Differential susceptibility to lipopolysaccharide affects the activation of toll-like-receptor 4 signaling in THP-1 cells and PMA-differentiated THP-1 cells.

Monocytes and macrophages that originate from common myeloid progenitors perform various crucial roles in the innate immune system. Stimulation with LPS combined with TLR4 drives the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines through MAPKs and NF-κB pathway in different cells. However, the difference in LPS susceptibility between monocytes and macrophages is poorly understood.

Canopy height affects the allocation of photosynthetic carbon and nitrogen in two deciduous tree species under elevated CO.

Down-regulation of leaf N and Rubisco under elevated CO (eCO) are accompanied by increased non-structural carbohydrates (NSC) due to the sink-source imbalance. Here, to investigate whether the canopy position affects the down-regulation of Rubisco, we measured leaf N, NSC and N allocation in two species with different heights at maturity [Fraxinus rhynchophylla (6.8 ± 0.

Down-regulation of photosynthesis and its relationship with changes in leaf N allocation and N availability after long-term exposure to elevated CO concentration.

Down-regulation of photosynthesis under elevated CO (eCO) concentrations could be attributed to the depletion of nitrogen (N) availability after long-term exposure to eCO (progressive nitrogen limitation, PNL) or leaf N dilutions due to excessive accumulation of nonstructural carbohydrates. To determine the mechanism underlying this down-regulation, we investigated N availability, photosynthetic characteristics, and N allocation in leaves of Pinus densiflora (shade-intolerant species, evergreen tree), Fraxinus rhynchophylla (intermediate shade-tolerant species, deciduous tree), and Sorbus alnifolia (shade-tolerant species, deciduous tree). The three species were grown under three different CO concentrations in open-top chambers, i.

Analysis of the Immune Responses in the Ileum of Gnotobiotic Pigs Infected with the Recombinant GII.p12_GII.3 Human Norovirus by mRNA Sequencing.

Norovirus genogroup II (NoV GII) induces acute gastrointestinal food-borne illness in humans. Because gnotobiotic pigs can be infected with human norovirus (HuNoV) GII, they are frequently used to analyze the associated pathogenic mechanisms and immune responses, which remain poorly understood. Recently, mRNA sequencing analysis (RNA-Seq) has been used to identify cellular responses to viruses.

Comparative analysis of immune related genes between domestic pig and germ-free minipig.

Recently, minipig has been considered as an animal model that is appropriate for human disease model to study toxicology, pharmacology, and xenotransplantation. Nevertheless, minipigs are bred in various environment according to their use. Here, we suggest that minipigs used for research should be bred in well-controlled facility, comparing immune status of pigs raised in different breeding environment.

Association Between Functional Activity of Mitochondria and Actin Cytoskeleton Instability in Oocytes from Advanced Age Mice.

Mitochondrial dysfunction is strongly associated with the oocyte quality and aging, wherein the aged oocytes are related to the actin cytoskeleton integrity; however, whether this integrity is associated with mitochondrial dysfunction in oocytes from aged mice remains unclear. In the present study, we investigated the relationship between mitochondrial dysfunction and actin cytoskeleton instability in oocytes from the aged mice. We performed comparable analysis of mitochondrial motility between young, 1.

Heterogeneity of porcine bone marrow-derived dendritic cells induced by GM-CSF.

In vitro generation of dendritic cells (DCs) is advantageous for overcoming the low frequency of primary DCs and the difficulty of applying isolation techniques for studying DC immunobiology. The culture of bone marrow cells with granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) has been used extensively to generate bone marrow-derived dendritic cells (BMDCs). Studies have reported the heterogeneity of cells grown in murine GM-CSF culture based on the levels of MHCII expression.

5-Azacytidine improves the meiotic maturation and subsequent in vitro development of pig oocytes.

Treatment of donor cells and/or cloned embryos with cytidine analogues, having an Aza group at its 5th carbon (5-Aza), such as 5-Azacytidine (5-Aza-C) or 5-Aza-2'-deoxycytidine (5-Aza-dC) improves the in vitro development of cloned embryos produced by somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT). In vitro maturation (IVM) of immature pig oocytes treated with 5-Aza-C not only results in greater (P < 0.05) meiotic maturation to the MII stage but also enhances the capacity of 5-Aza-C treated oocytes for early embryonic development after parthenogenetic activation (PA), in vitro fertilization (IVF) or SCNT in a dose-dependent manner (0-10 μM).

Size-dependent variation in leaf functional traits and nitrogen allocation trade-offs in Robinia pseudoacacia and Cornus controversa.

Tree species vary in how they invest resources to different functions throughout their life histories, and investigating the detailed patterns of ontogenetic changes in key functional traits will aid in predicting forest dynamics and ecosystem processes. In this context, we investigated size-dependent changes in key leaf functional traits and nitrogen (N) allocation trade-offs in black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia L., an N-fixing pioneer species) and giant dogwood (Cornus controversa Hemsl.

Potential use of transgenic domestic pigs expressing recombinant human erythropoietin in diabetes translation research.

Recently, diabetes mellitus (DM) has shown rapid global increases with about five million deaths annually. Animal models are imperative to understand disease mechanisms and develop diagnostic, preventive, and therapeutic interventions in translational research. Rodent and mini-pig models have been established and widely used for DM research.

Characterization of Tetraploid Somatic Cell Nuclear Transfer-Derived Human Embryonic Stem Cells.

Polyploidy is occurred by the process of endomitosis or cell fusion and usually represent terminally differentiated stage. Their effects on the developmental process were mainly investigated in the amphibian and fishes, and only observed in some rodents as mammalian model. Recently, we have established tetraploidy somatic cell nuclear transfer-derived human embryonic stem cells (SCNT-hESCs) and examined whether it could be available as a research model for the polyploidy cells existed in the human tissues.

The critical warning sign of real-time brainstem auditory evoked potentials during microvascular decompression for hemifacial spasm.

Objective: The aim of this study was to define the critical warning sign of real-time brainstem auditory evoked potential (BAEP) for predicting hearing loss (HL) after microvascular decompression (MVD) for hemifacial spasm (HFS).

Methods: Nine hundred and thirty-two patients with HFS who underwent MVD with intraoperative monitoring (IOM) of BAEP were analyzed. We used a 43.

Sirtuin inhibition leads to autophagy and apoptosis in porcine preimplantation blastocysts.

Sirtuins are nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide dependent class III histone deacetylase proteins that play a crucial role in several cellular processes, including DNA repair, apoptosis, and lifespan. Previous studies have shown that sirtuin inhibition leads to embryonic developmental arrest and oxidative stress in porcine and murine. However, sirtuin-mediated mechanisms have not been examined in porcine preimplantation blastocysts.

Human galectin-9 on the porcine cells affects the cytotoxic activity of M1-differentiated THP-1 cells through inducing a shift in M2-differentiated THP-1 cells.

Background: In xenotransplantation, immune rejection by macrophages occurs rapidly and remains a major obstacle. Studies to control immune rejection in macrophages have been continuing to date. Recent studies have reported that human galectin-9 (hGal-9) can regulate the function of regulatory T cells (Treg), as well as cytotoxicity T cells (CTL) and natural killer cells (NK).

The potentiating effect of hTFPI in the presence of hCD47 reduces the cytotoxicity of human macrophages.

Background: In pig-to-human xenotransplantation, hyperacute rejection of pig organs could be overcome by the production of α1,3-galactosyltransferase knockout pigs. However, macrophage-mediated acute rejection is another obstacle that needs to be overcome. Among the various candidate genes involved in acute rejection, CD47 inhibits monocyte/macrophage-mediated phagocytosis by identifying the CD47 signal regulatory protein alpha (SIRP-α) as self/non-self.

The effect of poly(ADP-ribosyl)ation inhibition on the porcine cumulus-oocyte complex during in vitro maturation.

Poly(ADP-ribosyl)ation (PARylation) plays important roles in DNA repair, apoptosis, transcriptional regulation, and cell death, and occurs via the activity of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerases (PARPs). Previous studies have shown that PARylation affects mouse and porcine pre-implantation development and participates in mechanisms of autophagy. However, there have not yet been reported the role of PARylation during in vitro maturation (IVM) of porcine oocytes.

Neogenin regulates mitochondrial activity in pre-implantation mouse embryos.

• Mitochondrial activation signaling pathways are not clearly identified. • Embryonic mitochondria activity is important for a successful pregnancy and live birth. • Neogenin is a multi-functional receptor that contributes to embryo development.

Gnotobiotic Miniature Pig Interbreed Somatic Cell Nuclear Transfer for Xenotransplantation.

Transgenic animal producing technology has improved consistently over the last couple of decades. Among the available methods, somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) technology was officially the most popular. However, SCNT has low efficiency and requires a highly skilled individual.

Generation of Integration-free Induced Neural Stem Cells from Mouse Fibroblasts.

The viral vector-mediated overexpression of the defined transcription factors, Brn4/Pou3f4, Sox2, Klf4, and c-Myc (BSKM), could induce the direct conversion of somatic fibroblasts into induced neural stem cells (iNSCs). However, viral vectors may be randomly integrated into the host genome thereby increasing the risk for undesired genotoxicity, mutagenesis, and tumor formation. Here we describe the generation of integration-free iNSCs from mouse fibroblasts by non-viral episomal vectors containing BSKM.

The regulation of autophagy in porcine blastocysts: Regulation of PARylation-mediated autophagy via mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1) signaling.

Poly(ADP-ribosyl)ation (PARylation) acts as a modulator of selective autophagic degradation of ubiquitinated aggregates for cellular quality control, functioning in pro-survival role. It was reported previously that the inhibition of PARylation resulted in autophagy defects leading accumulation of ubiquitinated aggregates SQSTM1/p62 and apoptosis in porcine blastocysts. Thus, this study aims to investigate the mechanism between PARylation and autophagy in porcine blastocysts.

Induced neural stem cells from distinct genetic backgrounds exhibit different reprogramming status.

Somatic cells could be directly converted into induced neural stem cells (iNSCs) by ectopic expression of defined transcription factors. However, the underlying mechanism of direct lineage transition into iNSCs is largely unknown. In this study, we examined the effect of genetic background on the direct conversion process into an iNSC state.

Poly(ADP-ribosyl)ation is involved in pro-survival autophagy in porcine blastocysts.

Poly(ADP-ribosyl)ation (PARylation) prevents apoptosis through its involvement in pro-survival autophagy in cultured cells; whether or not the same is true for pre-implantation embryos has not yet been documented. In this study, we investigated the participation of PARylation and autophagy in in vitro porcine pre-implantation embryo development. The transcript levels of autophagy-related genes and poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase 1 (PARP1), an enzyme required for PARylation, were transiently up-regulated by fertilization, decreased at the late 1-cell stage, and maintained until the blastocyst stage.

FCMM: A comparative metagenomic approach for functional characterization of multiple metagenome samples.

Next-generation sequencing (NGS) technologies make it possible to obtain the entire genomic content of microorganisms in metagenome samples. Thus, many studies have developed methods for the processing and analysis of metagenomic NGS reads, including analyses for predicting functions and their enrichments in environmental metagenome samples. Especially, comparative functional studies by using multi-metagenome samples are essential for identifying and comparing different characteristics of multiple environmental samples.