Brown fat-associated postprandial thermogenesis in humans: Different effects of isocaloric meals rich in carbohydrate, fat, and protein.

The increase of whole-body energy expenditure seen after a single meal ingestion, referred to as diet-induced thermogenesis (DIT), substantially varies depending on the meal's macronutrient composition. Brown adipose tissue (BAT), a site of non-shivering thermogenesis, was reported to be involved in DIT. To examine the effects of meal composition on BAT-associated DIT in humans, healthy male participants underwent fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography to assess BAT activity, and respiratory gas analysis for 2 h after ingestion of a carbohydrate-, protein-, or fat-rich meal (C-meal, P-meal, and F-meal, respectively).

Involvement of G-CSF, IL-6, and cortisol in transient neutrophilia after marathon races.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to clarify the mechanisms of the transient increase in neutrophils after running standard marathon races by measurement of cytokines involved in the production and survival of neutrophils, and cortisol.

Methods: Fourteen male runners who participated in the Hokkaido Marathon, which is the sole marathon race held in summer in Japan, and finished the standard marathon were analyzed sequentially from the start until a maximum of 8 days after the finish.

Results: Neutrophilia was observed in all runners just after they reached the goal (mean neutrophils: 13 226/μL).

Dipeptidyl Peptidase-IV Inhibitory Activity of Katsuobushi-Derived Peptides in Caco-2 Cell Assay and Oral Glucose Tolerance Test in ICR Mice.

Proteolytic products of bonito stock residue inhibit dipeptidyl peptidase-IV (DPP-IV). Here, we isolated, purified, and identified the components of its N5 fraction obtained after using neutral protease from . A 10% ethanol eluent (N5-2 fraction) from column chromatography was sequenced, yielding 18 peptides.

Protease activity of legumain is inhibited by an increase of cystatin E/M in the DJ-1-knockout mouse spleen, cerebrum and heart.

Legumain (EC 3.4.22.

Improvement of blood glucose levels and obesity in mice given aronia juice by inhibition of dipeptidyl peptidase IV and α-glucosidase.

Aronia berries have many potential effects on health. Previous human studies have shown that aronia juice may be useful for treatment of obesity disorders. Recently, we have reported that aronia juice has an inhibitory effect on dipeptidyl peptidase (DPP IV) activity and that the DPP IV inhibitor in aronia juice was identified as cyanidin 3,5-diglucoside.

Expression and protease activity of mouse legumain are regulated by the oncogene/transcription co-activator, DJ-1 through p53 and cleavage of annexin A2 is increased in DJ-1-knockout cells.

Legumain (EC 3.4.22.

Identification and characterization of a dipeptidyl peptidase IV inhibitor from aronia juice.

Aronia berries have many potential effects on health, including an antioxidant effect, effect for antimutagenesis, hepatoprotection and cardioprotection, an antidiabetic effect and inhibition of cancer cell proliferation. Previous human studies have shown that aronia juice may be useful for treatment of obesity disorders. In this study, we found that aronia juice has an inhibitory effect against dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DPP IV) (EC 3.

Rapid and simple purification of lysozyme from the egg shell membrane.

Lysozyme (EC 3.2.1.

Significance of serum Zn-α2-glycoprotein for the regulation of blood pressure.

Zn-α2-glycoprotein (ZAG) (molecular weight=41 kDa) is one component in the α2 fraction of human plasma, and is reported to be associated with several diseases, such as cancers and metabolic syndromes. ZAG is also considered to be an important modulator of lipid metabolism. However, little is known about the correlation of serum ZAG levels with indicators of metabolic syndrome.

Serum DJ-1 level is positively associated with improvements in some aspects of metabolic syndrome in Japanese women through lifestyle intervention.

DJ-1 is a protein that is associated with Parkinson disease and cancer, and the reduction of DJ-1 function and expression is also thought to be a cause of diabetes and hypertension. However, little is known about the association between the plasma concentration of DJ-1 and risk of metabolic syndrome. We hypothesized that a lifestyle intervention would increase serum DJ-1 and that up-regulated DJ-1 functions will result in the prevention of metabolic syndrome.

Transcriptional regulation of the legumain gene by p53 in HCT116 cells.

Legumain (EC 3.4.22.

Knockdown of legumain inhibits cleavage of annexin A2 in the mouse kidney.

Legumain (EC 3.4.22.

Domain 5 of high molecular weight kininogen inhibits collagen-mediated cancer cell adhesion and invasion in association with α-actinin-4.

High molecular weight kininogen (HK) is a plasma glycoprotein with multiple functions, including the regulation of coagulation. We previously demonstrated that domain 5 (D5(H)), a functional domain of HK, and its derived peptides played an important role in the vitronectin-mediated suppression of cancer cell adhesion and invasion. However, the underlying mechanisms of the D5(H)-mediated suppressive effects remain to be elucidated.

Purification, molecular cloning and functional characterization of swine phosphatidylethanolamine-binding protein 4 from seminal plasma.

Phosphatidylethanolamine-binding proteins (PEBPs) are found in various species and have multiple functions. In this study, we purified the swine homolog of human PEBP4 (sPEBP4) from swine seminal plasma, cloned the sPEBP4 cDNA and functionally characterized this protein. The molecular mass of the purified protein was calculated to be 25 kDa by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis under reducing conditions.

Memory immune responses against pandemic (H1N1) 2009 influenza virus induced by a whole particle vaccine in cynomolgus monkeys carrying Mafa-A1*052:02.

We made an H1N1 vaccine candidate from a virus library consisting of 144 ( = 16 HA×9 NA) non-pathogenic influenza A viruses and examined its protective effects against a pandemic (2009) H1N1 strain using immunologically naïve cynomolgus macaques to exclude preexisting immunity and to employ a preclinical study since preexisting immunity in humans previously vaccinated or infected with influenza virus might make comparison of vaccine efficacy difficult. Furthermore, macaques carrying a major histocompatibility complex class I molecule, Mafa-A1*052:02, were used to analyze peptide-specific CD8(+) T cell responses. Sera of macaques immunized with an inactivated whole particle formulation without addition of an adjuvant showed higher neutralization titers against the vaccine strain A/Hokkaido/2/1981 (H1N1) than did sera of macaques immunized with a split formulation.

Factor H in porcine seminal plasma protects sperm against complement attack in genital tracts.

We found that factor H (FH) exists in porcine seminal plasma. Purified FH strongly inhibited serum alternative pathway complement activation against lipopolysaccharide. The molecular weight, pI, and heparin-binding activity of the purified protein were different from those of purified FH from porcine serum.

Analysis of introns and promoters of L/M visual pigment genes in relation to deutan color-vision deficiency with an array of normal gene orders.

Among the 447 Japanese men with deutan color-vision deficiency that we analyzed, 61 had a normal order array of L/M pigment genes. Three of the 61 men had an exonic mutation, but the other 58 had no mutations even in the flanking introns of their M genes. In these 58 men, 55 had a -71A --> C substitution in the M gene.

Shedding of gACE from residual body membrane of rat sperm.

Germinal angiotensin I-converting enzyme (gACE) is expressed only in the testis and is uniquely present in developing spermatids and sperm. We previously purified soluble gACE from porcine seminal plasma, and reported that gACE was secreted from residual body on spermatozoa by the other peptidase(s), namely Sheddase. Using Nma/DNP substrate, it was observed that the shedding activity in testicular fluid was stronger than in the sperm membrane and epididymal fluid.

Legumain/asparaginyl endopeptidase controls extracellular matrix remodeling through the degradation of fibronectin in mouse renal proximal tubular cells.

Legumain/asparaginyl endopeptidase (EC 3.4.22.

Porcine germinal angiotensin I-converting enzyme: isolation, characterization and molecular cloning.

Germinal angiotensin I-converting enzyme (gACE) was purified to homogeneity from porcine seminal plasma. The molecular weight of the purified enzyme was calculated to be 182,000 on non-denaturing PAGE and 94,000 and 93,000 on SDS-PAGE in the absence and presence of beta-ME, respectively. These findings suggest that the enzyme is composed of two identical subunits in seminal plasma.

Protan color vision deficiency with a unique order of green-red as the first two genes of a visual pigment array.

Normal visual pigment gene arrays on the human X chromosome have a red gene at the first and a green gene at the second positions. More than half of the arrays have additional green genes downstream, but only the first two genes of the array are likely to be expressed in the retina. An array consisting of four genes in two Japanese participants, A121 and A447, was detected either by pulsed field gel electrophoresis and subsequent Southern hybridization or by single nucleotide primer extension reaction.

Proximal HNF1 element is essential for the induction of human UDP-glucuronosyltransferase 1A1 by glucocorticoid receptor.

Previous study showed noinduction of the reporter gene (-3174/+14) of UGT1A1 in HepG2 by bilirubin, but induction by dexamethasone (DEX). This induction was enhanced seven-fold by the co-expression of human glucocorticoid receptor (GR) and was inhibited by a GR antagonist, RU486, indicating stimulation by DEX-GR. Meanwhile, we could not detect stimulation by beta-estradiol, phenobarbital or rifampicin (RIF) in the presence of GR.

Primary structure and properties of Mn-superoxide dismutase from scallop adductor muscle.

Manganese-superoxide dismutase was purified to homogeneity from scallop adductor muscle using DEAE-Sephacel, Buthyl-Cellulofine and Superdex 200 pg column chromatographies. The molecular weights of the purified enzyme were calculated to be 22,321.4 according to time-of-flight mass spectrometry, and to be approximately 95,000 and 93,000 on Superdex 200 pg column chromatography and non-denatured PAGE, respectively, and were calculated by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis to be 24,000 and 25,000 in the absence and 25,000 in the presence of beta-mercaptoethanol.

Stimulation of transcriptional expression of human UDP-glucuronosyltransferase 1A1 by dexamethasone.

Human UDP-glucuronosyltransferase (UGT) 1A1 is only enzyme in the conjugation of bilirubin for prevention of hyperbilirubinemia and jaundice. Deletion or mutation of the UGT1A1 gene causes Crigler-Najjar syndrome or Gilbert's syndrome. We previously reported the functional promoter region for expression of UGT1A1 [Hepatology Research 9, 152-163 (1997)].