Goat Mammary Epithelial Cell Research Articles

5-Hydroxytryptophan inhibits β-casein biosynthesis and promotes goat mammary epithelial cell apoptosis through the JAK2/STAT5a axis and the HTR7.

5-Hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) is an amine produced in both the mammary gland and the central nervous system. Tryptophan hydroxylase 1 (TPH1) catalyzes the conversion of 5-hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP) into l-tryptophan, which is then converted into 5-HT by monoamine-oxidase (MAO-A). In the mammary gland, 5-HT has been shown to have a variety of paracrine-autocrine actions, including suppressing lactation, controlling the destiny of mammary epithelial cells, and maintaining calcium homeostasis throughout the transition from pregnancy to lactation. To examine the effects of 5-HT on the composition of colostrum and milk, a total of 30 transition Guan Zhong dairy goats were intramuscularly injected with 5-HTP (1.0 mg/kg) every morning before feeding from 10 d before the projected parturition date to the day of parturition. The average number of days animals received injections was 8.2 ± 3.2 d. 5-HTP treatment increased serum 5-HT concentration from days 5 to 2 relative to parturition (P < 0.05), and decreased the casein concentration of colostrum (P < 0.05). In the in vitro experiment, mammary epithelial cells isolated from three individual goats' mammary glands were separately treated with 200 μM 5-HTP, 30 μM PCPA (the specific inhibitor of TPH1), or 200 μM 5-HTP + 50 μM SB269970 (the selective antagonist of 5-HTR7). The results showed that 200 μM 5-HTP inhibited the expression of β-casein, downregulated the activity of the JAK2/ STAT5a signaling pathway, and promoted the apoptosis of goat mammary epithelial cells (GMECs) (P < 0.05). When GMECs were treated with 30 μM Four-chloro-dl-phenylalanine (PCPA), a specific inhibitor of 5-HT synthesis, the mRNA expression of STAT5a and the phosphorylated STAT5a protein level were upregulated. The 50 μM SB269970 treatment rescued the effects of 5-HTP on GMECs (P < 0.05). Taken together, the results indicated that 5-HTP exerted an inhibitory effect on β-casein synthesis and a proapoptotic effect in GMECs via HTR7 and the JAK2/STAT5a axis.

Transcriptome Analysis of Goat Mammary Gland Tissue Reveals the Adaptive Strategies and Molecular Mechanisms of Lactation and Involution.

To understand how genes precisely regulate lactation physiological activity and the molecular genetic mechanisms underlying mammary gland involution, this study investigated the transcriptome characteristics of goat mammary gland tissues at the late gestation (LG), early lactation (EL), peak lactation (PL), late lactation (LL), dry period (DP), and involution (IN) stages. A total of 13,083 differentially expressed transcripts were identified by mutual comparison of mammary gland tissues at six developmental stages. Genes related to cell growth, apoptosis, immunity, nutrient transport, synthesis, and metabolism make adaptive transcriptional changes to meet the needs of mammary lactation. Notably, platelet derived growth factor receptor beta (PDGFRB) was screened as a hub gene of the mammary gland developmental network, which is highly expressed during the DP and IN. Overexpression of PDGFRB in vitro could slow down the G1/S phase arrest of goat mammary epithelial cell cycle and promote cell proliferation by regulating the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway. In addition, PDGFRB overexpression can also affect the expression of genes related to apoptosis, matrix metalloproteinase family, and vascular development, which is beneficial to the remodeling of mammary gland tissue during involution. These findings provide new insights into the molecular mechanisms involved in lactation and mammary gland involution.

Inhibition of USP14 suppresses ferroptosis and inflammation in LPS-induced goat mammary epithelial cells through ubiquitylating the IL-6 protein

BackgroundFerroptosis, a novel manner of cell death depended on iron ion, contributed to goat mammary epithelial cell dysfunction. Interleukin-6 (IL-6) is a major pro-inflammatory factor during many inflammation-related diseases including mastitis, and a quite recently identified ferroptosis inducer. This study aims to explore the role of IL-6 in the dysfunction of goat mammary epithelial cells (GMECs) and how the level of IL-6 was regulated.MethodsPrimary GMECs were isolated, cultured and treated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) alone or together with Ferrostatin-1 (Fer-1), a well-known ferroptosis inhibitor. CCK-8 was used to detect cell viability, ELISA was used to detect TNF-α content, and the levels of ROS, GSH and MDA were analyzed with DCFDA-cell ROS detection kit, GSH assay kit and MDA assay kit, respectively. The iron ion level was measured with an iron assay kit.ResultsThe expression level of IL-6 protein in GMECs was up-regulated in response to LPS treatment, and the secretion of TNF-α, the cell oxidative stress level and the Fe2+ ion content was robustly increased, which could be reversed by Fer-1 treatment. Knockdown of IL-6 decreased cell oxidative stress level and inhibited ferroptosis in LPS-treated GMECs. Further, ubiquitin experiment and co-immunoprecipitation assay showed that USP14 upregulated IL-6 protein expression by reducing the ubiquitination of IL-6, and overexpression of IL-6 reversed the inhibitory effect of USP14 shRNA on LPS-treated GMECs ferroptosis. The NRF2 inhibitor Brusatol reversed the inhibitory effect of IL-6 shRNA on LPS-treated ferroptosis.ConclusionIL-6 protein is deubiquitinated by USP14 and upregulated in LPS-treated GMECs, further promoting ferroptosis and inflammation through the NRF2 signaling pathway.

Double-Gene Copromoting Expression Analysis in tPA/GH Transgenic Goat Mammary Epithelial Cells and Thrombolytic Activity of tPA In Vitro.

Human tissue-plasminogen activator (tPA) is a thrombolytic drug widely used in the treatment of stroke, pulmonary thrombosis, acute myocardial infarction, and other thrombotic diseases. The double genes cointegrated into the organisms and cells can produce a synergistic effect, which will improve the expression level of the target gene. However, the study of the integration of the GH and tPA genes to improve the expression level of tPA has not yet been reported. In order to elucidate this, we generated monoclonal goat mammary epithelial cell lines with tPA/GH double-gene integration and analyzed the tPA expression level in single- and double-gene integrated cells. We selected the mammary gland-specific expressing vectors BLC14/tPA and BLC14/GH with the β-lactoglobulin gene as a regulatory sequence in our previous research. The tPA and GH genes were electronically cotransfected into goat mammary epithelial cells. Resistant cell lines were screened by G418, and transgenic monoclonal cell lines were confirmed by PCR. The tPA expression was induced by prolactin and detected in the cell induction solution after 48 h by ELISA and Western blotting. We detected the tPA biological activity in vitro by fibrin agarose plate assay (FAPA). The results showed that a total of 207 resistant monoclonal cells were obtained, including 126 cell lines with tPA monogenic integration and 51 cell lines with tPA/GH double-gene integration. The rate of double-gene integration was 24.6% (51/207). A total of 48 cells expressed tPA, of which 25.3% (19/75) cells expressed single gene, and 56.9% (29/51) cells expressed double genes. The concentration of tPA in single-gene-expressing cells was 8.0-64.0 μg/mL, and the tPA level in double-gene-expressing cells was significantly higher (200-7200 μg/mL). In addition, the tPA had a relatively strong in vitro thrombolytic activity determined by FAPA. The results showed that goat mammary epithelial cell lines with tPA/GH gene integration were successfully established by electrotransfection, and the expression level of tPA in double-gene integrated cell lines was significantly increased. This study provided a new way for the preparation of a transgenic goat and other animal with high tPA expression by somatic cell nuclear transfer. The findings also laid a foundation for efficient production of pharmaceutical proteins in transgenic animal mammary gland bioreactors in the future.

EGF-Induced miR-223 Modulates Goat Mammary Epithelial Cell Apoptosis and Inflammation via ISG15.

The health of mammary gland is essential for lactation. Epidermal growth factor (EGF) is reported to play an important role in lactation initiation and miR-223 is a conserved microRNA in anti-inflammation. In this study, EGF was found to induce a higher expression of miR-223 in goat mammary epithelial cell (gMEC). The downstream genes of miR-223 were screened by RNA sequencing, including Interferon-stimulated gene product 15 (ISG15), a pivotal immune responder, which was detected to be downregulated by EGF and miR-223. Due to the correlation between inflammation and apoptosis, the gMEC apoptosis modulated by EGF, miR-223, and ISG15 was investigated, and the protein expressions of Bcl-2/Bax, Caspase 3 and p53 were examined to evaluate the apoptosis of gMEC. The protein expressions of p-STAT3/STAT3, PR, FOXC1, and HOXA10, which had been shown to be related to inflammation, were detected to assess the inflammation of gMEC. This study provided a regulation axis, EGF/miR-223/ISG15, and illustrated its regulation to gMEC apoptosis and inflammation.

Establishment of a Stable β-Casein Protein-Secreted Laoshan Dairy Goat Mammary Epithelial Cell Line.

Mammary epithelial cells are widely used as models in mastitis research and as tools for mammalian bioreactors; however, the short lifespan of these cells limits their utility. Several mammal epithelial cell line models have been established; however, the secretion capacity and the bacterial sensitivity of these lines have not been effectively evaluated. In this study, a stable immortalized goat mammary epithelial cell (GMEC) line was constructed by transfection with the SV40 gene. The monoclonal cells were then passaged through more than 50 generations after puromycin selection. The GMEC line was evaluated by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction, the cell cycle, karyotype analysis, detection of apoptosis, Western blotting, and β-casein (CSN2) inducible assays. The GMEC line had a strong proliferation capacity relative to the primary GMECs. GMECs had the same karyotype as the primary cells. The GMEC lines maintained basic biological properties and had estrogen, prolactin, and progesterone receptors as same the primary cells. Additionally, the cells and the cell line could synthesize and secrete β-casein proteins. Finally, the rate of apoptosis of the transfected cells suggested that the cell line could provide a useful tool for signal research and mammary gland bioreactors.

Expression analysis of tPA/gGH double genes in transfected goat mammary epithelial cells

tPA is a thrombolytic agent widely used in clinical settings. While double gene co-integration into organisms can produce synergistic effects and improved expression levels of the target gene, there are few reports detailing the co-integration of the tPA and gGH genes and an increased expression level of tPA. In order to study this, we obtained monoclonal goat mammary epithelial cell lines with tPA/gGH double gene integration and we analyzed the tPA expression level of single and double gene integration cells. We constructed a mammary gland-specific expression vector PCL25/gGH by using the β-casein gene as the regulatory sequence. The tPA and gGH genes were co-transfected into goat mammary epithelial cells by electrotransfection. Resistant cell lines were screened by G418, and transgenic monoclonal cell lines were obtained by PCR detection. tPA expression was induced by prolactin and subsequently, the cell induction solution was assayed after 48 hours by ELISA and Western blotting. The results show that a total of 142 resistant monoclonal cells were obtained including 53 tPA monogenic integration cell lines and 34 tPA/gGH double gene integration cell lines. The rate of double gene integration was 23.9% (34/142). A total of 29 cells were detected to be able to express tPA, of which 12 were single-gene-expressing cells and the corresponding expression rate was 22.6% (12/53). There were 17 double-gene- expressing cells with a corresponding expression rate of 50.0% (17/34). The expression level of tPA in single-gene cells was 7.5-52.0 μg/mL, while in double-gene cells was 40-360 μg/mL, which was significantly greater than that in single- gene cells. The goat mammary epithelial cell lines with tPA/gGH gene integration were successfully obtained by electrotransfection, and we proved that the expression level of tPA in the double gene integration cell lines with tPA/gGH gene integration was significantly increased. Our findings lay the foundation for the additional study of highly expressed transgenic goats and other animals with determination of scientific and clinical utility.

Optimized protocol for establishment of primary goat mammary fibroblast and epithelial cell cultures by selective trypsinization

Optimized protocol for establishment of primary goat mammary fibroblast and epithelial cell cultures by selective trypsinization

Relative quantification of beta-casein expression in primary goat mammary epithelial cell lines.

Primary mammary epithelial cell cultures were established from mammary tissue of lactating and non-lactating goats to assess the expression of beta-casein (CSN2) in vitro. Primary cell cultures were established by enzymatic digestion of mammary tissue and characterized using antibodies against cytokeratin 14, cytokeratin 18, and vimentin. The established primary cell lines in the second passage were grown in basal medium on plastic and in hormone-supplemented (lactogenic) medium on plastic and on an extracellular matrix-covered surface, respectively. CSN2 gene expression was evaluated using quantitative reverse transcription PCR. The presence of CSN2 transcripts was detected in all samples, including cells originating from non-lactating goat, grown in basal medium. The presence of CSN2 protein was confirmed using immunofluorescence. Response to the hormonal treatment and cell morphology differed between the cell lines and treatments. In 2 cell lines supplemented with lactogenic hormones in the medium, CSN2 expression was increased, while CSN2 levels in one of the cell lines remained constant, regardless of the treatment. Addition of extracellular matrix showed positive effects on CSN2 transcription activity in 1 of the cell lines, while in the other 2 showed no statistically significant effects. CSN2 expression appeared to depend on subtle differences in physiological state of the starting tissue material, growth conditions, cell types present in the culture, and methods used for cell culture establishment. Further studies are necessary to identify factors that determine hormone-responsiveness and transcriptional activity of milk protein genes in goat primary mammary cell cultures.

Signal transducer and activator of transcription 5a inhibited by pimozide may regulate survival of goat mammary gland epithelial cells by regulating parathyroid hormone-related protein

The signal transducer and activator of transcription 5a (Stat5a) modulates genes involved in proliferation and survival and plays pivotal roles in regulating the function of the mammary gland during pregnancy, lactation, and involution. However, there is little information about the effects of Stat5a on apoptosis of goat mammary gland epithelial cells (GMECs). In addition, parathyroid hormone-related protein (PTHrP) is a key regulator in cellular calcium transport, mammary gland development and breast tumor biology. This study aimed to explore the interaction of Stat5a and PTHrP in GMEC apoptosis. Quantitative real time PCR (qRT-PCR) suggested that Stat5a was predominantly expressed in the mammary gland, lung, liver and spleen of goats. Treating the GMECs with pimozide, an inhibitor of Stat5a that decreases Stat5a tyrosine phosphorylation, increased PTHrP levels in GMECs in a dose-dependent manner and simultaneously promoted apoptosis of the GMECs. We also demonstrated that PTHrP inhibition induced GMEC apoptosis and restrained cell proliferation. In contrast, PTHrP overexpression protected GMECs from pimozide- and calcium-induced apoptosis, and promoted cell proliferation. Furthermore, pimozide and CaCl2 downregulated the antiapoptotic protein Bcl-2 mRNA expression, respectively, and these effects were protected by PTHrP overexpression. Interestingly, we also found that Stat5a suppressed the expression of matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP-9) which can induce goat mammary epithelial cell migration, but PTHrP increased MMP-9 mRNA level. Thus, Stat5a may regulate GMEC survival by regulating the expression of PTHrP.

Establishment and characterization of a dairy goat mammary epithelial cell line with human telomerase (hT-MECs).

Although research on dairy goat mammary gland have referred extensively to molecular mechanisms, research on lines of dairy goat mammary epithelial cells (MECs) are still rare. This paper sought to establish an immortal MEC line by stable transfection of human telomerase. MECs from a lactating (45 days post-parturition) Xinong Saanen dairy goat were cultured purely and subsequently transfected with a plasmid carrying the sequence of human telomerase. Immortalized MECs by human telomerase (hT-MECs) exhibited a typical cobblestone morphology and activity and expression levels of telomerase resembled that of MCF-7 cells. hT-MECs on passage 42 grew vigorously and 'S' sigmoid curves of growth were observed. Moreover, hT-MECs maintained a normal chromosome modal number of 2n=60, keratin 8 and epithelial membrane antigen (EMA) were evidently expressed, and beta-casein protein was synthesized and secreted. Beta-casein expression was enhanced by prolactin (P<0.05). Lipid droplets were found in hT-MECs, and messenger RNA levels of PPARG, SREBP, FASN, ACC and SCD in hT-MECs (passage 40) were similar to MECs (passage 7). In conclusion, the obtained hT-MEC line retained a normal morphology, growth characteristics, cytogenetics and secretory characteristics as primary MECs. Hence, it can be a representative model cell line, for molecular and functional analysis, of dairy goat MECs for an extended period of time.

Establishment and Characterization of a Huanghuai White Goat Mammary Gland Epithelial Cell Line Derived During the Gestational Period

Establishment and Characterization of a Huanghuai White Goat Mammary Gland Epithelial Cell Line Derived During the Gestational Period

Establishment and characterization of a lactating dairy goat mammary gland epithelial cell line

To study milk synthesis in dairy goat mammary gland, we had established an in vitro lactating dairy goat mammary epithelial cell (DGMEC) line. Mammary tissues of Guan Zhong dairy goats at 35d of lactation were dispersed and cultured in a medium containing epithelial growth factor, insulin-like growth factor-1, insulin transferrin serum, and fetal bovine serum. Epithelial cells were enriched by digesting with 0.25% trypsin repeatedly to remove fibroblast cells and were identified as epithelial origin by staining with antibody against cytokeratine 18. The DGMECs displayed monolayer, cobble-stone, epithelial-like morphology, and formed alveoli-like structures and island monolayer aggregates which were the typical characteristics of mammary epithelial cells. A one-half logarithmically growth curve and cytoplasmic lipid droplets in these cells were observed. In this paper, we also studied the lactating function of DGMECs. Results showed that DGMECs could secrete lactose and β-casein. Lactating function of the cells had no obvious change after 48h treated by insulin, while prolactin could obviously raise the secretion of milk proteins and lactose.

Characteristics and EGFP Expression of Goat Mammary Gland Epithelial Cells

The aims of this study were (i) to establish a goat mammary gland epithelial (GMGE) cell line, and (ii) to determine if these GMGE cells could be maintained long-term in culture by continuous subculturing following transfection with a reporter gene, enhanced green fluorescence protein (EGFP). Primary culture of GMGE cells was achieved by outgrowth of migrating cells from the fragments of the mammary gland tissue of a lactating goat. The passage 16 GMGE cells were transfected with EGFP gene using lipofection. The expression of Cell keratins of epithelial cells in GMGE cells was test by immunofluorescence. Βeta-Casein gene mRNA was test for GMGE cells by RT-PCR. The results showed that when grown at low density on a plastic substratum, the GMGE cells formed islands, and when grown to confluency, the cells formed a monolayer and aggregated with the characteristic cobble-stone morphology of epithelial cells. GMGE cells could form dome-like structure which looked like nipple, and the lumen-like structures formed among the cells. Several blister-like structures appeared in the appearance of the cells. The GMGE cells contained different cell types, majority of the cells were short shuttle-like or polygon which were beehive-like. A part of cells were round and flat, a small number of cells were elongated. Some of the GMGE cells contained milk drops. The cell nuclei were round which had 2-4 obvious cores. The expression of Cell keratins demonstrated the property of epithelial cells in GMGE cells by immunofluorescence. The GMGE cells could express transcript encoding a Βeta-Casein protein. EGFP gene was successfully transferred into the GMGE cells, and the transfected cells could be maintained long-term in culture by continuous subculturing. In conclusion, we have established a EGFP gene transfected GMGE (ET-GMGE) cell line and maintained it long-term in culture by continuous subculturing.

An immortalized goat mammary epithelial cell line induced with human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) gene transfer

Although mammary epithelial cell lines can provide a rapid and reliable indicator of gene expression efficiency of transgenic animals, their short lifespan greatly limits this application. To provide stable and long lifespan cells, goat mammary epithelial cells (GMECs) were transduced with pLNCX2-hTERT by retrovirus-mediated gene transfer. Transduced GMECs were evaluated by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), proliferation assays, karyotype analysis, telomerase activity assay, western blotting, soft agar assay, and injection into nude mice. Non-transduced GMECs were used as a control. The hTERT-GMECs had higher telomerase activity and extended proliferative lifespan compared to non-transfected GMECs; even after Passage 50, hTERT-GMECs had a near diploid complement of chromosomes. Furthermore, they did not gain the anchorage-independent growth property and were not associated with a malignant phenotype in vitro or in vivo.

Adhesion and growth of goat mammary epithelial cells on novel polyelectrolyte complex

Alginate/poly(acryloxyethyl-trimethylammonium chloride-co-2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) [poly(Q-co-H)] microcapsules were prepared by ionic gelation (Ca2+) for adhesion and growth of goat mammary epithelial cell culture. In the procedure of microcapsule formation, alginate was first pumped into a CaCl2 solution and then transferred into a poly(Q-co-H). The poly(Q-co-H) was prepared by free-radical polymerization in aqueous solution at 60 °C using potassium persulfate as initiator. The microcapsules obtained were sterilized using gamma radiation according to International Standards Organization (ISO)/TR 13409. Scanning electron microscopy studies indicated the high porosity and rough surface marked by large wrinkles of the microcapsule surface, and the diameter of the microcapsule was approximately 497 μm, and diameters ranking 480–515 μm were obtained. Optical michrography shows the epithelial morphology acquired by goat epithelial mammary cells (GMEC) on poly(Q-co-H)/NaAlg microcapsule surface after 8 h of culture.

Monosialylated biantennary N-glycoforms containing GalNAc–GlcNAc antennae predominate when human EPO is expressed in goat milk

Recently, our group reported the expression of recombinant human erythropoietin in goat milk (rhEPO-milk) as well as in the mammary epithelial cell line GMGE (EPO-GMGE) by cell culture using the adenoviral transduction system. N-Glycosylation characterization of rhEPO-milk by Normal-Phase HPLC profiling of the fluorophore, 4-aminobenzoic acid-labeled enzymatically released N-glycan pool from rhEPO-goat milk, combined with MALDI, ESI-MS and LC/MS, revealed that low branched, core-fucosylated, N-glycans predominate. The labeled N-glycans were separated into neutral and charged fractions by anion exchange chromatography and the charged N-glycans were found to be mostly α2,6-monosialylated with Neu5Ac or Neu5Gc in a ratio of 1:1. Unlike the N-glycans from rhEPO produced in CHO cells, where the glycans are multiantennary highly sialylated, core-fucosylated oligosaccahrides, or even in the goat mammary gland epithelial cell line cultured in vitro in which multiantennary, core- and outer-arm fucosylated, monosialylated N-glycans are the most abundant species, a large proportion of the N-glycans from rhEPO-milk were monosialylated, biantennary, antennae mostly terminating with the more unusual GalNAc–GlcNAc motive and without outer-arm fucosylation. These findings, emphasizing the difference in the N-glycan repertoire between the rhEPO-milk and EPO-GMGE, are consistent with the principle that glycosylation is cell-type dependent and that the cell environment is crucial as well.

The goat mammary glandular epithelial (GMGE) cell line promotes polyfucosylation and N,N′-diacetyllactosediaminylation of N-glycans linked to recombinant human erythropoietin

We have established a continuous, non-transformed cell line from primary cultures from Capra hircus mammary gland. Low-density cultures showed a homogeneous epithelial morphology without detectable fibroblastic or myoepithelial cells. The culture was responsive to contact inhibition of proliferation and its doubling time was dependent on the presence of insulin and epidermal growth factor (EGF). GMGE cells secrete caseins regardless of the presence or absence of lactogenic hormones in the culture media. Investigation of the total N-glycan pool of human erythropoietin (rhEPO) expressed in GMGE cells by monosaccharide analysis, HPLC profiling, and mass spectrometry, indicated significant differences with respect to the same protein expressed in Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells. N-Glycans of rhEPO-GMGE are core-fucosylated, but fucosylation of outer arms was also found. Our results also revealed the presence of low levels of sialylation (>95% Neu5Ac), N,N′-diacetyllactosediamine units, and possibly Gal-Gal non-reducing terminal elements.