African Journal of Immunology Research

African Journal of Immunology Research ISSN 9431-5833 Vol. 5 (11), pp. 432-439, November, 2018. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Tα146-162-iMDC in intervention of experimental autoimmune myasthenia graves in terms of B cell activation

Rong Wang, Huan Yang, Bo Xiao*, Xiaoxiao Duan and Kongliang Shu

Department of Neurology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410008, China.

*Corresponding author. E-mail: [email protected]. Fax: 0731-84327236.

Accepted 02 April 2018

Abstract

To explore the mechanism of Tα146-162-iMDC in intervention of experimental autoimmune myasthenia gravis (EAMG) in terms of B cell activation through use of dendritic cells pulsed with Talpha146-162 in EAMG. Thirty-four healthy male C57BL/6J mice aged 6 to 8 weeks were randomized into model group (Group A), intervention group (Group B) and control group (Group C). Dendritic cells were cultured and loaded with Tα146-162 for intervention in Group B. From initial immunization to 90th day when the experimentation was terminated, the severity of EAMG was evaluated and the morbidity was calculated. Cbl-b mRNA was detected, and Syk and Lyn protein expression and phosphorylation were assessed. Anti-AChR IgM, total IgM, IgG1, IgG2b, and IgG2c were detected on 15d, 45d and 75d after initial immunization. The morbidity of EAMG in Group A was higher than in Group B (P<0.05), while no EAMG occurred in Group C. Cbl-b mRNA in the spleen and lymph nodes was statistically significantly higher in Group A than in Group C (P<0.01), while higher in Group B than in Group A (P<0.05), but lower than in Group C (P<0.05). Syk protein expression and phosphorylation in Group A was higher than in Group C (P<0.01), while lower in Group B than in Group A (P<0.05) and higher than in Group C (P<0.05). Lyn protein expression and phosphorylation in Group A was lower than in Group C (P<0.01), while higher in Group B than in Group A (P<0.05), and lower than in Group C (P<0.050). Anti-AChR antibody in Groups A and B was apparently higher than Group C (P<0.01) after immunization. There was no significant difference in anti-AChR IgM between Groups A and B at different time points (P>0.05). Anti-AChR IgG and IgG1 decreased in Group B compared to Group A at different time points (P<0.05, Day 15; P<0.05, Days 45 and 75, P<0.01). After secondary immunization, anti-AChR IgG2b decreased in Group B compared to Group A at different time points (P<0.05, Day 45; P<0.01, Day 75). No statistically significant difference was noted in Anti-AChR IgG2c between Groups A and B at different time points (P>0.05). Cbl-b suppresses secretion of subtypes of anti-AchR antibodies and B cell activation through negative regulation of B cell antigen receptor (BCR) signal pathway. Induction of B cell tolerance is a possible mechanism of intervention of Tα146-162-iMDC in EAMG.

Key words: Experimental autoimmune myasthenia graves (EAMG), Cbl-b, anti-AChR antibody, B cell activation.

African Journal of Immunology Research ISSN 9431-5833 Vol. 5 (11), pp. 425-431, November, 2018. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Adjuvant effect of saponins isolated from the sepal of Physalis alkekengi L. var. francheti (Mast.) Makino fruit on the immune responses to ovalbumin in mice

Yali Liu¹, Shuying Han^1#, Yanshu Zhu², Yonggang Li¹, Xiaojuan Zhu¹* and Guiyun Wang¹*

¹School of Life Science, Northeast Normal University, 5268 Renmin Street, Changchun, Jilin Province, 130024, China.

²College of Biological Science and Technology, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang, Liaoning Province, 110161, China.

*Corresponding   author.   E-mail:  [email protected], [email protected] Tel: +86-431-85098328.

Accepted 09 November, 2017

Abstract

Saponins (designated SP) were isolated and purified from the sepals of the mature fruit of Physalis alkekengi L. var. francheti (Mast.) Makino which is a traditional Chinese medicine herb. Immunologic enhancement of the SP was evaluated in this paper. Male ICR mice were immunized subcutaneously with ovalbumin (OVA) alone or with OVA containing SP in doses of 0.63, 1.25, 2.50 mg/kg body weight (BW), or QuilA in doses of 0.5, 1.0 mg/kg BW 2 times at 14-day interval. The mice were sacrificed two weeks after the last immunization to analyze humoral and cellular immunity. Delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) response was further detected. The results showed that SP (1.25 mg/kg BW) significantly enhanced OVA-specific antibody titers (IgG, IgG1, IgG2b) in serum, the concanavalin (ConA), lipopolysaccharide (LPS), OVA-induced splenocyte proliferation, proportions of CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ T lymphocytes in spleen, delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) response when compared with OVA-injected mice (P<0.05 or P<0.01). More importantly, haemolytic activity assay indicated SP had lower haemolytic effect than QuilA. Therefore, SP evoked both humoral immunity and cellular immunity, and can be considered as a promising adjuvant eliciting both Th1 and Th2 responses to improve the efficacy of vaccine.

Key words: Herbal medicine, saponin, humoral response, cellular response, adjuvant.

African Journal of Immunology Research ISSN 9431-5833 Vol. 5 (10), pp. 415-419, October, 2018. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Immune function changes of rats in incremental graded exercise test

Wang Hongfang^1* and Zhang Meng²

¹Human Institute of Engineering, Xiangtan City, Human Province, 411104, People’s Republic of China.

²Dezhou University, Dezhou City, Shandong Province, 253023, People’s Republic of China.

*Corresponding author. E-mail: [email protected]. Tel: +86-  0732-8552532,  +86-   0732-8552532.  Fax:   +86-   0732-8552532.

Accepted 24 July, 2017

Abstract

This study evaluated the effect of incremental graded exercise on immune function of spleen and thymus in rats. The animals were divided into 6 groups, with 32 animals in per group: no exercise (W0), exercise for 1 week (W1), exercise for 2 weeks (W2), exercise for 3 weeks (W3), exercise for 4 weeks (W4) and exercise for 5 weeks (W5). Each group was further divided into 4 groups, with 8 animals in per group: sedentary (S), no recovery after exercise (AE0), recovery for 3 h after exercise (AE3), and recovery for 24 h after exercise (AE24). Incremental graded exercise test was performed on a rodent treadmill (gradient of 0°), which lasted for 5 weeks. The rats were motivated to exercise for 30 min a day for 6 days a week and weekend breaks. Speed in the treadmill gradually increased to 5 (W0), 20 (W1), 25 (W2), 30 (W3), 35 (W4) and 40 m/min (W5). At the end of exercise, the rats were killed, and thymus and spleen tissue were collected and weighed. The results showed that incremental exercise affected the immune function of spleen and thymus. With the incremental implementation and extension of exercise time, the effect of exercise on spleen index and thymus index became increasingly greater.

Key words: Incremental graded exercise, immune function, spleen index, thymus index rats.

African Journal of Immunology Research ISSN 9431-5833 Vol. 5 (8), pp. 394-400, August, 2018. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Effects of using different forms and levels of Echinacea purpurea L. on immune responses of broiler chicks

Landy N.¹*, Ghalamkari Gh², Toghyani M.² and Moattar F.³

¹Young Researcher Club, Islamic Azad University, Khorasgan Branch, Isfahan, Iran.

²Department of Animal Science, Khorasgan Branch, Islamic Azad University, Isfahan, Iran.

³Faculty of Pharmacy, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.

*Corresponding author: [email protected]. Tel: +989132070979. Fax: +983115354038.

Accepted 04 July 2017

Abstract

This experiment was conducted to examine the effects of using different forms and levels of Echinacea purpurea L. (EP) in comparison with an antibiotic growth promoter (flavophospholipol) on performance, carcass characteristics and immune responses of broiler chicks. In this trial, 336 one-day-old broiler chicks (Ross 308) were weighted and randomly assigned to the 7 treatment groups, each with 4 replicates and with 12 broilers in each replicate. The 7 treatments were as follows: Basal diet (control), Basal diet + antibiotic (4.5 mg flavophospholipol/kg diet), Basal diet + dried aerial part powder of EP continuously (5 g/kg diet), Basal diet + the dried aerial part powder of EP continuously (10 g/kg diet), Basal diet + the ethanolic extract continuously (0.25 gr/kg diet), Basal diet + the dried aerial part powder of EP with 3-days application followed by 11 application free days intermittently (5 g/kg diet), and Basal diet + the dried aerial part powder of EP with 3-days application followed by 11 application free days intermittently (10 g/kg diet). The contents of flavonol-o-glycosides as quescetin in the Echinacea dried aerial part and the ethanolic extract were determined, and the amount of flavonol-o- glycosides as quescetin in the 5 g/kg diet EP continuously to the ethanolic extract was equal. At the 28th and 31st day, blood samples were taken and analyzed for immune responses. The results showed that the use of the 5 g/kg diet EP continuously led to the highest DFI, DWG and antibody titres against sheep red blood cell (SRBC) and Newcastle virus when compared to other groups. The intermittent application of 10 g/kg diet EP had significant effect in the grower period on DWG, FCR and immune responses against SRBC (p<0.05). DFI and DWG were increased by 5 g/kg diet EP continuously than the ethanolic extract significantly (p<0.05). The percentage weight of carcass traits were not affected by dietary treatments except for the percentage of the small intestine that decreased in the intermittent groups (p<0.05). In conclusion, performance and immune responses of broiler chicks were improved by continuous application of 5 g/kg diet EP.

Key words: Broilers, Echinacea purpurea L., performance, immune responses, carcass characteristics.

African Journal of Immunology Research ISSN 9431-5833 Vol. 5 (7), pp. 386-390, July, 2018. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

The effects of mannan-oligosaccharides on cecal microbial populations, blood parameters, immune response and performance of broiler chicks under controlled condition

Saeed Khalaji*, Mojtaba Zaghari and Somaye Nezafati

Department of Animal Science, College of Agriculture and Natural Resource, University of Tehran, Karaj31587- 11167, Iran.

*Corresponding author. E- mail: [email protected].

Accepted 22 February, 2017

Abstract

A study was conducted to evaluate the effects of mannan- oligosaccharides (MOS) on cecal microbial populations, immune responses to phytohaemagglutinin-P (PHA-P) and sheep red blood cell (SRBC) and performance (weight gain and feed conversion ratio) of broiler chicks under strict controlled condition. Sixty four day-old male broiler chicks were randomly assigned to 12 battery cages pens of 4 chicks each and were fed from 1 to 42 days of age. Two basal diets were formulated for starter (1 to 21 days) and grower (22 to 42 days) period and a graded level of MOS (0.5, 1 and 1.5 g/kg) were added to basal diet to make diets 2 to 4. Body weight gain and feed conversion ratio were measured at 21, 35 and 42 days of age. Immune response to PHA-P was measured at 35 and to SRBC at 28 and 42 days of age. Cecal contents were assayed for lactobacilli and Escherichia coli at 42 days of age. Plasma triglyceride, cholesterol and HDL concentration was measured at 42 days of age. Body weight gain and feed conversion ratio did not differ among dietary treatments. Carcass, breast, tight, gizzard, duodenum, jejunum and ileum relative weight and duodenum, jejunum and ileum relative length were not affected by treatments. MOS increased immune response to PHA-P and SRBC numerically. Plasma triglyceride and HDL concentration did not differ among the treatments but plasma cholesterol concentration decreased linearly by adding MOS to the basal diet (P<0.05). Results showed no significant differences in lactobacilli and E. coli content of ceca among the treatments. Results of this experiment showed that MOS could affect the immune response and performance and as well as plasma cholesterol regardless of strict controlled condition.

Key words: Mannan-oligosaccharides, broiler chicks, performance, immune response, plasma factors.

African Journal of Immunology Research ISSN 9431-5833 Vol. 5 (12), pp. 440-452, December, 2018. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

A method for improving the accuracy of pattern recognition in control charts through the autocorrelation of product characteristics

Hui-Ping Cheng* and Chuen-Sheng Cheng

¹Department of Business Innovation and Development, MingDao University, 369 Wen-Hua Rd., Peetow, Changhua

52345, Taiwan.

²Department of Industrial Engineering and Management, Yuan-Ze University, 135 Yuan-Tung Rd., Chung-Li, Taoyuan 320, Taiwan.

*Corresponding author, E-mail: [email protected].

Accepted 09 May, 2017

Abstract

A control chart is a tool for statistical process control (SPC) used to determine variations in manufacturing processes resulting from common or assignable causes. The presence of unnatural patterns in control charts is an indication that the process has been influenced by assignable causes, and corrective actions must be taken. However, the assumption of uncorrelated or independent observations is not suitable for all of the characteristics pertaining to a product. This study presents a method with which to improve the accuracy of pattern recognition in control charts, through the autocorrelation of product characteristics. Particularly, we developed an artificial algorithm-based machine learning model to recognize unnatural patterns and processes in AR(1) simultaneously. The proposed method integrates an artificial immune system and support vector machine within a recognition system. This study evaluated the accuracy with which four patterns could be recognized. The four patterns include trends, sudden shifts, cyclic patterns, and normal patterns. Identifying unnatural patterns can greatly narrow the range of possible causes that must be investigated, thereby speeding up the diagnostic processes.

Keyword: Pattern recognition, artificial immune algorithm, support vector machine, autocorrelation.