Zhou Manlin, Dong Shihui, Wang Jun, Luo Xuehui, Li Rui, Zhang Yiyang, Ding Haie, Tan Xiao, Qiao Zilin, Yang Kun, Chen Weiji
Gansu Tech Innovation Center of Animal Cell, Biomedical Research Center, Northwest Minzu University, Lan Zhou, Gansu, China.
College of Life Science and Engineering, Northwest Minzu University, Lan Zhou, Gansu, China.
Histol Histopathol. 2025 Feb;40(2):225-235. doi: 10.14670/HH-18-768. Epub 2024 May 28.
The present study aims to investigate the distribution and expression characteristics of HIF-1α, VEGF, VEGFR-2, VCAM-1, and IL-4 in the spleen of plateau yaks and plain yellow cattle and to speculate the possible regulatory role of HIF-1α and its related hypoxia-inducible factors in the adaptation of the yak spleen to the plateau hypoxic environment. Histological features were observed using H&E and PAS stains. Immunohistochemical staining and optical density analysis were applied to investigate the distribution and differences in the expression of HIF-1α, VEGF, VEGFR-2, VCAM-1, and IL-4 in the spleen of yaks and cattle. The results showed that the area of splenic trabeculae and splenic nodules was significantly larger in the yak than in yellow cattle (<0.05). Glycogen was mainly distributed in splenic arterial endothelial cells, vascular smooth muscle cells, splenic blood sinusoidal endothelial cells, and fibroblasts, and the distribution was significantly higher in the spleen of yaks than in cattle (<0.05). HIF-1α, VEGF, VEGFR-2, VCAM-1, and IL-4 were mainly expressed in lymphocytes, arterial endothelial cells, vascular smooth muscle cells, splenic blood sinusoidal endothelial cells, and fibroblast cytoplasm, with higher expression in yak spleen (<0.05). In conclusion, combining the differences in spleen tissue structure, glycogen distribution, and expression distribution of several hypoxia-related factors between yaks and cattle, we suggest that HIF-1α, VEGF, VEGFR-2, VCAM-1, and IL-4 may be important factors in the adaptation of yak spleen to the plateau environment, which provides a theoretical basis for further exploring the adaptation mechanism of plateau hypoxia in yaks.
本研究旨在探讨高原牦牛和平原黄牛脾脏中缺氧诱导因子-1α（HIF-1α）、血管内皮生长因子（VEGF）、血管内皮生长因子受体-2（VEGFR-2）、血管细胞黏附分子-1（VCAM-1）和白细胞介素-4（IL-4）的分布及表达特征，并推测HIF-1α及其相关缺氧诱导因子在牦牛脾脏适应高原低氧环境中的可能调控作用。采用苏木精-伊红（H&E）染色和过碘酸雪夫（PAS）染色观察组织学特征。应用免疫组织化学染色和光密度分析研究牦牛和黄牛脾脏中HIF-1α、VEGF、VEGFR-2、VCAM-1和IL-4的分布及表达差异。结果显示，牦牛脾脏小梁和脾小结面积显著大于黄牛（<0.05）。糖原主要分布于脾动脉内皮细胞、血管平滑肌细胞、脾血窦内皮细胞和成纤维细胞，牦牛脾脏中的分布显著高于黄牛（<0.05）。HIF-1α、VEGF、VEGFR-2、VCAM-1和IL-4主要表达于淋巴细胞、动脉内皮细胞、血管平滑肌细胞、脾血窦内皮细胞和成纤维细胞胞质中，牦牛脾脏中的表达较高（<0.05）。综上所述，结合牦牛和黄牛脾脏组织结构、糖原分布及几种缺氧相关因子表达分布的差异，我们认为HIF-1α、VEGF、VEGFR-2、VCAM-1和IL-4可能是牦牛脾脏适应高原环境的重要因素，为进一步探究牦牛高原低氧适应机制提供了理论依据。
