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Volume 29 (2008)
- Issue 6 Pages 271-
- Issue 5 Pages 225-
- Issue 4 Pages 175-
- Issue 3 Pages 119-
- Issue 2 Pages 61-
- Issue 1 Pages 1-
Volume 29, Issue 3
June
Displaying 1-8 of 8 articles from this issue
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Full Papers
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Masako TSUNEMATSU, Taketo YAMAJI, Daisuke KOZUTSUMI, Rika MURAKAMI, Hi ...2008 Volume 29 Issue 3 Pages 119-123
Published: 2008
Released on J-STAGE: July 10, 2008
JOURNAL FREE ACCESSTo evaluate the long-lasting effects of new therapeutic approaches to allergies, we established a new model of allergic rhinitis by repeated challenges with intranasal Cry j 1, a common Japanese cedar (Cryptomeria japonica) pollen allergen, in B10.S mice. We sensitized B10.S mice subcutaneously with Cry j 1/alum three times at 1-week intervals. Five weeks after the final sensitization, we challenged the mice by instilling Cry j 1 intranasally for 5 consecutive days starting 1 day after intranasal histamine pretreatment (challenge-1). We challenged the mice by instilling histamine and Cry j 1 intranasally again 12 weeks later (challenge-2). There were significantly more sneezes after challenge-2 than challenge-1. Cry j 1-specific IgE levels in serum were significantly increased in both challenge-1 and 2 after continuous nasal antigen challenge. Serum levels of anti-Cry j 1 IgE in challenge-2 was 2.3 times higher than after challenge-1. Thus, we have established a new model of seasonal allergic rhinitis in B10.S mice by repeated intranasal antigen challenge, and this model may help elucidate mechanisms of allergic rhinitis and the development of new drugs.View full abstractDownload PDF (696K) -
Mikiko HIRONAKA, Toshihiro ANSAI, Inho SOH, Aiko ISHISAKA, Shuji AWANO ...2008 Volume 29 Issue 3 Pages 125-130
Published: 2008
Released on J-STAGE: July 10, 2008
JOURNAL FREE ACCESSThe relationship between periodontitis and stress-related hormones is poorly understood. In this cross-sectional study we investigated the associations between the stress-related hormone, chromogranin A (CgA) and periodontitis in healthy community-dwelling elderly subjects aged 60 years old and older. A total of 171 subjects (85 males, 86 females; mean age of 68.4 ± 4.46 (SD) years old) participated, all of whom were living independently. Stimulated whole saliva samples were collected and CgA levels were determined, while a medical questionnaire regarding medical conditions and lifestyle was also administered. Clinical examinations included probing depth (PD), bleeding on probing (BOP), and clinical attachment loss (CAL). When the subjects were divided into two groups based on periodontitis severity, the salivary CgA levels were significantly higher in subjects with severe PD or CAL. Multiple regression analysis showed that higher CgA level was significantly associated with greater numbers of teeth with severe PD or CAL, after adjusting for confounding variables. In this first known report of the association between CgA level and periodontitis, our results suggest a close relationship between the extent and severity of periodontitis and salivary level of CgA in healthy elderly subjects.View full abstractDownload PDF (173K) -
Hiroyasu KONGO, Chikara HIRONO, Makoto SUGITA, Yoshiko Iwasa, Yoshiki ...2008 Volume 29 Issue 3 Pages 131-139
Published: 2008
Released on J-STAGE: July 10, 2008
JOURNAL FREE ACCESSThe cytoskeleton serves as a signal modulator for Ca2+ and cAMP-regulated cell functions including the secretion of ions and granule contents. The interaction between Ca2+ and cAMP signaling systems potentiates amylase secretion and suppresses Cl- secretion in the parotid glands. In this study, we investigated the role of the cytoskeleton in the modulation of Cl- and amylase secretion from rat parotid acinar cells upon activation of each intracellular signaling system and their interaction. Cytochalasin D markedly inhibited the Ca2+-activated outwardly rectifying Cl- current at positive membrane potentials and carbachol (CCh)-induced Cl- currents in the whole-cell configuration at -80 mV, whereas colchicine enhanced Cl- currents. Cytochalasin D, but not colchicine, markedly inhibited CCh-induced Cl- secretion. Synergistic actions of CCh and forskolin on Cl- and amylase secretion were observed even in the presence of cytochalasin D. These results suggest that the synergistic effects of Ca2+ and cAMP signaling systems on amylase and Cl- secretion do not require actin filament integrity but that secretion by the two signals themselves does require actin filament integrity.View full abstractDownload PDF (977K) -
Takuji SUZUKI, Yoko ISHIGAMI, Norihisa OKADA, Akihiro KANEKO, Ryuuta F ...2008 Volume 29 Issue 3 Pages 141-145
Published: 2008
Released on J-STAGE: July 10, 2008
JOURNAL FREE ACCESSEmploying the DNA microarray technique, we previously reported the alteration in gene expression of nucleocytoplasmic transport factors, importins and exportins, induced by 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (DVD) in human leukemia HL-60 cells. Here, we used the quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction method to confirm such previous findings, and compared them with those from the cells treated with all-trans-retinoic acid (ATRA). The results indicated that the gene expression of the transport factors examined was mostly down-regulated following differentiation induced by DVD and ATRA, but importin α5 gene expression was up-regulated in either case. The differences were found in the gene expression of importin α3 and exportin 6 between the cells after treatments with DVD and ATRA. These variations may be related to the difference between HL-60 cell lineages differentiating into monocytes/macrophages and granulocytes. The present findings provide further evidence to support the important roles of importins and exportins in cell differentiation.View full abstractDownload PDF (585K) -
Mitsugu YAMANAKA, Yasushi ITAKURA, Atsushi TSUCHIDA, Tsutomu NAKAGAWA, ...2008 Volume 29 Issue 3 Pages 147-153
Published: 2008
Released on J-STAGE: July 10, 2008
JOURNAL FREE ACCESSWe previously reported that peripheral injection of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) exhibits hypophagic and hypoglycemic effects in obese hyperglycemic animals, indicating its antiobesity and antidiabetic effects. Since previous studies were focused on the effect of BDNF on overt diabetic animals with severe hyperglycemia, there was no evidence whether BDNF is effective or not for the development of diabetes in prediabetic animal models. Therefore, we evaluated the effect of BDNF on preventing the development of diabetes in db/db mice. First, we characterized age-related changes in the pathophysiology of diabetes in db/db mice. We chose 8 week-old db/db mice as the early diabetic stage (early intervention study) and 4 week-old db/db mice as the prediabetic stage (prevention study). Next, we examined the effects of BDNF on the progression of diabetes in early diabetic db/db mice. In the early intervention study using 8 week-old db/db mice, intermittent treatment with BDNF prevented the deterioration in hyperglycemia. Lastly, we examined the preventive effects of BDNF on the development of diabetes in prediabetic db/db mice. In the prevention study using 4 week-old db/db mice, treatment with BDNF prevented the age-related increase in blood glucose concentration. These results showed for the first time that BDNF prevents the development of diabetes in prediabetic db/db mice.View full abstractDownload PDF (725K) -
Hideyuki ABE, Takao KAMAI, Toshihiko TSUJII, Fumihiko NAKAMURA, Tomoko ...2008 Volume 29 Issue 3 Pages 155-161
Published: 2008
Released on J-STAGE: July 10, 2008
JOURNAL FREE ACCESSTo clarify the role of the Rho small GTP-binding protein (Rho) and its major downstream target, ROCK (Rho-associated serine-threonine protein kinase), in progression of renal cell carcinoma (RCC), we examined mRNA expression for Rho and ROCK genes in surgical specimen of RCC tissues from 78 Japanese patients and in the corresponding non-tumor tissues originating from the same patient using a real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Expression of mRNA for RhoA did not differ between tumor and non-tumor tissues. RhoB mRNA expression was higher in the tumor (P < 0.05), but expression was not associated with tumor grade, stage, or prognosis. However, degree of RhoC and ROCK mRNA expression was related to tumor grade (P < 0.05) and stage (P < 0.0001). A positive relationship was seen between expression of mRNA for RhoC and that for ROCK in tumor tissues (P < 0.0001). Kaplan-Meier plots showed high RhoC and ROCK mRNA expression to be negatively associated with overall survival (P < 0.0001). Multivariate analysis showed mRNA expression of RhoC and ROCK to be independent poor prognostic factors concerning overall survival. Our findings implicate the RhoC/ROCK pathway in carcinogenesis and progression of RCC, indicating that RhoC/ROCK may be a useful prognostic marker and a possible molecular target for treatment of the disease.View full abstractDownload PDF (479K) -
Makiko OKADA, Koichi MURASE, Akihisa MAKINO, Mitsunari NAKAJIMA, Teppe ...2008 Volume 29 Issue 3 Pages 163-170
Published: 2008
Released on J-STAGE: July 10, 2008
JOURNAL FREE ACCESSWe investigated the effect of the female hormone 17β-estradiol (E2) and the hormone mimic bisphenol A (BPA) on the proliferation and differentiation of rat neural stem/progenitors cells (NS/PCs) cultured from the telencephalon of embryonic day-15 rats. Basic fibroblast growth factor (FGF-2) is a potent mitogen of early generated NS/PCs, and is used for the proliferation of NS/PCs in vitro. Administration of E2 or BPA alone to the NS/PCs stimulated their proliferation in the absence but not in the presence of FGF-2. E2- or BPA-treatment increased the ratio of the oligodendrocytes generated from the NS/PCs to total cells; however, this ratio did not change when the cells were stimulated with platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF), a mitogen for oligodendrocyte precursors, or with neurotrophin-3, an oligogenic factor for glial progenitor cells. These results suggest that estrogens would influence the fate of NS/PCs when the cells are poorly supplied with mitogens or differentiation factors during the early stages of neurogenesis.View full abstractDownload PDF (790K)
Communication
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Mitsutaka KOMATSU, Yutaka TAJIMA, Teruyo ITO, Yuichiro YAMASHIRO, Keii ...2008 Volume 29 Issue 3 Pages 171-173
Published: 2008
Released on J-STAGE: July 10, 2008
JOURNAL FREE ACCESSWe developed a time-suppression test using alamarBlue®, which will allow estimation of the cidal or static nature of antimicrobials very easily and quickly. As an example, the effects of vancomycin, linezolid, and daptomycin on a representative strain of Staphylococcus aureus were estimated.View full abstractDownload PDF (199K)
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