. Donor-derived endothelial cells expressed FVIII in HA mice, leading to the correction of bleeding phenotype. Donor-derived hepatocyte-like cells, which constitute the major fraction of engrafted cells, supported regeneration of the liver after acute injury. CONCLUSIONS: A highly proficient FVIII secreting core system can be created in regenerating liver by transplanting allogeneic Lin(-) BMCs in HA mice where transplantation tolerance against donor antigens can be induced by in vitro allo-antigen primed Treg cells. This strategy can be beneficial in treatment of genetic liver disorders for achieving prophylactic levels of the missing proteins.

Factor VIII can be synthesized in hemophilia A mice liver by bone marrow progenitor cell-derived hepatocytes and sinusoidal endothelial cells.

Hemophilia A (HA) is caused by mutation in factor VIII (FVIII) gene in humans; it leads to inadequate synthesis of active protein. Liver is the primary site of FVIII synthesis; however, the specific cell types responsible for its synthesis remain controversial. We propose that the severity of the bleeding disorder could be ameliorated by partial replacement of mutated liver cells by healthy cells in HA mice. The aim of this investigation was to study the cellular origin of FVIII by examining bone marrow cell therapy for treatment of HA in mice. Recipient liver was perturbed with either acetaminophen or monocrotaline to facilitate the engraftment and differentiation of lineage-depleted (Lin(-)) enhanced green fluorescent protein-expressing bone marrow cells. Immunohistochemical analysis of liver tissue was conducted to identify the donor-derived cells that expressed FVIII. This identification was confirmed by transmission electron microscopy and quantitative gene expression analysis. The phenotypic correction in HA mice was determined by tail-clip challenge and FVIII level in plasma by Chromogenix and activated partial thromboplastin time assays. Immunohistochemical analysis showed that von Willebrand factor and cytokeratin-18-expressing endothelial cells and hepatocytes, respectively, were obtained from BM-derived cells. Both cell types expressed FVIII light chain mRNA and protein, which was further confirmed by transmission electron microscopy. The transplanted HA mice showed FVIII activity in plasma (P<0.01) and survived tail-clip challenge (P<0.001). Thus, we conclude that BM-derived hepatocytes and endothelial cells can synthesize FVIII in liver and correct bleeding phenotype in HA mice.