mTORC1 and mTORC2 are differentially engaged in the development of laser-induced CNV.

Background: The mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway is a potential target to inhibit pathologic processes in choroidal neovascularization. However, the exact role of mTOR signaling in the development of CNV remains obscure. In this study, we assessed the role of mTORC1 and mTORC2 as well as the effect of rapamycin (sirolimus) on choroidal neovascularization (CNV) in a laser-induced mouse model.

Adeno-Associated Viral Vector 2 and 9 Transduction Is Enhanced in Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetic Mouse Retina.

Adeno-associated viruses (AAVs) are currently the most popular vector platform technology for ocular gene therapy. While transduction efficiency and tropism of intravitreally administered AAV has been fairly well established in various retinal conditions, its transduction pattern in diabetic retinas has not previously been characterized. Here, we describe the transduction efficiencies of four different AAV serotypes, AAV2, 5, 8, and 9, in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic mouse retinas after intravitreal injections, which differed according to the duration of diabetic induction.

Heat-Killed , A Dectin-1 Agonist, Selectively Induces IgG4 Production by Human B Cells.

Dectin-1 is a major receptor that recognizes fungal cell wall β-glucan. We previously reported that heat-killed (HKSC), a Dectin-1 agonist, selectively induces IgG1 class switching in mouse B cells. Dectin-1 is also expressed on human B cells; however, Dectin-1 function in human B cells remains unknown.

Essential Role of mTOR Signaling in Human Retinal Pigment Epithelial Cell Regeneration After Laser Photocoagulation.

This study assessed the role of mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway in the human adult retinal pigment epithelial (ARPE) cell response after laser photocoagulation (LP). The effect of mTOR inhibition on ARPE-19 cell was investigated by rapamycin treatment after LP. Cell viability and proliferation were explored using MTT and EdU assays, respectively.

The retinal pigment epithelial response after retinal laser photocoagulation in diabetic mice.

To investigate the characteristics of regenerated retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells after retinal laser photocoagulation in diabetic mice. C57BL/6J mice were used to induce diabetes using intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin. The proliferation of RPE cells after laser photocoagulation was determined using the 5-ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine (EdU) assay in both diabetic and wild-type mice.

The role of Wnt/β-catenin signaling in the restoration of induced pluripotent stem cell-derived retinal pigment epithelium after laser photocoagulation.

To investigate the role of Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway in the restoration of induced pluripotent stem cell-derived retinal pigment epithelium (hiPSC-RPE) after laser photocoagulation. After differentiation of RPE cells from hiPSCs, laser photocoagulation was performed. Activation of Wnt/β-catenin signaling at days 1 and 5 after laser photocoagulation was evaluated by expression of β-catenin.

Transduction Patterns of Adeno-associated Viral Vectors in a Laser-Induced Choroidal Neovascularization Mouse Model.

Adeno-associated virus (AAV) vector is a promising platform technology for ocular gene therapy. Recently clinical successes to treat choroidal neovascularization (CNV) in wet type age-related macular degeneration have been reported. However, because pathologic conditions of the retina may alter the tropism of viral vectors, it is necessary to evaluate the transduction efficiency of different serotypes of AAV vectors in the retinas with CNVs.

Fit Characteristics of N95 Filtering Facepiece Respirators and the Accuracy of the User Seal Check among Koreans.

Adequate facepiece fit of N95 filtering facepiece respirators (FFRs) is crucial for optimal protection against airborne pathogens. The quantitative fit test (QNFT) pass rates of the 4 N95 FFR models commonly used in Korea were below 50%. Male sex was identified as a single independent predictive factor for QNFT pass.

Aberrant expression of interleukin-10 and activation-induced cytidine deaminase in B cells from patients with Behçet's disease.

Despite extensive studies, the pathogenesis of Behçet's disease (BD) remains unclear. In particular, the roles of B cells in patients with BD have not been elucidated. Activation-induced cytidine deaminase (AID) is a critical enzyme for immunoglobulin (Ig) heavy chain class switching and somatic hypermutation in B cells and the abnormal expression of AID in various immune conditions has previously been studied.

Adeno-Associated Viral Vector-Mediated mTOR Inhibition by Short Hairpin RNA Suppresses Laser-Induced Choroidal Neovascularization.

Choroidal neovascularization (CNV) is the defining characteristic feature of the wet subtype of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and may result in irreversible blindness. Based on anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF), the current therapeutic approaches to CNV are fraught with difficulties, and mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) has recently been proposed as a possible therapeutic target, although few studies have been conducted. Here, we show that a recombinant adeno-associated virus-delivered mTOR-inhibiting short hairpin RNA (rAAV-mTOR shRNA), which blocks the activity of both mTOR complex 1 and 2, represents a promising therapeutic approach for the treatment of CNV.

Dectin-1 agonist selectively induces IgG1 class switching by LPS-activated mouse B cells.

Heat-killed Saccharomyces cerevisiae (HKSC) is an agonist for Dectin-1, a major fungal cell wall β-glucan receptor. We previously reported that HKSC selectively enhances IgG1 production by LPS-activated mouse B cells. To determine if this IgG1 selectivity is caused by selective IgG1 class switching, we performed RT-PCRs for measuring germline transcripts (GLTs), flow cytometric analyses for detecting Ig-expressing cells, and ELISPOT assays for measuring the number of Ig-secreting cells in HKSC/LPS-stimulated mouse B cell cultures.

Ginsenoside Rg1 and 20(S)-Rg3 Induce IgA Production by Mouse B Cells.

Ginsenosides are the major components of ginseng, which is known to modulate blood pressure, metabolism, and immune function, and has been used to treat various diseases. It has been reported that ginseng and several ginsenosides have immunoregulatory effects on the innate and T cell-mediated immune response. However, their effects on the humoral immune response have not been fully explored.

Characterization and cDNA cloning of a defensin-like peptide, harmoniasin, from Harmonia axyridis.

We compared the mRNA expression profile of the Harmonia axyridis larvae that were either untreated or treated with LPS. The extracted mRNAs were subjected to ACP RTPCR analysis using a combination of arbitrary primers and oligo (dT) primer. Among the 47 DEGs differentially expressed, we identified a cDNA showing homology with defensin-like antibacterial peptide.