Efficacy of orally administered porcine epidemic diarrhea vaccine-loaded hydroxypropyl methylcellulose phthalate microspheres and RANKL-secreting L. lactis.

Here, we examined the efficacy of are combinant subunit antigen-based oral vaccine for preventing porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV). First, we generated a soluble recombinant partial spike S1 protein (aP2) from PEDV in E. coli and then evaluated the utility of aP2 subunit vaccine-loaded hydroxypropyl methylcellulose phthalate microspheres (HPMCP) and RANKL-secreting L. lactis (LLRANKL) as a candidate oral vaccine in pregnant sows. Pregnant sows were vaccinated twice (with a 2 week interval between doses) at 4 weeks before farrowing. Titers of virus-specific IgA antibodies in colostrum, and neutralizing antibodies in serum, of sows vaccinated with HPMCP (aP2) plus LL RANKL increased significantly at 4 weeks post-first vaccination. Furthermore, the survival rate of newborn suckling piglets delivered by sows vaccinated with HPMCP (aP2) plus LL RANKL was similar to that of piglets delivered by sows vaccinated with a commercial killed porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PED) vaccine. The South Korean government promotes a PED vaccine program (live-killed-killed) to increase the titers of IgA and IgG antibodies in pregnant sows and prevent PEDV. The oral vaccine strategy described herein, which is based on a safe and efficient recombinant subunit antigen, is an alternative PED vaccination strategy that could replace the traditional strategy, which relies on attenuated live oral vaccines or artificial infection with virulent PEDV.

Effects of Lespedeza Cuneata aqueous extract on testosterone-induced prostatic hyperplasia.

CONTEXT: Lespedeza cuneata G. Don (Fabaceae), has been used as a traditional treatment of various diseases. There is a report L. cuneata effects on hormone replacement therapy for endocrine-related disease. However, studies related to benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) have not been investigated. OBJECTIVE: The effects of L. cuneata aqueous extract (LCW) on testosterone-induced prostatic hyperplasia (TPH) were examined. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Male Wistar rats (10 weeks, 330-350 g) were randomly divided to 6 groups (n = 6): Control group; TPH group (3 mg/kg, s.c, daily); TPH + LCW (25, 50, 100 mg/kg); TPH + Finasteride 10 mg/kg for 6 weeks. At the end of treatment, histological change of prostate, serum dihydrotestosterone (DHT) level, mRNA expression of 5α-reductase, inflammatory factors, proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) and fibroblast growth factor-2 (FGF-2) in prostate were examined. Then, LCW was treated with BPH-1, a human BPH cell line, at 25, 50, 100 µg/mL for 24 h and examine mRNA level of androgen receptor (AR) and prostate-specific antigen (PSA). In addition, the content of vicenin-2 was analyzed. RESULTS: LCW treatment of TPH inhibited serum DHT levels by 54.5, 51.2 and 54.1% and mRNA expression of 5α-reductase were inhibited 54.3, 61.3 and 73.6%, respectively. In addition, mRNA expression of inflammatory factors, PCNA and FGF-2 were decreased in the prostate of rats. Also, LCW attenuated mRNA level of AR and PSA in BPH-1 cell. The content of vicenin-2 in the LCW was analyzed to 0.89 mg/g. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: Based on the results, LCW is a potential pharmacological candidate for the treatment of prostatic hyperplasia.

The suppressive effect of the three-herb extract mixture on vascular and liver inflammation in atherogenic diet with high fructose-fed mice.

CONTEXT: Cynanchum wilfordii (Maximowicz) Hemsley (Apocynaceae), Arctium lappa L. var. rubescens Frivald (Asteraceae) and Dioscorea opposite Thunb (Dioscoreaceae) root extracts have been widely used as an alternative for intervening obesity. OBJECTIVES: The synergistic effect of three-herb mixture of C. wilfordii, A. lappa and D. opposita was determined on aortic and liver inflammatory responses. MATERIALS AND METHODS: CWE, ALE and DOE were prepared from the root of C. wilfordii, A. lappa and D. opposite by 70% ethanol extraction, respectively. CADE was prepared using a powder mixture of 2 CWE:1 ALE:1 DOE. C57BL/6 mice were fed an atherogenic diet combined with 10% fructose (ATHFR) in the presence of 200 mg/kg/day CWE, ALE, DOE or CADE for 8 weeks (each group, n = 6). Biochemical profiles, protein expression of vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) on the aorta and liver were determined. RESULTS: CADE could significantly suppress the protein expression of VCAM-1 in both the aorta and liver (80% reduction) compared to ATHFR-fed mice. Impairment of liver function was significantly ameliorated by CADE supplement, as determined by GOT (60% reduction) and GPT (51% reduction) levels. CONCLUSIONS: CADE should be considered when developing medications to suppress the vascular and liver inflammatory responses for individuals who are either non-responsive or resistant to lipid-lowering drugs.

GC/MS analysis of high-performance liquid chromatography fractions from Sophora flavescens and Torilis japonica extracts and their in vitro anti-neosporal effects on Neospora caninum.

We analyzed alcoholic extracts of herbs possessing anti-neosporal activity against Neospora (N.) caninum. To identify the chemical components of Sophora (S.) flavescens and Torilis (T.) japonica associated with anti-neosporal activity, specific fractions were isolated by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). In vitro activity of the fractions against N. caninum was then assessed. Gas chromatography/ mass spectrometry (GC/MS) was used to identify and quantify specific anti-neosporal molecules in the herbal extracts. Almost all HPLC fractions of S. flavescens and T. japonica had higher levels of anti-neosporal activity compared to the not treated control. Active constituents of the extracts were sophoridane, furosardonin A, and tetraisopropylidene-cyclobutane in S. flavescens; 5,17-ß-dihydroxy-de-A-estra-5,7,9,14-tetraene, furanodiene, and 9,12-octadecadienoic acid (Z,Z)-(CAS,1) in T. japonica.

Experimental infection of a newly emerging Korean type I porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus isolate in colostrum-deprived pigs.

BACKGROUND: Recently, new emergence of type I PRRSV has been reported in Korea by several research groups. Although specific subgroups of type I PRRSVs in Korea were observed in the previous phylogenetic analysis, there is a lack of information about the virulence of type I PRRSV recently isolated in Korea. METHODS: One type I PRRSV isolate (G2446, 3 times passaged in primarily cultured pulmonary macrophages) in Korea was experimentally infected in colostrum-deprived pigs. The pathological and serological evaluations were performed and compared to type II PRRSV strain (CP07-401-9, 5 times passaged in MARC-145 cell lines)-infected pigs, for 21 days post challenge (dpc). RESULTS: The pneumonia found in gross examination was more severe in type I PRRSV-infected pigs than type II PRRSV-infected pigs. Both groups showed bronchointerstitial pneumonia, mild multifocal perivascular lymphohistiocytic myocarditis and lymphadenopathy at 14 dpc. However, the unique histopathologic lesions were not found in the pigs experimentally infected with a Korean type I PRRSV isolate, when compared to previous data about classical pathology of PRRSV. The PRRS-specific antibodies were detected in the first week after challenge and viremia continued at least until 21 dpc in both groups. CONCLUSION: The gross and histopathologic lesion in this study indicated that Korean type I PRRSV strain (G2446) caused classical PRRSV-specific lesions. Although this study evaluated one representative strain of Korean type I PRRSV, the results may provide information regarding the pathogenicity of type I PRRSV recently emerged in Korea.