Publications by authors named "Jo Watanabe"

Homoeostatic regulation of the acid-base balance is essential for cellular functional integrity. However, little is known about the molecular mechanism through which the acid-base balance regulates cellular responses. Here, we report that bicarbonate ions activate a G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR), i.

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Introduction: B downward-shifting is a rare bronchial anomaly characterized by abnormal pulmonary arteries associated with downward displacement of B and complete fusion between the right upper and middle lobes.

Case Presentation: We report a case of robot-assisted thoracoscopic right upper lobectomy in a patient with lung cancer with B downward-shifting. An 81-year-old male was diagnosed with non-small cell lung cancer in S3 of the right upper lung.

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Crescent formation is the most important pathological finding that defines the prognosis of nephritis. Although neutrophils are known to play an important role in the progression of crescentic glomerulonephritis, such as anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated glomerulonephritis, the key chemoattractant for neutrophils in ANCA-associated glomerulonephritis has not been identified. Here, we demonstrate that a lipid chemoattractant, leukotriene B (LTB ), and its receptor BLT1 are primarily involved in disease pathogenesis in a mouse model of immune complex-mediated crescentic glomerulonephritis.

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Membrane transport proteins can be divided into two types: those that bind substrates in a resting state and those that do not. In this study, we demonstrate that these types can be converted by mutations through a study of two cyanobacterial anion-pumping rhodopsins, Mastigocladopsis repens halorhodopsin (MrHR) and Synechocystis halorhodopsin (SyHR). Anion pump rhodopsins, including MrHR and SyHR, initially bind substrate anions to the protein center and transport them upon illumination.

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The efficacy of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) in improving outcomes in a renal ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI) model has previously been reported. However, the underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood and few reports demonstrate how dietary n-3 PUFAs influence the composition of membrane phospholipids in the kidney. Additionally, it has not been elucidated whether perilla oil (PO), which is mainly composed of the n-3 alpha-linolenic acid, mitigates renal IRI.

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Obesity is a health problem worldwide, and brown adipose tissue (BAT) is important for energy expenditure. Here, we explored the role of leukotriene A hydrolase (LTA H), a key enzyme in the synthesis of the lipid mediator leukotriene B (LTB ), in diet-induced obesity. LTA H-deficient (LTA H-KO) mice fed a high-fat diet (HFD) showed a lean phenotype, and bone-marrow transplantation studies revealed that LTA H-deficiency in non-hematopoietic cells was responsible for this lean phenotype.

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Leukotrienes (LTs) are lipid mediators that play pivotal roles in acute and chronic inflammation and allergic diseases. They exert their biological effects by binding to specific G-protein-coupled receptors. Each LT receptor subtype exhibits unique functions and expression patterns.

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Study Design: Retrospective case series.

Purpose: To examine the efficacy of TachoSil for vessel injury in 6 patients who underwent anterior lumbar fusion surgery (ALF).

Overview Of Literature: ALF for the lumbar spine has a high rate of success, although intraoperative concerns and iatrogenic complications are known, and injury of a major vessel is sometimes a complication.

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Although pneumococcal infection is a serious problem worldwide and has a high mortality rate, the molecular mechanisms underlying the lethality caused by pneumococcus remain elusive. Here, we show that BLT2, a G protein-coupled receptor for leukotriene B and 12(S)-hydroxyheptadecatrienoic acid (12-HHT), protects mice from lung injury caused by a pneumococcal toxin, pneumolysin (PLY). Intratracheal injection of PLY caused lethal acute lung injury (ALI) in BLT2-deficient mice, with evident vascular leakage and bronchoconstriction.

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Tubulointerstitial injury is central to the progression of end-stage renal disease. Recent studies have revealed that one of the most investigated uremic toxins, indoxyl sulfate (IS), caused tubulointerstitial injury through oxidative stress and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress. Because indole, the precursor of IS, is synthesized from dietary tryptophan by the gut microbiota, we hypothesized that the intervention targeting the gut microbiota in kidney disease with galacto-oligosaccharides (GOS) would attenuate renal injury.

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Article Synopsis
  • Endothelial dysfunction significantly contributes to cardiovascular disease, especially in older adults, with glycation being a critical factor, yet its physiological implications in aging have been underexplored.
  • Researchers tested rats that overexpress glyoxalase I (GLO1) to see how glycation affects endothelial function as they age, finding that GLO1 reduced glycation and improved vascular response in older rats.
  • The study revealed that GLO1 helped maintain proper nitric oxide production and reduced harmful phosphorylation of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS), highlighting its potential in combating age-related endothelial dysfunction and vascular aging.
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