Biomedical Research Vol. 37(2016) No. 4

The α1D/A receptor antagonist, naftopidil, inhibits micturition reflex by acting on various different sites. We examined the effects of naftopidil on bladder activity and changes in the induced urinary frequency using female rats with pelvic venous congestion (PC). Twenty-four female rats were divided into sham, PC, and PC/naftopidil groups. After anesthetizing rats in the PC and PC/naftopidil groups, the bilateral common iliac veins and uterine veins were ligated. Rats in the sham and PC groups were fed a standard diet, while rats in the PC/naftopidil group were fed diets containing 0.04% naftopidil. After 4 weeks of treatment, locomotor activity, urinary nitric oxide metabolites (NOx), continuous cystometry, and plasma monoamine measurements were performed. PC rats exhibited a decrease of locomotor activity, a shorter interval between bladder contractions on continuous cystometry, and decreased urinary NOx and plasma serotonin levels than the sham rats. The PC/naftopidil rats exhibited an increase of locomotor activity, a longer interval between bladder contractions, and increased urinary NOx and plasma serotonin levels. Therefore, naftopidil might improve bladder dysfunction induced by pelvic venous congestion due to several actions in the central nervous system and bladder tissue, as well as acting as an α1 blocker to cause pelvic venous dilation.

Hericium erinaceus (HE), an edible mushroom, has been used as a herbal medicine in several Asian countries since ancient times. HE has potential as a medicine for the treatment and prevention of dementia, a disorder closely linked with circadian rhythm. This study investigated the effects of the intake of HE extracts on behavioral rhythm, photosensitivity of the circadian clock, and clock gene mRNA expression in the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN), a central clock, in mice. Although the HE ethanol extract only affected the offset time of activity, the HE water extract advanced the sleep–wake cycle without affecting the free-running period, photosensitivity, or the clock gene mRNA expression in SCN. In addition, both extracts decreased wakefulness around end of active phase. The findings of the present study suggest that HE may serve as a functional food in the prevention and treatment of Alzheimer’s disease and delayed sleep phase syndrome.

Project HOPE (High-tech Omics-based Patient Evaluation) has been progressing since its implementation in 2014 using whole-exome sequencing (WES) and gene expression profiling (GEP). With the aim of evaluating immune status in cancer patients, a gene panel consisting of 164 immune response-associated genes (56 antigen-presenting cell and T-cell-associated genes, 34 cytokine- and metabolism-associated genes, 47 TNF and TNF receptor superfamily genes, and 27 regulatory T-cell-associated genes) was established, and its expression and mutation status were investigated using 1,000 cancer patient-derived tumors. Regarding WES, sequencing and variant calling were performed using the Ion Proton system. The average number of single-nucleotide variants (SNVs) detected per sample was 183 ± 507, and the number of hypermutators with more than 500 total SNVs was 51 cases. Regarding GEP, seven immune response-associated genes (VTCN1, IL2RA, ULBP2, TREM1, MSR1, TNFSF9 and TNFRSF12A) were more than 2-fold overexpressed compared with normal tissues in more than 2 organs. Specifically, the positive rate of PD-L1 expression in all patients was 25.8%, and PD-L1 expression was significantly upregulated in hypermutators. The simultaneous analyses of WES and GEP based on immune response-associated genes are very intriguing tools to screen cancer patients suitable for immune checkpoint antibody therapy.

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is released from activated microglia during neuropathic pain and is hypothesized to downregulate the expression of the potassium chloride cotransporter 2 (KCC2) via the TrkB receptor. Previous studies reported that KCC2 is downregulated 5 min after the plantar injection of formalin in rats; however, the mechanism behind this decrease in KCC2 expression during acute inflammatory pain remains unknown. In this study, we determined whether the TrkB receptor contributes to the expression of KCC2 during the acute pain. Five minutes after the plantar injection of formalin in rats, the ratio of KCC2-immunoreactive area in layer II of the spinal cord significantly decreased on the stimulated side compared to the unaffected side. On the other hand, this response was inhibited by the injection of a kinase inhibitor, K252a, in the subarachnoid space 15 min before the formalin injection. These findings suggest that in acute pain, the TrkB receptor may contribute to the decrease in the expression of KCC2.

Dental plaque metabolizes both carbohydrates and amino acids. The former can be degraded to acids mainly, while the latter can be degraded to various metabolites, including ammonia, acids and amines, and associated with acid-neutralization, oral malodor and tissue inflammation. However, amino acid metabolism in dental plaque is still unclear. This study aimed to elucidate what kinds of amino acids are available as metabolic substrates and how the amino acids are metabolized in supragingival plaque, by a metabolome analysis. Amino acids and the related metabolites in supragingival plaque were extracted and quantified comprehensively by CE-TOFMS. Plaque samples were also incubated with amino acids, and the amounts of ammonia and amino acid-related metabolites were measured. The concentration of glutamate was the highest in supragingival plaque, while the ammonia-production was the highest from glutamine. The obtained metabolome profile revealed that amino acids are degraded through various metabolic pathways, including deamination, decarboxylation and transamination and that these metabolic systems may link each other, as well as with carbohydrate metabolic pathways in dental plaque ecosystem. Moreover, glutamine and glutamate might be the main source of ammonia production, as well as arginine, and contribute to pH-homeostasis and counteraction to acid-induced demineralization in supragingival plaque.

Using whole exome sequencing data obtained from 1,685 Japanese cancer patients, we examined genetic variations of germline TP53 and found 10 types of non-synonymous single nucleotide variants. In the present study, we focused on 6 patients with germline D49H mutation located in the transactivation domain 2 of p53 protein, since the mutation seemed to be prevalent in cancer patients and to be pathogenic. According to the initial survey for family history of the proband with the germline TP53 D49H mutation, one osteosarcoma patient and his pedigree fulfill the criteria for Li-Fraumeni-like syndrome and the 2009 Chompret criteria for germline TP53 mutation screening. Since this patient possesses double germline mutations of TP53 D49H and A159D, further studies are required to evaluate contribution of the D49H mutation in this morbidity. The remaining 5 patients had family histories of cancer, but none fulfills the criteria either for the Li-Fraumeni/Li-Fraumeni-like syndromes or the 2009 Chompret criteria for germline TP53 mutation screening. It is possible to postulate that the germline TP53 D49H mutation is likely to be low-penetrant in some pedigrees. The present study also indicates that the survey for the germline TP53 mutation plays an important role in clinical practice as it will prevent mistaking cancer patients with unusual heredities for sporadic cases.

The sebaceous glands secrete sebum to protect the epidermis and hairs by the oily products. The glands express several transporters and binding proteins for the production of fatty acids and uptake of their sources. The present immunohistochemical study examined the expression and localization of CD36, MCT1, FATP4, and E-FABP in the sebaceous glands, including the meibomian and preputial glands of mice. CD36 and MCT1 in sebaceous glands were largely co-localized along the plasma membrane of secretory cells, while they were separately expressed in the glandular portion of meibomian and preputial glands. Immunoreactivities for FATP4 and E-FABP appeared diffusely in the cytoplasm of secretory cells. Genetic deletion of CD36 did not affect the immunolocalization of the three other molecules. The sebaceous glands were judged to be useful for analyzing the functions and relation of fatty acid transporters and binding proteins.