Pathogenesis and immune responses in gnotobiotic calves after infection with the genogroup II.4-HS66 strain of human norovirus

We previously characterized the pathogenesis of two host-specific bovine enteric caliciviruses (BEC), the GIII.2 norovirus (NoV) strain CV186-OH and the phylogenetically unassigned NB strain, in gnotobiotic (Gn) calves. In this study we evaluated the Gn calf as an alternative animal model to study the pathogenesis and host immune responses to the human norovirus (HuNoV) strain GII.4-HS66. The HuNoV HS66 strain caused diarrhea (five/five calves) and intestinal lesions (one/two calves tested) in the proximal small intestine (duodenum and jejunum) of Gn calves, with lesions similar to, but less severe than, those described for the Newbury agent 2 (NA-2) and NB BEC. Viral capsid antigen was also detected in the jejunum of the proximal small intestine of one of two calves tested by immunohistochemistry. All inoculated calves shed virus in feces (five/five calves), and one/five had viremia. Antibodies and cytokine (proinflammatory, tumor necrosis factor alpha [TNF-α]; Th1, interleukin-12 [IL-12] and gamma interferon [IFN-γ]; Th2, IL-4; Th2/T-regulatory, IL-10) profiles were determined in serum, feces, and intestinal contents (IC) of the HuNoV-HS66-inoculated calves (n = 5) and controls (n = 4) by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in the acute (postinoculation day 3 [PID 3]) and convalescent (PID 28) stages of infection. The HuNoV-HS66-specific antibody and cytokine-secreting cells (CSCs) were quantitated by ELISPOT in mononuclear cells of local and systemic tissues at PID 28. Sixty-seven percent of the HuNoV-HS66-inoculated calves seroconverted, and 100% coproconverted with immunoglobulin A (IgA) and/or IgG antibodies to HuNoV-HS66, at low titers. The highest numbers of antibody-secreting cells (ASC), both IgA and IgG, were detected locally in intestine, but systemic IgA and IgG ASC responses also occurred in the HuNoV-HS66-inoculated calves. In serum, HuNoV-HS66 induced higher peaks of TNF-α and IFN-γ at PIDs 2, 7, and 10; of IL-4 and IL-10 at PID 4; and of IL-12 at PIDs 7 and 10, compared to controls. In feces, cytokines increased earlier (PID 1) than in serum and TNF-α and IL-10 were elevated acutely in the IC of the HS66-inoculated calves. Compared to controls, at PID 28 higher numbers of IFN-γ and TNF-α CSCs were detected in mesenteric lymph nodes (MLN) or spleen and Th2 (IL-4) CSCs were elevated in intestine; IL-10 CSCs were highest in spleen. Our study provides new data confirming HuNoV-HS66 replication and enteropathogenicity in Gn calves and reveals important and comprehensive aspects of the host's local (intestine and MLN) and systemic (spleen and blood) immune responses to HuNoV-HS66.     

Caffeic acid phenethyl ester attenuates allergic airway inflammation and hyperresponsiveness in murine model of ovalbumin-induced asthma

Caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE) is a biologically active ingredient of propolis, which has several interesting biological properties, including antioxidant and anti-inflammatory; however, its anti-allergic effects are poorly understood. The objective of this study was to determine whether treatment with CAPE results in significant inhibition of asthmatic reactions in a mouse model. Mice sensitized and challenged with ovalbumin (OVA) had the following typical asthmatic reactions: an increase in the number of eosinophils in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid; a marked influx of inflammatory cells into the lung around blood vessels and airways, and airway luminal narrowing; the development of airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR); the presence of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and Th2 cytokines, including IL-4 and IL-5, in the BAL fluid; and the presence of allergen-specific IgE in the serum. Five successive intraperitoneal administrations of CAPE before the last airway OVA challenge resulted in significant inhibition of characteristic asthmatic reactions. We determined that increased generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) by inhalation of OVA was diminished via the administration of CAPE in BAL fluid, as well as nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) DNA binding activity. These findings indicate that oxidative stress may have a crucial function in the pathogenesis of bronchial asthma, and that CAPE may be useful as an adjuvant therapy for the treatment of bronchial asthma.     

Synthesis and crystal structure of one-dimensional zinc(II) polymer constructed by salicylate and trans-1,2-bis(4-pyridyl)ethylene

A new zinc(II) compound, [Zn₂(Hsal)₄(4,4′-bpe)₂] · [Zn(Hsal)₂(4,4′-bpe)(DMF)(H₂O)] · CH₃OH (1) (Hsal = salicylate and 4,4′-bpe = trans-1,2-bis(4-pyridyl)ethylene) has been synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, infrared spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, and single crystal X-ray diffraction. The crystal structure consists of three independent moieties: [Zn₂(Hsal)₄(4,4′-bpe)₂], [Zn(Hsal)₂(4,4′-bpe)(DMF)(H₂O)], and non-coordinated CH₃OH molecule. In the compound two independent moieties which are connected by 4,4′-bpe to form 1-D chains, respectively, are further expended to accomplish 2-D network through hydrogen-bonding interactions between non-coordinated methanol and coordinated water molecule or carboxylate oxygen atoms of Hsal ligands.     

Construction of crystal structures of metal(II)-benzoates (M = Mn, Ni, Co, Cu, Zn, and Cd) and 1,2-bis(4-pyridyl)ethane: Effects of metal coordination modes and their catalytic activities

Five polymeric metal(II)-benzoate complexes of formula [Mn(O₂CPh)₂(CH₃OH)₂(bpa)]_n (1-Mn), [Co(O₂CPh)₂(H₂O)(bpa)_1.5]_n (2-Co), [Ni(O₂CPh)₂(H₂O)(bpa)_1.5]_n (3-Ni), [Cu(O₂CPh)₂(CH₃OH)₂(bpa)]_n (4-Cu), and [Cd(O₂CPh)₂(bpa)_1.5]_n (6-Cd) have been synthesized and characterized (bpa = 1,2-bis(4-pyridyl)ethane). They showed two kinds of structures: parallelogram-like two-dimensional sheets for Co, Ni, and Cd, and one-dimensional chains for Mn, Cu, and Zn. Since similar structures provide similar coordination geometries, the structures depend on the coordination geometries of metal ions. The compounds 1-Mn, 2-Co, 4-Cu, 5-Zn, and 6-Cd have catalyzed efficiently the transesterification of a variety of esters, while 3-Ni has displayed a very slow conversion. The reactivity of catalyst 6-Cd containing Cd ion, well known as an inert metal ion for the ligand substitution, was found to be comparable to that of 5-Zn. The reactivities of the compounds used in this study are in the order of 5-Zn > 6-Cd > 1-Mn > 4-Cu > 2-Co ? 3-Ni, indicating that the non-redox metal-containing compounds (5-Zn and 6-Cd) show better activity than the redox-active metal-containing compounds (1-Mn, 4-Cu, 2-Co, and 3-Ni).