Liquid Chromatography/Tandem Mass Spectrometry Analysis of Sophora flavescens Aiton and Protective Effects against Alcohol-Induced Liver Injury and Oxidative Stress in Mice.

In this study, we investigated the hepatoprotective effects of an ethanol extract of Sophora flavescens Aiton (ESF) on an alcohol-induced liver disease mouse model. Alcoholic liver disease (ALD) was caused by the administration of ethanol to male C57/BL6 mice who were given a Lieber-DeCarli liquid diet, including ethanol. The alcoholic fatty liver disease mice were orally administered ESF (100 and 200 mg/kg bw/day) or silymarin (50 mg/kg bw/day), which served as a positive control every day for 16 days. The findings suggest that ESF enhances hepatoprotective benefits by significantly decreasing serum levels of aspartate transaminase (AST) and alanine transaminase (ALT), markers for liver injury. Furthermore, ESF alleviated the accumulation of triglyceride (TG) and total cholesterol (TC), increased serum levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione (GSH), and improved serum alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) activity in the alcoholic fatty liver disease mice model. Cells and organisms rely on the Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1- Nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Keap1-Nrf2) system as a critical defensive mechanism in response to oxidative stress. Therefore, Nrf2 plays an important role in ALD antioxidant responses, and its level is decreased by increased reactive oxidation stress (ROS) in the liver. ESF increased Nrf2, which was decreased in ethanol-damaged livers. Additionally, four polyphenol compounds were identified through a qualitative analysis of the ESF using LC-MS/MS. This study confirmed ESF's antioxidative and hangover-elimination effects and suggested the possibility of using Sophora flavescens Aiton (SF) to treat ALD.

Ziziphus jujuba Miller Ethanol Extract Restores Disrupted Intestinal Barrier Function via Tight Junction Recovery and Reduces Inflammation.

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic inflammatory condition caused by the disruption of the intestinal barrier. The intestinal barrier is maintained by tight junctions (TJs), which sustain intestinal homeostasis and prevent pathogens from entering the microbiome and mucosal tissues. Ziziphus jujuba Miller (Z. jujuba) is a natural substance that has been used in traditional medicine as a therapy for a variety of diseases. However, in IBD, the efficacy of Z. jujuba is unknown. Therefore, we evaluated ZJB in Caco2 cells and a dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)-induced mouse model to demonstrate its efficacy in IBD. Z. jujuba extracts were prepared using 70% ethanol and were named ZJB. ZJB was found to be non-cytotoxic and to have excellent antioxidant effects. We confirmed its anti-inflammatory properties via the down-regulation of inflammatory factors, including inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2). To evaluate the effects of ZJB on intestinal barrier function and TJ improvement, the trans-epithelial electrical resistance (TEER) and fluorescein isothiocyanate-dextran 4 kDa (FITC-Dextran 4) permeability were assessed. The TEER value increased by 61.389% and permeability decreased by 27.348% in the 200 µg/mL ZJB group compared with the 50 ng/mL IL-6 group after 24 h. Additionally, ZJB alleviated body weight loss, reduced the disease activity index (DAI) score, and induced colon shortening in 5% DSS-induced mice; inflammatory cytokines, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, and interleukin (IL)-6 were down-regulated in the serum. TJ proteins, such as Zonula occludens (ZO)-1 and occludin, were up-regulated by ZJB in an impaired Caco2 mouse model. Additionally, according to the liquid chromatography results, in tandem with mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) analysis, seven active ingredients were detected in ZJB. In conclusion, ZJB down-regulated inflammatory factors, protected intestinal barrier function, and increased TJ proteins. It is thus a safe, natural substance with the potential to be used as a therapeutic agent in IBD treatment.

Effects of Growth Hormone-Releasing Hormone (GHRH) Plasmid Treatment on the Reproductive Productivity of Sows in Primiparous and Multiparous Sow Breeds.

The effect of growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH) plasmid treatment on sow reproductive performance was examined. Forty pregnant sows (three-way crossbreed: Landrace × Yorkshire × Duroc) at 85 days of gestation were included in the study and consisted of twenty primiparous and twenty multiparous sows (third parity). Sows were randomly assigned to the control and treatment groups. The treatment group received 5 mg dose of GHRH plasmid injection via electroporation, whereas the control group received a phosphate buffer solution. Reproductive indicators, including serum insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) concentration and weaned piglet data, were assessed. In the GHRH plasmid-treated group, serum IGF-1 concentration significantly increased compared with that in the control group, a trend observed in primiparous and multiparous sows. The key indicator of reproductive performance, litter size, showed that for control primiparous sows (C-PS), it was 10.90 ± 0.99 kg, while for control multiparous sows (C-MS), it was 14.00 ± 0.67 kg. Furthermore, for primiparous sows treated with GHRH plasmid (G-PS), the litter size was 11.60 ± 0.97 kg, and for multiparous sows treated with GHRH plasmid (G-MS), it was 14.00 ± 0.82 kg. The GHRH plasmid-treated group also exhibited a higher number of total births and surviving piglet numbers, along with a decrease in stillborn piglets; however, there was no significant difference in birth weight. The results suggest that GHRH plasmid treatment can enhance the reproductive performance of sows.

Intracellular Growth Inhibition and Host Immune Modulation of 3-Amino-1,2,4-triazole in Murine Brucellosis.

Catalase, an antioxidant enzyme widely produced in mammalian cells and bacteria, is crucial to mitigating oxidative stress in hostile environments. This function enhances the intracellular survivability of various intracellular growth pathogens, including Brucella (B.) abortus. In this study, to determine whether the suppression of catalase can inhibit the intracellular growth of B. abortus, we employed 3-amino-1,2,4-triazole (3-AT), a catalase inhibitor, in both RAW 264.7 macrophage cells and an ICR mouse model during Brucella infection. The intracellular growth assay indicated that 3-AT exerts growth-inhibitory effects on B. abortus within macrophages. Moreover, it contributes to the accumulation of reactive oxygen species and the formation of nitric oxide. Notably, 3-AT diminishes the activation of the nucleus transcription factor (NF-κB) and modulates the cytokine secretion within infected cells. In our mouse model, the administration of 3-AT reduced the B. abortus proliferation within the spleens and livers of infected mice. This reduction was accompanied by a diminished immune response to infection, as indicated by the lowered levels of TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-10 and altered CD4+/CD8+ T-cell ratio. These results suggest the protective and immunomodulatory effects of 3-AT treatment against Brucella infection.

Establishment of the Maximum Residual Limit in the Milk of Dairy Cows Injected Intramuscularly with Prednisolone.

We measured the levels of prednisolone (PSL) residues in milk of intramuscularly dosed dairy cows and established a withdrawal time (WT) of PSL in milk. Eight healthy Holstein cows were injected with 10 (PSL-1) or 20 (PSL-2) mL of 10 mg/mL of PSL, and then, their milk was sampled at 12 h intervals for five days. PSL residue concentrations in milk were determined using LC-MS/MS. The correlation coefficient of the calibration curve was 0.9976. The limit of detection (LOD) and the limit of quantification (LOQ) were 0.2 µg/kg and 0.6 µg/kg, respectively. Recoveries ranged from 96.5% to 110.0%, and the coefficient of variation was <5.64%. At 24 h after administration, PSL levels in PSL-1 and PSL-2 were below the LOQ in all milk samples. Although this study had a smaller sample size than the European Medicines Agency's recommendations (n = 20), it was based on the Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency guidelines of the Republic of Korea (n = 8) for the determination of withdrawal periods in milk. We established the withdrawal period for both PSL-1 and PSL-2 in milk at 12 h. In conclusion, we developed an analytical method that is sensitive and can reliably detect PSL in milk, and our estimated WT of PSL in bovine milk is shorter than the current 3-day withdrawal period of PSL in commercial PSL products.

Intracellular growth of Brucella is mediated by Dps-dependent activation of ferritinophagy.

Bacteria of the genus Brucella cause brucellosis, one of the world's most common zoonotic diseases. A major contributor to Brucella's virulence is the ability to circumvent host immune defense mechanisms. Here, we find that the DNA-binding protein Dps from Brucella is secreted within the macrophage cytosol, modulating host iron homeostasis and mediating intracellular growth of Brucella. In addition to dampening iron-dependent production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), a key immune effector required for immediate bacterial clearance, cytosolic Dps mediates ferritinophagy activation to elevate intracellular free-iron levels, thereby promoting Brucella growth and inducing host cell necrosis. Inactivation of the ferritinophagy pathway by Ncoa4 gene knockout significantly inhibits intracellular growth of Brucella and host cell death. Our study uncovers an unconventional role of bacterial Dps, identifying a crucial virulence mechanism used by Brucella to adapt to the harsh environment inside macrophages.

The Modulatory Effect of Sodium Propionate Treatment in the Expression of Inflammatory Cytokines and Intracellular Growth of Brucella abortus 544 in Raw 264.7 Cells.

In this study, we investigated the effects of sodium propionate (SP) treatment on intracellular mechanism of murine macrophages and its contribution to host immunity during Brucella abortus 544 infection. The intracellular growth assay revealed that SP inhibited Brucella replication inside the macrophages. To determine intracellular signaling involved during SP treatment after Brucella infection, we analyzed the change of five different cytokines production relevant to SP such as TNF-α, IL-10, IFN-γ, IL-1ß, and IL-6, and the results indicated that the boost with IL-10 was apparent throughout the culture period for 48 h as well as IL-1ß which was apparent at 24 h post-infection and IFN-γ which was apparent at 24 h and 48 h in comparison to SP untreated groups. On the other way, SP-treated cells displayed suppressed production of TNF-α and IL-6 at all time points tested and 48 h post-infection, respectively. Furthermore, we conducted western blot to establish a cellular mechanism, and the result suggested that SP treatment attenuated p50 phosphorylation, part of the NF-κB pathway. These findings indicated that the inhibitory effect of SP against Brucella infection could be attributed through induction of cytokine production and interference on intracellular pathway, suggesting SP as a potential candidate for treating brucellosis.

Increased Effect of Foot-and-Mouth Disease Virus Vaccine Structural Protein Antibody Positivity Rates in Piglets Orally Treated with Amino-Zinc Complex.

Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) is a highly contagious animal disease that occurs in cloven-hoofed animals including pigs. To prevent FMD, vaccines and adjuvants are routinely used to induce an immune response; however, it requires an extended period of time to produce sufficient antibodies to prevent viral infection. In this study, we evaluated the increased effectiveness of the FMD vaccine structural protein (SP) antibody by administrating the Amino-Zn adjuvant to 100 pigs from 3 test pig farms in their feed. The FMD vaccine antibody titer and immunological index were analyzed using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kit, and the hematological and blood biochemical parameters were analyzed using an automatic blood analyzer. The titer of the FMD vaccine SP antibodies in the 0.2% Amino-Zn-administered group was significantly increased compared to that of the positive control group only injected with FMD vaccine at 4 weeks after the first vaccination and at 4, 8, and 16 weeks after the second vaccination (p < 0.05). The FMD vaccine SP antibody positive rate was 100% until shipment. The IFN-γ and IgA levels were significantly increased by Amino-Zn administration 4 weeks after the first vaccination and 4 weeks after the second vaccination (p < 0.05). On the other hand, serum AST, and CPK (p < 0.001) were significantly decreased by Amino-Zn administration. These results show that the administration of Amino-Zn is effective in enhancing the antibody titer and immunogenicity of the FMD vaccine and can be used as an oral adjuvant (OrAd) to prevent viral diseases, such as FMD.

Protective Effects against Brucella abortus 544 Infection in a Murine Macrophage Cell Line and in a Mouse Model via Treatment with Sirtuin 1 Activators Resveratrol, Piceatannol and Ginsenoside Rg3.

Brucellosis is a contagious zoonotic disease that infects millions of people annually with hundreds of millions more being exposed. It is caused by Brucella, a highly infectious bacterial species capable of infecting humans with an estimated dose of 10-100 organisms. Sirtuin 1 (SIRT1) has been reported to contribute to prevention of viral diseases as well as a chronic infection caused by Mycobacterium bovis. Here, we investigated the role of SIRT1 in the establishment of Brucella abortus infection in both in vitro and in vivo systems using the reported SIRT1 activators resveratrol (RES), piceatannol (PIC), and ginsenoside Rg3 (Rg3). In RAW264.7 cells, SIRT1 activators did not alter the adherence of Brucella or Salmonella Typhimurium. However, reduced uptake of Brucella was observed in cells treated with PIC and Rg3, and survival of Brucella within the cells was only observed to decrease in cells that were treated with Rg3, while PIC treatment reduced the intracellular survival of Salmonella. SIRT1 treatment in mice via oral route resulted in augmented Brucella resistance for PIC and Rg3, but not RES. PIC treatment favors Th2 immune response despite reduced serum proinflammatory cytokine production, while Rg3-treated mice displayed high IL-12 and IFN-γ serum production. Overall, our findings encourage further investigation into the complete mechanisms of action of the different SIRT1 activators used as well as their potential benefit as an effective alternative approach against intracellular and extracellular pathogens.

Anti-Periodontitis Effects of Dendropanax morbiferus H.Lév Leaf Extract on Ligature-Induced Periodontitis in Rats.

Periodontitis is caused by pathogens in the oral cavity. It is a chronic infectious disease that causes symptoms including gingival bleeding and tooth loss resulting from the destruction of periodontal tissues coupled with inflammation. Dendropanax morbiferus H.Lév (DM) is a natural product that exhibits various biological activities with few side effects. In this study, the potential of DM leaf hot-water extracts (DMWE) as a treatment for periodontitis was determined and its anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory effects were evaluated. Compounds in DMWE were identified by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and nitric oxide (NO) and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) production was measured in RAW 264.7 cells. We measured the gingival index and gingival sulcus depth, and micro-CT was performed in vivo using a ligature-induced periodontitis rat model, which is similar to human periodontitis. The DMWE-treated group exhibited a decrease in cytokine concentration and relieved the gingival index and gingival sulcus depth compared with the periodontitis-induced control group. In addition, micro-CT and histological analysis revealed that DMWE exhibited anti-inflammatory effects and improved alveolar bone loss in periodontitis-induced rats. These findings suggest that DMWE has excellent anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory effects that protect and prevent periodontal tissue damage and tooth loss caused by the inflammatory response.

Inhibition of Autophagy Promotes Hemistepsin A-Induced Apoptosis via Reactive Oxygen Species-Mediated AMPK-Dependent Signaling in Human Prostate Cancer Cells.

Chemotherapy is an essential strategy for cancer treatment. On the other hand, consistent exposure to chemotherapeutic drugs induces chemo-resistance in cancer cells through a variety of mechanisms. Therefore, it is important to develop a new drug inhibiting chemo-resistance. Although hemistepsin A (HsA) is known to have anti-tumor effects, the molecular mechanisms of HsA-mediated cell death are unclear. Accordingly, this study examined whether HsA could induce apoptosis in aggressive prostate cancer cells, along with its underlying mechanism. Using HsA on two prostate cancer cell lines, PC-3 and LNCaP cells, the cell analysis and in vivo xenograft model were assayed. In this study, HsA induced apoptosis and autophagy in PC-3 cells. HsA-mediated ROS production attenuated HsA-induced apoptosis and autophagy after treatment with N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC), a ROS scavenger. Moreover, autophagy inhibition by 3-MA or CQ is involved in accelerating the apoptosis induced by HsA. Furthermore, we showed the anti-tumor effects of HsA in mice, as assessed by the reduced growth of the xenografted tumors. In conclusion, HsA induced apoptosis and ROS generation, which were blocked by protective autophagy signaling.

Immune-metabolic receptor GPR84 surrogate and endogenous agonists, 6-OAU and lauric acid, alter Brucella abortus 544 infection in both in vitro and in vivo systems.

Brucella abortus, one of the most important members of the genus Brucella responsible for human disease, is an intracellular pathogen capable of avoiding or interfering components of the host immune responses that are critical for its virulence. GPR84, on the other hand, is a seven-transmembrane GPCR involved in the inflammatory response and its induced expression was associated with B. abortus infection of RAW264.7 cells. Here we examined the effects of the reported GPR84 surrogate and endogenous agonists, namely 6-n-octylaminouracil (6-OAU) and lauric acid (LU), respectively in the progression of B. abortus infection in a cell and mouse models. The in vitro studies revealed the LU had bactericidal effect against Brucella starting at 24 h post-incubation. Adhesion of Brucella to RAW264.7 cells was attenuated in both 6-OAU and LU treatments. Brucella uptake was observed to be inhibited in a dose and time-dependent manner in 6-OAU but only at the highest non-cytotoxic concentration in LU-treated cells. However, survival of Brucella within the cells was reduced only in LU-treated cells. We also investigated the possible inhibitory effects of the agonist in other Gram-negative bacterium, Salmonella Typhimurium and we found that both adhesion and uptake were inhibited in 6-OAU treatment and only the intracellular survival for LU treatment. Furthermore, 6-OAU treatment reduced ERK phosphorylation and MCP-1 secretion during Brucella infection as well as reduced MALT1 protein expression and ROS production in cells without infection. LU treatment attenuated ERK and JNK phosphorylation, MCP-1 secretion and NO accumulation but increased ROS production during infection, and similar pattern with MALT1 protein expression. The in vivo studies showed that both treatments via oral route augmented resistance to Brucella infection but more pronounced with 6-AOU as observed with reduced bacterial proliferation in spleens and livers. At 7 d post-treatment and 14 d post-infection, 6-OAU-treated mice displayed reduced IFN-γ serum level. At 7 d post-infection, high serum level of MCP-1 was observed in both treatments with the addition of TNF-α in LU group. IL-6 was increased in both treatments at 14 d post-infection with higher TNF-α, MCP-1 and IL-10 in LU group. Taken together, 6-OAU and LU are potential candidates representing pharmaceutical strategy against brucellosis and possibly other intracellular pathogens or inflammatory diseases.

Formyl peptide receptor 2 (FPR2) antagonism is a potential target for the prevention of Brucella abortus 544 infection.

Here, we explore the potential role of formyl peptide receptor 2 (FPR2) during Brucella abortus infection. FPR2 manipulation affected B. abortus internalization but not its growth within macrophages. During the activation of FPR2 induced by its agonist AGP-8694, a high level of Brucella uptake was accompanied by an increase in ERK phosphorylation, while intracellular survival at 24 h postincubation was observed to be associated with slightly reduced nitrite accumulation but augmented superoxide anion production. Attenuated secretion of IL-6 and IL-10 were observed 48 h postincubation in the bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMDMs) treated with the FPR2 antagonist WRW4. An opposite pattern of bacterial uptake was observed upon treatment with the FPR2 antagonist, but no significant changes in the activation of MAPKs or the production of nitrite or superoxide anion were observed. Interestingly, AGP-8694 treatment of mice did not lead to differences in spleen or liver weight but slightly enhanced bacterial proliferation was observed in the spleen. Although the weights of the spleen or liver did not differ, WRW4 treatment led to reduced bacterial proliferation in the spleen. Furthermore, FPR2 antagonist treatment was associated with high serum levels of the proinflammatory cytokines IL-12, TNF-α, IFN-γ and MCP-1, while the production of TNF-α was inhibited in AGP-8694-treated mice. IL-6 and IL-10 levels were slightly increased in AGP-8694-treated mice at 24 h postinfection. Our findings demonstrated the contribution of FPR2 via manipulating this receptor using its reported agonist AGP-8694 and antagonist WRW4 in both in vitro and in vivo systems. Although activation of the receptor did not consistently induced Brucella infection, FPR2 inhibition may be a promising strategy to treat brucellosis in animals which encourages further investigation.

Prostaglandin I2 (PGI2) inhibits Brucella abortus internalization in macrophages via PGI2 receptor signaling, and its analogue affects immune response and disease outcome in mice.

To date, the implications of prostaglandin I2 (PGI2), a prominent lipid mediator for modulation of immune responses, has not been clearly understood in Brucella infection. In this study, we found that cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) was significantly expressed in both infected bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMMs) and RAW 264.7 cells. Prostaglandin I2 synthase (PTGIS) expression was not significantly changed, and PGI2receptor (PTGIR) expression was downregulated in BMMs but upregulated in RAW 264.7 macrophages at late infection. Here, we presented that PGI2, a COX-derived metabolite, was produced by macrophages during Brucella infection and its production was regulated by COX-2 and IL-10. We suggested that PGI2 and selexipag, a potent PGI2 analogue, inhibited Brucella internalization through IP signaling which led to down-regulation of F-actin polymerization and p38α MAPK activity. Administration with selexipag suppressed immune responses and resulted in a notable reduction in bacterial burden in spleen of Brucella-challenged mice. Taken together, our study is the first to characterize PGI2 synthesis and its effect in evasion strategy of macrophages against Brucella infection.

Transcriptomic profiling of phospholipase A2 and the role of arachidonic acid during Brucella abortus 544 infection in both in vitro and in vivo systems.

To date, the antimicrobial activity of arachidonic acid (AA) with regard to pathogenesis of Brucella in macrophages is unknown. We found that AA is highly toxic to B. abortus in a time- and dose-dependent manner. Transcription profiling of different groups of phospholipases A2 (PLA2) was examined, ten PLA2 were detected including cPLA2-IV-A, cPLA2-IV-B, iPLA2-VI, sPLA2-I-B, sPLA2-II-C, sPLA2-II-D, sPLA2-II-E, sPLA2-V, sPLA2-X, sPLA2-XII-A. Phagocytic signaling investigation indicated that AA treatment attenuated p38α activity in infected culture macrophages possibly leading to inhibition of Brucella internalization. Post-treatment with the fatty acid did not influence bacterial intracellular multiplication or alter production of antimicrobial effectors like ROS and NO in RAW 264.7 cells. On the other hand, AA administration significantly reduced bacterial load and modestly inhibited pro-inflammatory cytokine secretion including TNF, IFN-γ and IL-6 in mice plasma. To our knowledge, we are the first to suggest that B. abortus invasion to RAW 264.7 macrophages is impaired by AA.

Modulatory Effect of Linoleic Acid During Brucella abortus 544 Infection in Murine Macrophage RAW264.7 Cells and Murine Model BALB/c Mice.

In this study, we investigated the effects of linoleic acid (LA) treatment on Brucella abortus infection in professional phagocyte RAW264.7 cells, particularly during the pathogens invasion and intracellular growth in these cells, as well as in murine model BALB/c mice focusing on bacterial splenic proliferation and immunoregulatory activities. LA inhibited the growth of Brucella in a doseand time-dependent manner. The ability of the pathogen to enter the phagocytes was inhibited as was its survival within these cells. This was accompanied by increased nitrite accumulation in these cells at 24 h post-infection. The concentration of LA used in the present study did not affect the total body weight or liver function of the mice. During Brucella infection, the total splenic weight of these animals was not changed; rather, resistance to bacterial proliferation was enhanced in the spleen. Furthermore, mice treated with LA displayed elevated levels of IL-12 and IFN-γ but reduced levels of IL-10 during infection. The findings in this study showed the regulatory role of LA against B. abortus infection suggesting its potential use in designing intervention strategy for brucellosis.

Immunogenicity and protective response induced by recombinant Brucella abortus proteins Adk, SecB and combination of these two recombinant proteins against a virulent strain B. abortus 544 infection in BALB/c mice.

In this study, two recombinant proteins encoded by Brucella abortus genes Adk and SecB were evaluated as single subunit vaccine (SSV) as well as combined subunit vaccine (CSV) against B. abortus infection in BALB/c mice. These genes were cloned into pcold-TF expression system and recombinant proteins were expressed in Escherichia coli DH5α. The immunoreactivity of purified rAdk and rSecB was analyzed by immunoblotting showing that purified rAdk and rSecB as well as pcold-TF vector strongly reacted with Brucella-positive serum. Mice were immunized intraperitoneally with SSVs, CSV, pcold-TF, RB51 and PBS. The analysis of cytokine revealed that SSVs and CSV can strongly induce production of proinflammatory cytokines TNF and IL-6, suggesting that these subunit vaccines elicited innate immune response, particularly, activated antimicrobial mechanism of macrophages to limit the initial infection. On the other hand, immunization with SSVs and CSV elicited strong IFN-γ production and decreased IL-10 production compared to PBS group. The secretion profiles of IFN-γ and IL-10 together with an enhancement of blood CD4+ population and significantly induced specific IgG1 and IgG2a antibodies indicated that SSVs and CSV induced not only humoral immunity but also T helper 1 T cell immunity. Finally, spleen proliferation and bacterial burden in the spleen of mice vaccinated with these subunit vaccines were significantly lower than those of PBS group, which conferred significant protection against B. abortus infection. Altogether, the potential of these antigens of B. abortus could be prospective candidates to develop subunit vaccines against brucellosis.

Adenosine receptor Adora2b antagonism attenuates Brucella abortus 544 infection in professional phagocyte RAW 264.7 cells and BALB/c mice.

Brucella as a stealthy intracellular pathogen avoids activation of innate immune response. Here we investigated the contribution of an adenosine receptor, Adora2b, during Brucella infection in professional phagocyte RAW 264.7 cells and in a murine model. Adora2b-deficient cells showed attenuated Brucella internalization and intracellular survival with enhanced release of IL-6, TNF-α, IL-12 and MCP-1. In addition, blockade of Adora2b using MRS 1754 treatment in mice resulted in increased total weight of the spleens but suppressed bacterial burden in these organs accompanied by elevated levels of IL-6, IFN-γ, TNF-α, IL-12 and MCP-1, while reduced IL-10. Overall, we proposed that the Adora2b participates in the successful phagocytic pathway and intracellular survival of Brucella in RAW 264.7 cells, and could be a potential therapeutic target for the treatment of acute brucellosis in animals.

Immunization With a Combination of Four Recombinant Brucella abortus Proteins Omp16, Omp19, Omp28, and L7/L12 Induces T Helper 1 Immune Response Against Virulent B. abortus 544 Infection in BALB/c Mice.

Protective efficiency of a combination of four recombinant Brucella abortus (B. abortus) proteins, namely outer membrane protein (Omp) 16, Omp19, Omp28, and 50S ribosomal protein L7/L12 was evaluated as a combined subunit vaccine (CSV) against B. abortus infection in RAW 264.7 cell line and murine model. The immunoreactivity of these four recombinant proteins as well as pCold-TF vector reacted with Brucella-positive serum individually, but not with Brucella-negative serum by immunoblotting assay. CSV-treated RAW 264.7 cells significantly induced production of IFN-γ and IL-12 while decreased IL-10 production at the late stage of infection compared to PBS-treated control cells. In addition, the enhancement of nitric oxide production together with cytokines secretion profile in CSV-treated cells proved that CSV notably activated bactericidal mechanisms in macrophages. Consistently, mice immunized with CSV strongly elicited production of pro-inflammatory cytokines TNF-α, IL-6 and MCP-1 compared to PBS control group. Moreover, the concentration of IFN-γ was >IL-10 and titers of IgG2a were also heightened compared to IgG1 in CSV-immunized mice which suggest that CSV induced predominantly T helper 1 T cell. These results suggest that the CSV used in the present study is a potential candidate as a preventive therapy against brucellosis.

Chemokine receptor 4 (CXCR4) blockade enhances resistance to bacterial internalization in RAW264.7 cells and AMD3100, a CXCR4 antagonist, attenuates susceptibility to Brucella abortus 544 infection in a murine model.

We investigated the involvement of chemokine receptor type 4 (CXCR4) signaling on the outcome of Brucella (B.) abortus 544 infection in murine macrophages and in a mouse model. CXCR4 manipulation were first evaluated for Brucella invasion and intracellular survival efficiency, mitogen-activated protein kinases (ERK1/2, JNK, p38α) activation and generation of nitric oxide (NO), and then in the splenic bacterial proliferation and cytokine production in BALB/c mice. CXCR4 blockade is involved in the successful control of Brucella invasion, reduction of ERK1/2 phosphorylation and inhibition of nitric oxide release from macrophages. Furthermore, using a reported CXCR4-specific antagonist AMD3100 resulted in splenomegaly but attenuated Brucella proliferation in these organs with elevated serum levels of MCP-1, TNF and IL-12. These findings provide insights on the contribution of CXCR4 signaling in the phagocytic pathway and immune modulation during B. abortus infection.