Abd-B suppresses lepidopteran proleg development in posterior abdomen.

Pterygotes lack abdominal appendages except for pleuropods and prolegs. The larvae of some holometabolous insects develop prolegs, which are used for locomotion. We analyzed the role of the homeotic genes abd-A and Abd-B in lepidopteran proleg development using mutant analysis and embryonic RNAi in the silkworm Bombyx mori.

Oral administration of soy-derived genistin suppresses lipopolysaccharide-induced acute liver inflammation but does not induce thymic atrophy in the rat.

Genistein, the principal isoflavone present in soy, has been identified as a protein tyrosine kinase (PTK) inhibitor that has in vitro anti-inflammatory effects. Whether genistein has in vivo anti-inflammatory effects remains unknown yet. Injecting or feeding rats with the unconjugated form of genistein (aglycone) results in decreased thymic weight and lymphocytopenia.

A soy diet accelerates renal damage in autoimmune MRL/Mp-lpr/lpr mice.

Isoflavones, which are phytoestrogens present in large quantities in soy and soy-derived products, have estrogenic activity, inhibit protein tyrosine kinase, and exert other effects in the human body. Thus, the recent spread of soy consumption in Western populations emphasizes the need to more fully understand the potential effects in the body, especially in abnormal immune conditions. In the present study, the influence of a soy diet on lupus disease in MRL/Mp-lpr/lpr (MRL/lpr) mice was investigated.

Estrogen and phytoestrogen regulate the mRNA expression of adrenomedullin and adrenomedullin receptor components in the rat uterus.

The serum estrogen surge in the uterus triggers precisely-timed physiological and biochemical responses required establishing and maintaining pregnancy. Previous reports have shown that consumption of phytoestrogen-containing plants may disrupt the precise control of pregnancy. To evaluate the effects of phytoestrogens in the uterus, we screened for estradiol (E2)-inducible genes in immature rat uteri.

Stability of A+U-rich element binding factor 1 (AUF1)-binding messenger ribonucleic acid correlates with the subcellular relocalization of AUF1 in the rat uterus upon estrogen treatment.

The nucleocytoplasmic shuttling protein, A+U-rich element binding factor 1 (AUF1), is one of the RNA-binding proteins that specifically bind adenylate-uridylate rich elements (AREs) in mRNA 3'-untranslated regions (UTRs), and acts as a regulator of ARE-mediated mRNA degradation in the cytoplasm. We previously reported that in the female rat uterus, the levels of specific AUF1 isoform mRNAs (p40/p45) were increased by 17 beta-estradiol (E2) treatment. Therefore, we examined the role of AUF1 in the regulation of E2-mediated mRNA turnover in the rat uterus.

A+U-rich-element RNA-binding factor 1/heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein D gene expression is regulated by oestrogen in the rat uterus.

Oestrogen-mediated gene expression is regulated at both the transcriptional and post-transcriptional levels. The molecular mechanism of transcriptional regulation has been well characterized. On the other hand, there is little understanding of the mechanism of post-transcriptional regulation.