Anti-IL6 monoclonal antibody, clone BMG-272 [DyLight® 594]

Background This study utilized a chicken model of chronic physiological stress mediated by corticosterone (CORT) administration to ascertain how various host metrics are altered upon challenge with Clostridium perfringens. Necrotic enteritis (NE) is a disease of the small intestine of chickens incited by C. perfringens, which can result in elevated morbidity and mortality. The objective of the current study was to investigate how physiological stress alters host responses and predisposes birds to subclinical NE. Results Birds administered CORT exhibited higher densities of C. perfringens in their intestine, and this corresponded to altered production of intestinal mucus. Characterization of mucus showed that C. perfringens treatment altered the relative abundance of five glycans. Birds inoculated with C. perfringens did not exhibit evidence of acute morbidity. However, histopathologic changes were observed in the small intestine of infected birds. Birds administered CORT showed altered gene expression of tight junction proteins (i.e. CLDN3 and CLDN5) and toll-like receptors (i.e. TLR2 and TLR15) in the small intestine. Moreover, birds administered CORT exhibited increased expression of IL2 and G-CSF in the spleen, and IL1 beta, IL2, IL18, IFN gamma, and IL6 in the thymus. Body weight gain was impaired only in birds that were administered CORT and challenged with C. perfringens. Conclusion CORT administration modulated a number of host functions, which corresponded to increased densities of C. perfringens in the small intestine and weight gain impairment in chickens. Importantly, results implicate physiological stress as an important predisposing factor to NE, which emphasizes the importance of managing stress to optimize chicken health.

Collagen membranes and bone substitute are popular biomaterials in guided tissue regeneration for treatment of traumatized or diseased periodontal tissue. Development of these biomaterials starts in monolayer cell culture, failing to reflect in vivo tissue organization. Spheroid cultures potentially mimic in vivo tissues in structure and functionality. This study aims to compare gingiva cell (GC) monolayers and spheroids to ex vivo gingiva. Human GC monolayers, spheroids and gingiva ex vivo tissues were cultured on plastic surfaces, collagen membranes or bone substitute. Hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining, immunohistochemistry for KI67 and caspase 3 (CASP3), resazurin-based toxicity assays, quantitative polymerase chain reaction for collagen I (COL1A1), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), angiogenin (ANG), interleukin (IL)6andIL8and ELISA for COL1A1, VEGF, ANG, IL6 and IL8 were performed in all cultures. Morphology was different in all culture set-ups. Staining of KI67 was positive in monolayers and staining of CASP3 was positive in spheroids. All culture set-ups were viable. COL1A1 production was modulated in monolayers and ex vivo tissues at mRNA levels, VEGF in monolayers and ex vivo tissues at mRNA levels and in spheroids at protein levels, ANG in spheroids at mRNA levels and in monolayers and spheroids at protein levels, IL6 in monolayers and spheroids at mRNA levels and in spheroids and ex vivo tissues at protein levels and IL8 in monolayers and ex vivo tissues at mRNA levels. Modulations were surface-dependent. In conclusion, each culture model is structurally and functionally different. Neither GC monolayers nor spheroids mimicked gingiva ex vivo tissue in all measured aspects.