Improved development of somatic cell cloned bovine embryos by a mammary gland epithelia cells in vitro model

Previous studies have established a bovine mammary gland epithelia cells in vitro model by the adenovirus-mediated telomerase (hTERT-bMGEs). The present study was conducted to confirm whether hTERT-bMGEs were effective target cells to improve the efficiency of transgenic expression and somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT). To accomplish this, a mammary-specific vector encoding human lysozyme and green fluorescent protein was used to verify the transgenic efficiency of hTERT-bMGEs, and untreated bovine mammary gland epithelial cells (bMGEs) were used as a control group. The results showed that the hTERT-bMGEs group had much higher transgenic efficiency and protein expression than the bMGEs group. Furthermore, the nontransgenic and transgenic hTERT-bMGEs were used as donor cells to evaluate the efficiency of SCNT. There were no significant differences in rates of cleavage or blastocysts or hatched blastocysts of cloned embryos from nontransgenic hTERT-bMGEs at passage 18 and 28 groups (82.8% vs. 81.9%, 28.6% vs. 24.8%, 58.6% vs. 55.3%, respectively) and the transgenic group (80.8%, 26.5% and 53.4%); however, they were significantly higher than the bMGEs group (71.2%, 12.8% and 14.8%), (p < 0.05). We confirmed that hTERT-bMGEs could serve as effective target cells for improving development of somatic cell cloned cattle embryos.

Beta-arrestin2 stimulates interleukin-17 production and expression of CD4+ T lymphocytes in a murine asthma model

Allergic asthma is a complex and chronic inflammatory airway disease. Interleukin-17 is a pro-inflammatory cytokine which plays critical role in the pathogenesis of allergic asthma. It has been reported that beta-arrestin2 regulated the development of allergic asthma at a proximal step in the inflammatory cascade. In this study, the influence of beta-arrestin2 on Interleukin-17 production and expression of CD4+ T lymphocytes in a murine asthma model was investigated. Splenic CD4+ T lymphocytes from wild-type mice and those from a murine asthma model were purified. CD4+ T lymphocytes from a murine asthma model were transfected with siRNAs targeting the beta-arrestin2 or were pretreated with the ERK1/2 inhibitor, PD98059. After stimulation, the protein expression of beta-arrestin2 phosphorylated-ERK1/2 and IL-17 were detection by Western blot; the mRNA expression of IL-17 were detected by real-time PCR; the accumulation of IL-17 in supernatants were detected by ELISA. We found that beta-arrestin2 phosphorylated-ERK1/2 and IL-17 expression in CD4+ T lymphocytes from a murine asthma model was increased compared with those from wildtype mice[p<0.01]. Treatment of CD4+ T lymphocytes with siRNAs targeting the beta-arrestin2 down-regulated phosphorylated- ERK 1/2 and IL-17 expression [p < 0.01]. PD98059 decreased IL-17 production and expression in CD4+ T lymphocytes in a murine asthma model [p < 0.05]. We conclude that beta-arrestin2 stimulated IL-17 production and expression of CD4+ T lymphocytes in a murine asthma model. The effect was partly mediated by ERK 1/2 activation. Targeting beta-arrestin2 biological activity could be a valid therapeutic approach for the treatment of allergic asthma