Active-phase Plasma Alkaline Phosphatase Isozyme Activity Is a Sensitive Biomarker for Excessive Fructose Intake.

Background/aim: Excessive fructose intake reportedly leads to the development of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). In our previous study, we reported that plasma activities of alkaline phosphatase (ALP) isozymes were markedly changed in rats with excessive fructose intake-induced hepatomegaly. In this study, we examined ALP isozyme activity prior to the occurrence of hepatomegaly, and investigated the effect of the timing of sample collection, to explore its potential as a biomarker.

Effects of Delgocitinib Ointment 0.5% on the Normal Mouse Skin and Epidermal Tight Junction Proteins in Comparison With Topical Corticosteroids.

Delgocitinib ointment 0.5% is the world's first topical Janus kinase inhibitor product and was approved for treatment of atopic dermatitis (AD) in Japan. Although topical corticosteroids (TCSs) have been the mainstay of pharmacotherapy in AD over the past decades, long-term use of TCSs causes skin atrophy and alteration of the epidermal tight junction (TJ) leading to epidermal barrier dysfunction.

siRNA-mediated silencing of the gene for heat shock transcription factor 1 causes hypersensitivity to methylmercury in HEK293 cells.

Methylmercury is a hazardous heavy metal compound that can damage the central nervous system. The mechanisms of methylmercury toxicity and the biological defense mechanisms against it remain unclear. We employed gene knockdown using siRNA to search for transcription factors involved in the manifestation of methylmercury toxicity.

Gene expression profiling using DNA microarray analysis of the cerebellum of mice treated with methylmercury.

To elucidate the molecular mechanism involved in methylmercury-induced cerebellar disorder, we performed DNA microarray analysis of the cerebellum of methylmercury-treated mice. The expression levels of 21 genes were elevated 2-fold or higher in response to methylmercury, including many genes encoding proteins involved in inflammatory reactions associated with chemokines. The expression levels of 11 genes were reduced by half or more in response to methylmercury.

Silencing of the gene for homeobox protein HOXB13 by siRNA confers resistance to methylmercury on HEK293 cells.

Methylmercury is an environmental pollutant that causes severe central nervous system disorders. We searched for transcription factors involved in the development of methylmercury toxicity and found that the decreased expression of a homeobox protein, HOXB13, in HEK293 cells conferred strong resistance to methylmercury.