Whey peptide-based enteral diet attenuated elastase-induced emphysema with increase in short chain fatty acids in mice.

Background: Systemic inflammation is present in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). A whey peptide-based enteral diet reduce inflammation in patients with COPD, but its effect on COPD development has not been determined. On the other hand, it is known that short chain fatty acids (SCFAs), which are produced by micro-flora in the gut, attenuates bronchial asthma in mice model.

Effect of anti-inflammatory supplementation with whey peptide and exercise therapy in patients with COPD.

Background: One of the major pathophysiologies in advanced chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) has been attributed to systemic inflammation. Meta-analysis of the 2005 Cochrane Database concluded the effect of nutritional supplementation alone on stable COPD was insufficient to promote body weight gain or exercise capacity. The aim of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of nutritional supplementation therapy using a nutritional supplement containing whey peptide with low-intensity exercise therapy in stable elderly patients with COPD.

A new immune-modulating diet enriched with whey-hydrolyzed peptide, fermented milk, and isomaltulose attenuates gut ischemia-reperfusion injury in mice.

Background & Aims: Gut ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) is considered an important mechanism underlying multiple organ failure after severe surgical insults. We previously demonstrated an enteral diet enriched with whey-hydrolyzed peptide, fermented milk, and isomaltulose to have anti-inflammatory effects in a concanavalin A-induced hepatitis model. Here, we investigated whether the immune-modulating diet (IMD), could prevent systemic inflammation, thereby improving survival in a gut I/R model.

Recognition of T cell epitopes unique to Cha o 2, the major allergen in Japanese cypress pollen, in allergic patients cross-reactive to Japanese cedar and Japanese cypress pollen.

Background: Pollens from species of the Cupressaceae family are one of the most important causes of respiratory allergies worldwide. Many patients with pollinosis have specific IgE to both allergens from Japanese cedar and Japanese cypress pollen. We set out to identify T cell epitopes in Cha o 2, the second major allergen of Japanese cypress pollen.

Dietary whey protein hydrolysate suppresses development of atopic dermatitis-like skin lesions induced by mite antigen in NC/Nga mice.

Background: Oral administration of enzymatic hydrolysate of cow's milk whey protein (WPH) has been reported to produce an anti-inflammatory effect. Since inflammation plays a role in dermatitis of allergic disease, we examined the influence of WPH on the development of atopic dermatitis (AD)-like skin lesions, induced in NC/Nga mice by the mite antigen Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (Dp).

Methods: AD-like skin lesions were induced on the pinnae and backs of NC/Nga mice by daily application of Dp for 4 weeks.

Identification of human T cell epitopes in Japanese cypress pollen allergen, Cha o 1, elucidates the intrinsic mechanism of cross-allergenicity between Cha o 1 and Cry j 1, the major allergen of Japanese cedar pollen, at the T cell level.

Background: Pollens from species of Cupressaceae family are one of the most important causes of respiratory allergies worldwide. In Japan, many patients with pollinosis have specific IgE to both pollens of Japanese cypress (Chamaecyparis obtusa) and Japanese cedar (Cryptomeria japonica). The sequences between Cha o 1 and Cry j 1, the major allergens of Japanese cypress and Japanese cedar pollens, respectively, are 80% identical.

[Comparison of sensitivity of Hep-2 cells with that of HL cells against Chlamydia pneumoniae].

We compared the growth of Chlamydia pneumoniae, reference strain TW183 and an isolate from a Japanese infant, AC43 in HeLa229, HL and Hep-2 cells. The mean number of inclusion-forming units was significantly higher on HL cells than HeLa229 cells, when the cells were not pretreated with DEAE-dextran. When the cells were not pretreated with DEAE-dextran, Hep-2 cells had a higher mean number of inclusion-forming units and a higher yield than other cell lines.

Mouse Ly-31.1 is an alloantigenic determinant of alkaline phosphatase predominantly expressed in the kidney and bone.

The mouse lymphocyte surface alloantigen, Ly-31, defined by monoclonal antibody N1.10 (IgG2b,k) and controlled by a gene locus closely linked to the Akp-2 locus on chromosome 4, was biochemically investigated. By employing a quantitative immunoassay system, it was found that the Ly-31.

Different fine binding specificities of monoclonal antibodies to disialosylganglioside GD2.

The fine structural specificities of six monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) to ganglioside GD2, GalNAc beta 1----4(NeuAc alpha 2----8NeuAc alpha 2----3)Gal beta 1----4Glc-Cer, were studied. The binding specificities of these MAbs were found to differ from each other by virtue of their binding to structurally related authentic standard glycolipids as revealed by three different assay systems, including enzyme immunostaining on thin-layer chromatography, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and immune adherence inhibition assay. The MAbs examined could be divided into three binding types.

Biochemical similarity of Ly-19, Ly-32, and Lyb-2 alloantigens encoded in the gene cluster on mouse chromosome 4.

Mouse lymphocyte alloantigens Ly-19 and Ly-32 are controlled by the genes tightly linked to the Lyb-2 locus on chromosome 4. Despite the similarity in mouse strain distribution patterns, Ly-19 and Ly-32 antigens which have been detected on both B- and T-cell lineages are distinct from Lyb-2 antigen whose expression is restricted to the B cells. In this report, the close linkage of these three loci was confirmed by the typings of three sets of recombinant inbred mice including BXD, CXS, and OXA.