Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor, Kynurenine Pathway, and Lipid-Profiling Alterations as Potential Animal Welfare Indicators in Dairy Cattle.

Complete animal welfare evaluation in intensive farming is challenging. With this study, we investigate new biomarkers for animal physical and mental health by comparing plasma expression of biochemical indicators in dairy cows reared in three different systems: (A) semi-intensive free-stall, (B) non-intensive tie-stall, and (C) intensive free-stall. Additionally, protein levels of mature brain-derived neurotrophic factor (mBDNF) and its precursor form (proBDNF) and indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO1) specific activity were evaluated in brain samples collected from 12 cattle culled between 73 and 138 months of age. Alterations in plasma lipid composition and in the kynurenine pathway of tryptophan metabolism were observed in the tie-stall-reared animals. The total plasma BDNF concentration was higher in tie-stall group compared to the two free-housing groups. Brain analysis of the tie-stall animals revealed a different mBDNF/proBDNF ratio, with a higher level of proBDNF (p < 0.001). Our data are similar to previous studies on animal models of depression, which reported that inhibition of the conversion of proBDNF in its mature form and/or elevated peripheral kynurenine pathway activation may underlie cerebral biochemical changes and induce depressive-like state behavior in animals.

SOMAscan Proteomics Identifies Novel Plasma Proteins in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Patients.

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a complex disease characterized by the interplay of genetic and environmental factors for which, despite decades of intense research, diagnosis remains rather delayed, and most therapeutic options fail. Therefore, unravelling other potential pathogenetic mechanisms and searching for reliable markers are high priorities. In the present study, we employ the SOMAscan assay, an aptamer-based proteomic technology, to determine the circulating proteomic profile of ALS patients. The expression levels of ~1300 proteins were assessed in plasma, and 42 proteins with statistically significant differential expression between ALS patients and healthy controls were identified. Among these, four were upregulated proteins, Thymus- and activation-regulated chemokine, metalloproteinase inhibitor 3 and nidogen 1 and 2 were selected and validated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays in an overlapping cohort of patients. Following statistical analyses, different expression patterns of these proteins were observed in the familial and sporadic ALS patients. The proteins identified in this study might provide insight into ALS pathogenesis and represent potential candidates to develop novel targeted therapies.

Pro-Inflammatory and Cytotoxic Effects of Polystyrene Microplastics on Human and Murine Intestinal Cell Lines.

Plastic is a polymer extremely resistant to degradation that can remain for up to hundreds or thousands of years, leading to the accumulation of massive amounts of plastic waste throughout the planet's ecosystems. Due to exposure to various environmental factors, plastic breaks down into smaller particles named microplastics (1-5000 µm) and nanoplastics (<1 µm). Microplastics (MPs) are ubiquitous pollutants but, still, little is known about their effects on human and animal health. Herein, our aim is to investigate cytotoxicity, oxidative stress, inflammation and correlated gene modulation following exposure to polystyrene microplastics (PS-MPs) in HRT-18 and CMT-93 epithelial cell lines. After 6, 24 and 48 h PS-MPs treatment, cell viability (MTT) and oxidative stress (SOD) assays were performed; subsequently, expression changes and cytokines release were investigated by Real-Time PCR and Magnetic-beads panel Multiplex Assay, respectively. For each exposure time, a significantly increased cytotoxicity was observed in both cell lines, whereas SOD activity increased only in CMT-93 cells. Furthermore, Magnetic-beads Multiplex Assay revealed an increased release of IL-8 in HRT-18 cells' medium, also confirmed by gene expression analysis. Results obtained suggest the presence of a pro-inflammatory pattern induced by PS-MPs treatment that could be related to the observed increase in cytotoxicity.

TNFAIP3 Deficiency Affects Monocytes, Monocytes-Derived Cells and Microglia in Mice.

The intracellular-ubiquitin-ending-enzyme tumor necrosis factor alpha-induced protein 3 (TNFAIP3) is a potent inhibitor of the pro-inflammatory nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cell (NF-kB) pathway. Single nucleotide polymorphisms in TNFAIP3 locus have been associated to autoimmune inflammatory disorders, including Multiple Sclerosis (MS). Previously, we reported a TNFAIP3 down-regulated gene expression level in blood and specifically in monocytes obtained from treatment-naïve MS patients compared to healthy controls (HC). Myeloid cells exert a key role in the pathogenesis of MS. Here we evaluated the effect of specific TNFAIP3 deficiency in myeloid cells including monocytes, monocyte-derived cells (M-MDC) and microglia analyzing lymphoid organs and microglia of mice. TNFAIP3 deletion is induced using conditional knock-out mice for myeloid lineage. Flow-cytometry and histological procedures were applied to assess the immune cell populations of spleen, lymph nodes and bone marrow and microglial cell density in the central nervous system (CNS), respectively. We found that TNFAIP3 deletion in myeloid cells induces a reduction in body weight, a decrease in the number of M-MDC and of common monocyte and granulocyte precursor cells (CMGPs). We also reported that the lack of TNFAIP3 in myeloid cells induces an increase in microglial cell density. The results suggest that TNFAIP3 in myeloid cells critically controls the development of M-MDC in lymphoid organ and of microglia in the CNS.