Extracellular (soluble) antigen-specific T cell proteins related to the T cell receptor for antigen (sTCRr): serologic and primary amino acid sequence similarity to T cell receptor alpha chains and association with cytokines

Transcriptomic Responses in the Livers and Jejunal Mucosa of Pigs under Different Feeding Frequencies

Simple Summary

Nutrition management strategies are closely related to body development and health, and feeding frequency affects pig feed intake, feed efficiency, body composition, and growth performance. However, the effect of feeding one time daily and two times daily on the intestine has been given less attention. In this study, we investigated the transcriptomic responses induced in the livers and jejunal mucosa of growing pigs by daily feeding schedules. We found that when compared with feeding once daily, two times feeding had no significant effect on the growth performance of growing pigs with the same average daily feed intake. A two meals regimen reduced the concentration of triglycerides in serum and liver, affected the body metabolism by promoting lipid transport, lipogenesis, fatty acid oxidation, chylomicron formation and transport, gluconeogenesis, and inhibiting adipocyte differentiation. These findings support the idea that different feeding regimens could affect lipid metabolism and can be effective in nutritional strategies against metabolic dysfunction.

Abstract

Feeding frequency in one day is thought to be associated with nutrient metabolism and the physical development of the body in both experimental animals and humans. The present study was conducted to investigate transcriptomic responses in the liver and jejunal mucosa of pigs to evaluate the effects of different feeding frequencies on the body’s metabolism. Twelve Duroc × Landrance × Yorkshire growing pigs with an average initial weight (IW) of 14.86 ± 0.20 kg were randomly assigned to two groups: feeding one time per day (M1) and feeding two times per day (M2); each group consisted of six replicates (pens), with one pig per pen. During the one-month experimental period, pigs in the M1 group were fed on an ad libitum basis at 8:00 am; and the M2 group was fed half of the standard feeding requirement at 8:00 am and adequate feed at 16:00 pm. The results showed that average daily feed intake, average daily gain, feed:gain, and the organ indices were not significantly different between the two groups (p > 0.05). The total cholesterol (T-CHO), triglyceride (TG), high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C), and low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C) concentrations in the serum, and the TG concentration in the liver in the M2 groups were significant lower than those in the M1 group, while the T-CHO concentration in the liver were significant higher in the M2 group (p < 0.05). Jejunal mucosa transcriptomic analysis showed the gene of Niemann-Pick C1-Like 1 (NPC1L1), Solute carrier family 27 member 4 (SLC27A4), Retinol binding protein 2 (RBP2), Lecithin retinol acyltransferase (LRAT), Apolipoprotein A (APOA 1, APOA 4, APOB, and APOC 3) were upregulated in the M2 group, indicating that fat digestion was enhanced in the small intestine, whereas Perilipin (PLIN1 and PLIN2) were downregulated, indicating that body fat was not deposited. Fatty acid binding proteins (FABPs) and Acetyl-CoA acyltransferase 1 (ACAA1) were upregulated in the M2 group, indicating that two times feeding daily could promote the oxidative decomposition of fatty acids. In conclusion, under the conditions in this study, the feeding frequency had no significant effect on the growth performance of pigs, but affected the body’s lipid metabolism, and the increase of feeding frequency promoted the fat digestion in the small intestine and the oxidative decomposition of fatty acids in the liver.

Increased levels of Candida albicans mannan-specific T-cell-derived antigen binding molecules in patients with invasive candidiasis

In addition to cytokines, CD4+ T cells have been found to secrete soluble, T-cell-derived antigen binding molecules (TABMs). These antigen-specific immunoproteins are thought to have immunoregulatory properties in the suppression of cell-mediated immunity (CMI) because they often associate with interleukin-10 (IL-10) and transforming growth factor beta. Decreased CMI causes susceptibility to infections caused by organisms which are normally nonpathogenic. In this situation, e.g., Candida albicans saprophytism may develop into invasive candidiasis. The difficult diagnosis of invasive candidiasis is based on the findings obtained from blood cultures and with tissue biopsy specimens, with some additional diagnostic value gained by the detection of Candida albicans mannan antigenemia and antimannan antibodies. In the present study, Candida albicans mannan-specific TABM (CAM-TABM) levels in the sera of patients with invasive candidiasis (n = 11), Candida colonization (n = 11) and noncolonization (n = 10), recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis (n = 30), and atopic eczema dermatitis syndrome (n = 59) and healthy controls (n = 30) were analyzed. For 14 participants, the effect of mannan stimulation on TABM production and gamma interferon (IFN-gamma) and IL-4 mRNA expression by peripheral blood lymphocytes was also studied. It was demonstrated that CAM-TABM production was the highest in patients with invasive candidiasis and that CAM-TABM levels could distinguish Candida-colonized patients from noncolonized patients. In addition, the CAM-TABM level was directly related to mRNA expression for IL-4 but not IFN-gamma. These results reinforce the view that TABMs are associated with decreased CMI, immunoregulation, and the T-helper cell 2-type immune response.

Soluble T-lymphocyte antigen-specific immunoproteins: a progress report

T-cell-derived proteins that bind nominal (non-MHC-associated) antigen specifically (TABM) express V and C region epitopes of the T-cell receptor (TCR) for antigen and have a significant similarity in amino acid sequence to TCR alpha-chain V and C region. The presence of these immunoproteins in human serum and a specific increase in serum TABM in infectious disease, chemical sensitivity, and food intolerance suggest that TABM may impact on pathogenesis through the modulation of cell-mediated immunity, the antigen-specific concentration and delivery of immunoregulatory cytokines such as TGF-beta and elastase, and the induction of the release of substance P by sensory neurons. In this Minireview update, we describe advances in the detection and quantitation of human TABM by monoclonal antibodies, and the association of increased human serum TABM titers in infectious disease, chemical sensitivity, and food intolerance. We suggest that the immunomodulatory mode of action of these immunoproteins may be the antigen-specific focusing of cytokines associated with TABM.

Detection of antigen-specific human serum proteins related to the T-cell receptor in infectious disease and in an immune response to milk proteins or chemicals

A monoclonal IgG2 antibody, MG3C9-1 A12, was prepared by immunization of mice with human serum Cohn Fraction III proteins enriched for TCR Ca+ proteins. MG3C9-1 A12 bound to Mr 28,000, antigen-specific TCR Ca+, beta-, and TCR Ca+, beta+ serum proteins associated with TGF-beta1, 2. The IgG2 monoclonal antibody also bound to T-lymphocyte proteins but did not bind to B lymphocyte proteins, human albumin, IgM, IgG, IgA, or TGF-beta1, 2, 3 immunogenic peptides. Monoclonal MG3C9-1 A12 detected TCR-related proteins specific for filarial extract, milk proteins, or benzoic acid in the sera of individuals with chronic or asymptomatic filariasis, milk intolerance, or sensitivity to toluene, respectively. TCR-related serum proteins were also detected intracellularly in mononuclear cells in frozen sections of ileum from a patient with milk intolerance and reactive mesenteric lymph nodes from a patient with a gastric ulcer. The results suggest that antigen-specific TCR-related serum proteins may be elevated during an immune response to oral, environmental, or infectious stimuli.

Immunological and in-vivo neurological studies on a benzoic acid-specific T cell-derived antigen-binding molecule from the serum of a toluene-sensitive patient

T-cell-derived antigen-binding molecules (TABMs) specific for benzoic acid were isolated from the serum of a toluene-sensitive patient. The resulting purified TABMs (BA-TABMs) did not contain immunoglobulin G and were associated with the cytokine transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta). BA-TABMs bound to benzoic acid conjugated to human serum albumin (BA-HSA), as well as to other chemicals conjugated to human serum albumin-including dinitrophenol and oxazolone. The binding of BA-TABMs to the conjugated chemicals increased the level of detectable TGF-beta, and a similar effect was observed with the unconjugated chemicals, benzoic acid and 2,4-dinitrophenol glycine. The increase in TGF-beta was critically dependent on the ratio between BA-TABMs and the conjugated or unconjugated chemicals; the increase was optimum at intermediate concentrations and absent at low and high concentrations. The authors used an established animal model in vivo and demonstrated that TGF-beta enhanced the inflammatory response induced by the release of neuropeptides from sensory nerves; this enhancement occurred in a dose-dependent manner. The BA-TABMs also enhanced this neurogenic inflammatory response in a dose-dependent manner, and this effect was blocked by anti-TGF-beta antibody. When the authors added either BA-HSA or benzoic acid, the effect of BA-TABMs on neurogenic inflammation was further enhanced at intermediate concentrations of antigen and was unaltered or reduced at higher concentrations. TABMs specific to particular chemicals, as a result of their association with cytokines (e.g., TGF-beta), may be implicated in symptom production in chemically sensitive patients.

Measurement of T-cell-derived antigen binding molecules and immunoglobulin G specific to Candida albicans mannan in sera of patients with recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis

Immunoglobulin G (IgG) and T-cell-derived antigen binding molecules (TABM) specific to whole Candida extract and to Candida-derived mannans prepared by both the cetryltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) and alkaline degradation (PEAT) methods were measured in the sera of women with vulvovaginal candidiasis and controls. In the patients there were significantly higher levels of IgG to both CTAB and PEAT mannans and of TABM to CTAB mannan. TABM specific to CTAB mannan was purified from the serum of a patient with a high titer of this TABM. The purified TABM bound specifically to CTAB mannan and to other yeast and mold extracts. This TABM preparation was associated with transforming growth factor beta2 (TGF-beta2), and on specific binding to mannan there was a marked increase in the level of detectable TGF-beta2. This increase in TGF-beta2 level was critically dependent on the relative concentrations of the purified TABM and mannan, being smallest when either was in excess. The TABM specific to CTAB mannan was also shown to inhibit Candida-stimulated gamma interferon production. The results suggest that CTAB mannan-specific TABM may increase susceptibility to vulvovaginal candidiasis in association with a shift in the immune response to the Th2 type.

Clinical and immunological responses in subjects sensitive to solvents

Twenty patients proved sensitive to a 15-min exposure to 15 ppm toluene. We assessed patients neuropsychologically before and after toluene exposure, and they had impaired cognitive functioning characterized by a deterioration in short- and long-term memory and psychomotor coordination. We measured total immunoglobin G and T-cell antigen-binding molecules against an antigen prepared by conjugation of para-aminobenzoic acid to human serum albumin in 20 patients and 16 controls. There was no significant difference in the immunoglobulin G levels to the antigen in the 2 groups, but the levels of T-cell antigen-binding molecules against the para-aminobenzoic acid conjugated to human serum albumin were elevated significantly in subjects sensitive to toluene. We also found significant associations between T-cell antigen-binding molecule levels and (a) decreased performance on the STROOP (Colour Word) test, (b) a shift in focal length following toluene exposure, (c) clinical assessment of disability, and (d) longer histories of chemical exposure. The measurement of T-cell antigen-binding molecules against chemical haptens may be valuable in the assessment of patients who are sensitive to chemicals.

Production of serum immunoglobulins and T cell antigen binding molecules specific for cow's milk antigens in adults intolerant to cow's milk

The immune response to three cow's milk antigens, beta-lactoglobulin (BLG), alpha-lactalbumin (AL), and casein (CA) was studied in 15 milk-intolerant adult patients and 11 adult controls. IgG, IgE, and IgG subclasses (IgG1, IgG2, IgG3, IgG4) and T cell-derived antigen-binding molecules (TABM) specific for each antigen were measured in both groups. In the patient group, a significant elevation of total IgG and TABM against each of the milk antigens was found as well as raised levels of IgG1 to BLG and CA, IgG4 to BLG, and IgE to CA. TABM specific for BLG were isolated by affinity for BLG and found to be Mr 28,000-46,000 polypeptides functionally and physically associated with TGF-beta1 and TGF-beta2. These results indicate a Th2-type immune response to the milk antigens in milk-intolerant individuals compared with the control group which shows a pattern typical of anergy or deletion.