Abstract: The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of P48 protein on proliferation and apoptosis of embryonic bovine lung (EBL) cells.In this study,samples which co-incubated with P48 protein and EBL cells in different concentrations at different time points were collected,the proliferation rate of the cells was detected by MTT method,and the changes in the nuclear morphology of EBL cells were observed by DAPI staining method.Meanwhile,flow cytometry was used to detect the apoptosis rate of EBL cells induced by P48 protein.Real-time quantitative PCR was used to detect the changes in mRNA level of apoptotic marker genes,and Western blotting tested the Bax and Beclin-1 protein expressions.The results showed that under the condition of 72 h and 10 μg/mL of protein concentration treatment,P48 extremely significantly inhibited EBL cells proliferation (P<0.01),while 0.1 and 0.5 μg/mL protein concentration had no inhibitory effect (P>0.05).The nuclear morphology showed no significant change after protein induction for 12 h,but wrinkled and condensed at 24 h.The nucleus was fragmented,and a sprouted apoptotic body was appeared at 48 and 72 h.Apoptosis related genes expression showed no obvious increase at 2 and 12 h at mRNA level,but gradually increased at 24,48 and 72 h,and it showed a time-dependent manner.Accordingly,the expression of apoptosis marker proteins Bax and Beclin-1 significantly increased.Flow cytometry analysis showed that the apoptosis rate of EBL cells induced by P48 protein was 48.44%.In conclusion,P48 recombinant protein of Mycoplasmas bovis inhibited the proliferation of EBL cells and promoted their apoptosis,which provided reference for revealing the pathogenic mechanism of Mycoplasmas bovis.

Key words: Mycoplasmas bovis; P48 protein; EBL cell; proliferation; apoptosis