The CC and CXC chemokine receptors in channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus) and their involvement in disease and hypoxia responses

Chemokines are vital regulators of cell mobilization for immune surveillance, inflammation, and development. Chemokines signal through binding to their receptors that are a superfamily of seven-transmembrane domain G-coupled receptors. Recently, a complete repertoire of both CC and CXC chemokines have been identified in channel catfish, but nothing is known about their receptors. In this study, a set of 29 CC chemokine receptor (CCR) genes and 8 CXC chemokine receptor (CXCR) genes were identified and annotated from the channel catfish genome. Extensive phylogenetic and comparative genomic analyses were conducted to annotate these genes, revealing fish-specific CC chemokine receptors, and lineage-specific tandem duplications of chemokine receptors in the teleost genomes. With 29 genes, the channel catfish genome harbors the largest numbers of CC chemokine receptors among all the genomes characterized. Analysis of gene expression after bacterial infections indicated that the chemokine receptors were regulated in a gene-specific manner. Most differentially expressed chemokine receptors were up-regulated after Edwardsiella ictaluri and Flavobacterium columnare infection. Among which, CXCR3 and CXCR4 were observed to participate in immune responses to both bacterial infections, indicating their potential roles in catfish immune activities. In addition, CXCR3.2 was significantly up-regulated in ESC-susceptible fish, and CXCR4b was mildly induced in ESC-resistant fish, further supporting the significant roles of CXCR3 and CXCR4 in catfish immune responses. CXCR4b and CCR9a were both up-regulated not only after bacterial infection, but also after hypoxia stress, providing the linkage between bacterial infection and low oxygen stresses. These results should be valuable for comparative immunological studies and provide insights into their roles in disease and stress responses.     

Fish consumption by children in Canada: Review of evidence,challenges and future goals

Fish consumption is of great importance to children’s health and is essential for neurodevelopment, which begins in pregnancy and continues throughout early childhood and into adolescence. However, fish consumption presents conflicting health outcomes associated with its nutritional benefits and its adverse contaminant risks, because both avoiding fish as well as the consumption of contaminated fish can potentially harm children. This may be challenging to communicate. The present review was performed to assess the current knowledge and recommendations around ‘smart’ fish-consumption decisions. Health Canada advises, as well as other advisories and guides, that fish should be consumed for its health benefits, while also informing consumers, especially women and children, to limit certain fish consumption. The current literature must attempt to handle the challenges inherent in communicating the dilemmas of children’s fish consumption. Incorporation of new knowledge translation strategies are proposed as a means to raise the level of knowledge about optimal fish consumption practices.     

The accumulation study of 90Sr in fish from a fishpond of northern Taiwan

Three kinds of fish from a natural fishpond in the north of Taiwan were collected and analyzed in this study. The three species were non-predatory Ctenopharyn odon idellus, predatory Aristichthys nobilis and predatory Mylopharyngodon piceus. The activity concentrations of ⁹⁰Sr in bone and edible flesh of fish, as well as in water and soil of fishpond were measured by using the radiochemical analysis. Additionally, the concentration of stable calcium in fish bone, [Ca]_bone, and that of stable strontium in fish bone, [Sr]_bone, were measured by ICP-AES. From the results, the concentration factors of ⁹⁰Sr, CF(⁹⁰Sr), in fish bone was no statistic difference between non-predatory and predatory fish. Besides, the accumulation of ⁹⁰Sr in the non-predatory fish remarkably decreased with increasing the fish weight. As for the predatory fish, they both showed no statistically significant correlations between the ⁹⁰Sr activity concentration and the fish weight. Regarding the activity concentrations of ⁹⁰Sr in fish bone, all the fish were observed positively correlated with the measured [Sr]_bone.     

Migrating foreign body into the common carotid artery and internal jugular vein – A rare case

Ingested foreign bodies are a fairly common otorhinolaryngological emergencies encountered in Malaysia. The vast majority of these foreign bodies are fish bones which most commonly are impacted at the level of the cricopharynx. Rarely, however, a foreign body may migrate extraluminally and may even extrude subcutaneously. We report a rare occurrence where a fish bone not only migrated extraluminally, it was found to have migrated into the common carotid artery and the internal jugular vein and required surgical removal.     

Human exposure in Italy to lead,cadmium and mercury through fish and seafood product consumption from Eastern Central Atlantic Fishing Area

The presence of cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb) and mercury (Hg) was investigated in fish and seafood products collected from the FAO Major Fishing Area 34, Eastern Central Atlantic. Samples were purchased from different retail outlets in Italy. Samples were selected so as to assess human exposure through diet. Metals were detected by Q-ICP-MS and Hg-AAS. All the metal concentrations detected were largely below the maximum levels (MLs) established by the European Union. The exposure assessment was undertaken by matching the concentration of Cd, Pb and total Hg in fish and other seafood products selected purposed according to Italian consumption data. The estimated weekly intakes (EWIs) for the evaluated elements related to the consumption of fish and other seafood products by the median of the Italian total population accounted for 14%, 2% and 14% of the standard tolerable weekly intake (TWI) for Cd and Hg as well as the provisional tolerable weekly intake (PTWI) for Pb, respectively.     

鱼油脂肪乳对脓毒症并发严重急性胃肠损伤病人的免疫调理作用

目的:观察鱼油脂肪乳(FO)对严重脓毒症并发急性胃肠损伤Ⅲ级(AGIⅢ级)病人的疗效和免疫调理效果。方法:根据标准纳入AGIⅢ级病人78例,采用随机号码表将病人分为治疗组和对照组。治疗组病人在胃肠外营养(TPN)液中加入FO 10 g/d,24 h持续静脉注射。在TPN中加入中长链脂肪乳50 g与FO为5∶1。对照组不加FO。结果:治疗组病人60 d死亡11例(26.8%),对照组18例(48.6%)。57例病人(73%)为腹腔感染,其中治疗组病人28 d和60 d病死率均低于对照组。CD3总T淋巴细胞百分比低于对照组;辅助/诱导T淋巴细胞百分比低于对照组,而治疗第7天两组CD3总T淋巴细胞百分比、辅助诱导T淋巴细胞百分比均无统计学差异。39例病人存在感染性休克,其中治疗组28 d和60 d病死率均低于对照组;CD3总T淋巴细胞百分比、Ig G、Ig A水平均低于对照组,治疗第7天各项指标差异仍不显著。结论:FO可改善严重脓毒症并发急性胃肠损伤病人的免疫功能,从而降低病死率。     

鱼油脂肪乳对严重创伤病人血清炎性递质水平调节作用和预后的影响

目的:探讨鱼油脂肪乳对严重创伤病人血清炎性递质水平调节作用和预后的影响。方法:选择严重创伤病人(ISS评分16分)40例,随机分为两组,A组为对照组,B组加用鱼油脂肪乳0.2 g/(kg·d)。两组病人均接受等氮、等热量的全胃肠外营养(TPN),并于治疗前和治疗后第3、5和7天分别检测两组病人的血清C反应蛋白(CRP)、肿瘤坏死因子α(TNF-α)、白细胞介素-1(IL-1)和IL-6的水平。统计两组病人多器官功能障碍综合征(MODS)的发生率和28 d病死率。结果:B组病人治疗后不同时间点血清CRP、TNF-α、IL-1和IL-6均明显降低,与A组比差异有显著性统计学意义(P0.05)。B组MODS发生率明显下降(P0.05),28 d病死率有所降低,但无显著性差异。结论:鱼油脂肪乳可调节严重创伤病人炎性递质的释放,降低严重创伤病人血清CRP、TNF-α、IL-1和IL-6水平,能减少严重创伤病人MODS的发生率。     

Effects of dietary fish oil and butterfat on serum lipids and monocyte and platelet interactions with aortic endothelial cells

We studied effects of dietary lipids on some of the initial events in atherogenesis. Adult swine were fed low fat/low cholesterol diets, then challenged with a high cholesterol (1%, w/w) diet supplemented with 11.5% (w/w) butterfat (BF) or MaxEPA^TM fish oil (FO). Serum lipids and monocyte and platelet adhesion to porcine aortic endothelial cells in vitro were measured during feeding of the low fat diet and at 1, 2, and 5 weeks after the dietary challenge. Total cholesterol increased significantly in animals fed the BF and FO diets, but there was no difference between the groups. Animals fed FO had total cholesterol/high-density lipoprotein cholesterol values twice those fed BF ( ). After 2 weeks on the hypercholesterolemic diet, monocyte adhesion to endothelial cells increased in swine fed FO by 123% above those fed a low fat diet, and adhesion values remained elevated (56% above baseline value) after 5 weeks. Monocytes from swine fed BF showed increased adhesion by 87, 53, and 14% above those fed the low fat diet at 1, 2, and 5 weeks respectively. Platelet adhesion to endothelial cells decreased (P < 0.05) after diet change and remained low. Adhesion of platelets from swine fed FO was significantly lower than those fed BF at 1 and 2 weeks but higher at 5 weeks. The FO diet, compared to the BF diet, produced a more atherogenic cholesterol profile and greater monocyte adhesion to endothelial cells, conditions which in vivo may promote lesion initiation.     

Do Fish Thrombocytes Play an Immunological Role? Their Cytoenzymatic Profiles and Function During an Accidental Piscine Candidiasis in Aquarium

Fish (F) thrombocytes (THRs) from healthy trouts were studied in terms of cytoenzyme expression. FTHRs were positive to acid periodic of shiff (PAS) and acid phosphatase (ac. phos.) without tartaric acid (? TA) stainings, as well to alkaline phosphatase. However, when compared with autologous macrophages (MØs), they were negative to naphthol cloroacetate esterase (AS-D), α-naphthyl acetate esterase (Anae), peroxidase (perox) and control ac. phos. with tartaric acid (+ TA) stainings, thus indicating a lack of typical lysosomial enzymes. This evidence supports the notion that FTHRs are not true digesting cells. Quite interestingly, trouts and human MØs were positive for PAS, AS-D, Anae, and perox stainings, thus confirming that cellular cytochemistries are maintained across evolution as their phagocytic functions. Additionally, blood films from trouts, accidentally infected with Candida albicans in aquarium, were morphologically analyzed. Actually, FTHRs interact with erythrocytes, potentiating the formation of rosettes around a central MØ. Polymorph nuclear cells and lymphocytes are present in these cellular aggregates, thus suggesting that FTHRs may represent a link between innate and adaptive immunity.     

EPA and DHA attenuate ox-LDL-induced expression of adhesion molecules in human coronary artery endothelial cells via protein kinase B pathway

Uptake of oxidized low-density lipoprotein (ox-LDL) by endothelial cells is a critical step for the initiation and development of atherosclerosis. Adhesion molecules are inflammatory makers, which are upregulated by ox-LDL and play a pivotal role in atherogenesis. A number of studies suggest that fish and its constituents can reduce inflammation and decrease atherosclerosis. We hypothesized that fish oil constituents namely docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) may reduce expression of adhesion molecules induced by ox-LDL. Cultured human coronary artery endothelial cells (HCAECs) were incubated with ox-LDL for 24 h. Parallel groups of cells were pretreated with DHA or EPA (10 or 50 microM) overnight before incubation with ox-LDL. Ox-LDL markedly increased the expression of P-selectin and intracellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) (both protein and mRNA) in HCAECs, and enhanced the adhesion of monocytes to the cultured HCAECs. Both EPA and DHA decreased ox-LDL-induced upregulation of expression of P-selectin and ICAM-1, and the enhanced adhesion of monocytes to HCAECs. To determine the role of protein kinase B (PKB) as an intracellular-signaling pathway, HCAECs were treated with the PKB upstream inhibitor wortmannin (100 nM) or transfected with plasmids encoding dominant-negative mutants of PKB (PKB-DN) before treatment with DHA. Ox-LDL alone downregulated the activity of PKB; DHA attenuated this effect of ox-LDL, and both wortmannin and PKB-DN blocked the effect of DHA. The present study in human coronary endothelial cells suggests that both EPA and DHA attenuate ox-LDL-induced expression of adhesion molecules, and the adhesion of monocytes to HCAECs by modulation of PKB activation. These effects may be important mechanisms of anti-atherosclerotic effects of fish and fish oils.