Effects of maternal undernutrition during late gestation and/or lactation on colostrum synthesis and immunological parameters in the offspring

2016 ◽  
Vol 28 (3) ◽  
pp. 384 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Chadio ◽  
A. Katsafadou ◽  
B. Kotsampasi ◽  
G. Michailidis ◽  
K. C. Mountzouris ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Immune System ◽  
Quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction ◽  
Later Life ◽  
Polymerase Chain Reaction Analysis ◽  
Late Gestation ◽  
Fetal Life ◽  
Immunological Parameters ◽  
Maternal Undernutrition ◽  
Pregnancy And Lactation ◽  
Polymerase Chain

The emerging immune system is vulnerable to insult not only during fetal life, but also through colostrum transfer of maternal factors with immunomodulatory functions. The aim of the present study was to examine the effects of maternal undernutrition during late gestation and/or lactation on colostrum and milk synthesis, as well as on immunological parameters in offspring. Pregnant ewes were fed to 100% of nutrient requirements throughout pregnancy and lactation (Control) or to 50% during lactation (R1) or during the last 20 days of pregnancy and lactation (R2). Colostrum samples were collected 3 and 18 h after parturition and thymus glands were obtained from 5-month-old offspring. Lamb birthweight did not differ between groups, whereas growth rate was significantly lower in males in the R1 group and in females in both undernourished groups. There was a significant reduction in lactose percentage in the 18-h colostrum of the R2 group. The IgG concentration, as a percentage of protein, was significantly increased in 3-h colostrum samples of the R2 group. Quantitative polymerase chain reaction analysis revealed a significant increase in the expression of Toll-like receptor (TLR) 2, TLR4 and TLR9 in the thymus gland of female lambs in both undernourished groups. In conclusion, early life nutritional imbalances may impact on immune system function in later life due to programming effects.

Expression of vascular endothelial growth factor A isoforms is dysregulated in women with endometriosis

2018 ◽  
Vol 30 (4) ◽  
pp. 651 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kevin Danastas ◽  
Emily J. Miller ◽  
Alison J. Hey-Cunningham ◽  
Christopher R. Murphy ◽  
Laura A. Lindsay
Keyword(s):  
Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor ◽  
Growth Factor ◽  
Quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction ◽  
Polymerase Chain Reaction Analysis ◽  
Vascular Endothelial ◽  
Chain Reaction ◽  
Natural Production ◽  
Polymerase Chain ◽  
Endothelial Growth Factor ◽  
Natural Expression

Angiogenesis is a critical step in the development of ectopic lesions during endometriosis. Although total vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) A is elevated in the peritoneal fluid of women with endometriosis, there are contradictory reports on how levels of total endometrial VEGFA are altered in this disease. Furthermore, limited research is available on different VEGFA isoforms in women with endometriosis. Thus, the aim of the present study was to analyse levels of various VEGFA isoforms in women with and without endometriosis at different stages of the menstrual cycle. Quantitative polymerase chain reaction analysis showed that total VEGFA was highest during menstruation in endometriosis compared with controls (P = 0.0373). VEGF121 and VEGF189 were similarly highest during menstruation in endometriosis compared with controls (P = 0.0165 and 0.0154 respectively). The present study is also the first to identify the natural expression of VEGF111 in human tissue, which is also highest during menstruation in endometriosis (P = 0.0464). This discovery of the natural production of VEGF111 in human endometrium, as well as the upregulation of VEGFA isoforms during menstruation in endometriosis, may shed further light on the development and progression of the disease, and improve our understanding of the regulation of endometrial angiogenesis.

Prenatal programming of postnatal productivity and health of livestock: a brief review

2006 ◽  
Vol 46 (7) ◽  
pp. 725 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. W. Bell
Keyword(s):  
Large Body ◽  
Late Pregnancy ◽  
Later Life ◽  
High Energy ◽  
Meat Production ◽  
Postnatal Life ◽  
Large Animal ◽  
Fetal Life ◽  
Fetal Origins ◽  
Maternal Undernutrition

Human epidemiological evidence has suggested that metabolic perturbations during fetal life may increase predisposition to cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes and obesity in later life. A growing number of controlled experiments on sheep and other large animal species are adding to the already large body of experimental evidence from rat studies in supporting the ‘fetal origins’ hypothesis. Of particular practical relevance are findings that maternal undernutrition in late pregnancy can predispose lambs to glucose intolerance and increased adiposity in early adulthood. This effect may be exacerbated by high energy intakes and limited capacity for muscle growth in undernourished or growth-retarded lambs during early postnatal life. Recent Australian studies have demonstrated the effects of prenatal nutrition on postnatal growth and meat production in beef cattle, and on quantity and quality of wool production in sheep.

scholarly journals Circulating clonal lymphocytes in myeloma constitute a minor subpopulation of B cells [see comments]

Blood ◽  
1996 ◽  
Vol 87 (5) ◽  
pp. 1972-1976 ◽  
Author(s):  
BJ Chen ◽  
J Epstein
Keyword(s):  
B Cells ◽  
B Lymphocytes ◽  
B Lymphocyte ◽  
Mononuclear Cells ◽  
Quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction ◽  
Polymerase Chain Reaction Analysis ◽  
Myeloma Cell ◽  
Myeloma Cells ◽  
Polymerase Chain ◽  
A Minor

Abstract The mononuclear cells in the blood of myeloma patients have been reported to contain a high proportion of phenotypically abnormal myeloma B lymphocytes. These cells have been proposed to constitute the drug-resistant proliferative myeloma cell compartment. To determine the extent of B lymphocyte involvement, the proportion of clonotypic cells among the CD19-expressing cells from myeloma patients was estimated by quantitative polymerase chain reaction analysis of the third complementarity determining region (CDR3). The results indicate that the B lymphocytes constitute, on average, 6% of blood mononuclear cells, and that only a minor fraction of these are clonally related to the myeloma cells. While the small number of circulating clonal cells is not incompatible with their proposed role as a reservoir of proliferating myeloma progenitors, the majority of the B cells appear not to be clonally related to the myeloma cells.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document