RNAPro.SAL: A device for rapid and standardized collection of saliva RNA and proteins
BIOTECHNIQUES
Authors: Chiang, Samantha H.; Thomas, Gerald A.; Liao, Wei; Grogan, Tristan; Buck, Robert L.; Fuentes, Laurel; Yakob, Maha; Laughlin, Mary J.; Schafer, Chris; Nazmul-Hossain, Abu; Wei, Fang; Elashoff, David; Slowey, Paul D.; Wong, David T. W.
Abstract
The stabilization and processing of salivary transcriptome and proteome biomarkers is a critical challenge due to the ubiquitous nature of nucleases and proteases as well as the inherent instability of these biomarkers. Furthermore, extension of salivary transcriptome and proteome analysis to pointof-care and remote sites requires the availability of self-administered ambient temperature collection and storage tools. To address these challenges, a self-contained whole saliva collection and extraction system, RNAPro.SAL, has been developed that provides rapid ambient temperature collection along with concurrent processing and stabilization of extracellular RNA (exRNA) and proteins. The system was compared to the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) standard clinical collection process (standard operating procedure, SOP). Both systems measured total RNA and protein, and exRNA IL-8, glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH), b-actin and ribosomal protein S9 (RPS9) by qPCR. Proteome analysis was measured by EIA analysis of interleukin-8 (IL-8), and beta-actin, as well as total protein. Over 97% of viable cells were removed by both methods. The system compared favorably to the labor-intensive clinical SOP, which requires low-temperature collection and isolation, yielding samples with similar protein and exRNA recovery and stability.
Heat stress abatement during the dry period influences prolactin signaling in lymphocytes
DOMESTIC ANIMAL ENDOCRINOLOGY
Authors: do Amaral, B. C.; Connor, E. E.; Tao, S.; Hayen, J.; Bubolz, J.; Dahl, G. E.
Abstract
Heat stress perturbs prolactin (PRL) release and affects dairy cow lactational performance and immune cell function. We hypothesized that greater PRL concentration in plasma of heat-stressed cows relative to cooled cows would decrease expression of prolactin receptor (PRL-R) mRNA and increase mRNA expression of suppressors of cytokine signaling (SOCS) in lymphocytes, altering their cytokine production. To test this hypothesis, multiparous Holstein cows were dried off 46 d before their expected calving date and assigned randomly to heat stress (HT; n = 9) or cooling (CL; n = 7) during the entire dry period. A second study was conducted the following year with an additional 21 cows (12 HT; 9 CL). Lymphocytes were isolated from cows at -46, -20, +2, and +20 d relative to expected calving date and mRNA expression of PRL-R, SOCS-1, SOCS-2, SOCS-3, cytokine-inducible SH2-containing protein (CIS), and heat shock protein 70 KDa AS (HSPAS), and housekeeping genes hydroxymethylbilane synthase (HMBS), ATP synthase, H+ transporting mitochondrial F1 complex, beta subunit (ATP5B), and ribosomal protein S9 (RPS9) was analyzed by quantitative real-time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Cows exposed to HT had greater PRL concentration in plasma compared with CL cows. Measurement of lymphocyte proliferation indicated that lymphocytes of CL cows proliferated more than those from HT cows and exressed more PRL-R mRNA and less SOCS-1 and SOCS-3 mRNA relative to HT cows. Further, lymphocytes from CL cows produced more tumor necrosis factor-a (TNF-alpha) than those from HT cows. These results suggest that changes in PRL-signaling pathway genes during heat stress are associated with differential cytokine secretion by lymphocytes and may regulate lymphocyte proliferation in dairy cows. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.