Differentially expressed genes among motor and prefrontal areas of macaque neocortex.

In higher primates, the motor-related areas of the neocortex are highly differentiated into several subareas based on both functional and cytoarchitectural aspects. To assess the molecular basis of this areal specialization, we investigated the gene expression profiles of the primary motor area (M1), premotor area (dorsal and ventral, PMd and PMv, respectively), and prefrontal area (A46) in rhesus monkeys using DNA microarray. We discovered that 476 genes were differentially expressed among these 4 areas.

Impaired protection against Mycobacterium bovis bacillus Calmette-Guerin infection in IL-15-deficient mice.

To investigate the potential role of endogenous IL-15 in mycobacterial infection, we examined protective immunity in IL-15-deficient (IL-15(-/-)) mice after infection with Mycobacterium bovis bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) or recombinant OVA-expressing BCG (rBCG-OVA). IL-15(-/-) mice exhibited an impaired protection in the lung on day 120 after BCG infection as assessed by bacterial growth. CD4(+) Th1 response capable of producing IFN-gamma was normally detected in spleen and lung of IL-15(-/-) mice on day 120 after infection.

Soluble branched (1,4)-beta-D-glucans from Acetobacter species enhance antitumor activities against MHC class I-negative and -positive malignant melanoma through augmented NK activity and cytotoxic T-cell response.

We previously found that an extracellular polysaccharide, AC-1, produced by Acetobacter polysaccharogenes composed of (1,4)-beta-D-glucan with branches of glucosyl residues showed a strong activity to induce production of interleukin (IL)-12 p40 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha by macrophage cell lines in vitro via Toll-like receptor-4 signaling. In the present study, we examined the effects of oral administration of AC-1 on protection against 2 types of murine B16 melanoma lines, major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I-negative B16L and MHC class I gene-transfected B16K(b) cells. Mice were inoculated subcutaneously with B16L or B16K(b) cells on day 0 and administrated intragastrically with AC-1 or PBS once every 5 days from 1 day before tumor inoculation.

Oral administration of bovine colostrum stimulates intestinal intraepithelial lymphocytes to polarize Th1-type in mice.

Th1 stimulus for Th2-skewed immune response during infancy is important for reduction of incidence of allergic diseases. We examined effects of oral administration of bovine colostrum on local immunity in intestine in adult mice. C57BL/6 mice were orally given bovine colostrum or control milk for 1, 3 or 6 months and intestinal microflora, fecal IgA, and lymphocyte population of gut-associated lymphoid tissues and their abilities of cytokine production were examined.

Immunostimulating properties of intragastrically administered Acetobacter-derived soluble branched (1,4)-beta-D-glucans decrease murine susceptibility to Listeria monocytogenes.

We previously found that AC-1, an extracellular polysaccharide, produced by Acetobacter xylinum and composed of (1,4)-beta-D-glucan with branches of glucosyl residues, showed a strong activity to induce production of interleukin-12 (IL-12) p40 and tumor necrosis factor alpha by macrophages in vitro via Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR-4) signaling. In the present study, we examined the effect of oral administration of AC-1 on protective immunity against Listeria monocytogenes. Mice were given AC-1 or phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) intragastrically 2 days before, on the day of, and 2 days after an intraperitoneal inoculation of L.

Overexpression of Interleukin-15 increases susceptibility to lipopolysaccharide-induced liver injury in mice primed with Mycobacterium bovis bacillus Calmette-Guerin.

Mice primed with Mycobacterium bovis bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) are highly sensitive to lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced liver injury and lethality. We found that interleukin-15 (IL-15) transgenic (Tg) mice primed with BCG were more susceptible to LPS-induced liver injury than non-Tg mice. The numbers of CD44+ CD8+ T cells expressing intracellular gamma interferon (IFN-gamma) significantly increased in the livers of BCG-primed IL-15 Tg mice after LPS injection, and the depletion of CD8+ T cells from BCG-primed IL-15 Tg mice completely abolished the susceptibility to LPS-induced lethality.

Interleukin-15 as an immune adjuvant to increase the efficacy of Mycobacterium bovis bacillus Calmette-Guérin vaccination.

Interleukin-15 (IL-15) transgenic mice which had been inoculated with Mycobacterium bovis bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) 24 weeks previously showed resistance against airborne infection with Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Rv accompanied by an increased CD8(+)-Tc1-cell response. IL-15 may be used as an immune adjuvant given with BCG vaccination to enhance its biologic efficacy.

Soluble branched beta-(1,4)glucans from Acetobacter species show strong activities to induce interleukin-12 in vitro and inhibit T-helper 2 cellular response with immunoglobulin E production in vivo.

An extracellular polysaccharide, AC-1, produced by Acetobacter polysaccharogenes is composed of beta-(1,4)glucan with branches of glucosyl residues. We found that AC-1 showed a strong activity to induce production of interleukin-12 P40 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha by macrophage cell lines in vitro. Cellulase treatment completely abolished the activity of AC-1 to induce tumor necrosis factor-alpha production by macrophages, whereas treatment of AC-1 with polymyxin B or proteinase did not affect the activity.