A Preclinical Evaluation towards the Clinical Application of Oxygen Consumption Measurement by CERMs by a Mouse Chimera Model.

We have developed an automated device for the measurement of oxygen consumption rate (OCR) called Chip-sensing Embryo Respiratory Measurement system (CERMs). To verify the safety and the significance of the OCR measurement by CERMs, we conducted comprehensive tests using a mouse model prior to clinical trials in a human in vitro fertilization (IVF) program. Embryo transfer revealed that the OCR measured by CERMs did not compromise the full-term development of mice or their future fertility, and was positively correlated with adenosine triphosphate (ATP) production and the mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm), thereby indirectly reflecting mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) activity.

Relaxin 2/RXFP1 Signaling Induces Cell Invasion via the β-Catenin Pathway in Endometrial Cancer.

Relaxin is known to play an important role in animal pregnancies, including those of humans. It is suggested that relaxin induces aggressive cell growth and invasiveness in several types of cancer, including endometrial cancer. However, the mechanisms of relaxin remain largely unclear.

17β-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenase Type 2 Expression Is Induced by Androgen Signaling in Endometrial Cancer.

Endometrial cancer is one of the most common female pelvic cancers and has been considered an androgen-related malignancy. Several studies have demonstrated the anti-cell proliferative effect of androgen on endometrial cancer cells; however, the mechanisms of the anti-cancer effect of androgen remain largely unclear. 17β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 2 (17β-HSD2), which catalyzes the conversion of E2 to E1, is known to be upregulated by androgen treatment in breast cancer cells.

Retinoic Acid Receptor β: A Potential Therapeutic Target in Retinoic Acid Treatment of Endometrial Cancer.

Objective: Several studies have reported that retinoic acid (RA) might be used to treat malignancies. The effects of RA are mediated by the RA receptor (RAR), and RARα/RARβ especially acts as a tumor suppressor. However, little is known about its role in human endometrial cancer.

Tissue concentrations of estrogens and aromatase immunolocalization in interstitial pneumonia of human lung.

Interstitial pneumonia (IP) is characterized by various degrees of pulmonary fibrosis and inflammation. Estrogens have been demonstrated to play important roles in physiological and pathological conditions of human lung, but significance of estrogens has remained unknown in human IP. Therefore, we measured estrogen concentrations and immunolocalized aromatase and estrogen receptor β (ERβ) in IP tissues.

Toll-like receptor 9-dependent activation of bone marrow-derived dendritic cells by URA5 DNA from Cryptococcus neoformans.

Cryptococcus neoformans is an opportunistic fungal pathogen that causes meningoencephalitis in immunocompromised patients. Recently, we reported that Toll-like receptor 9 (TLR9) is involved in host defense against C. neoformans: specifically, it detects the pathogen's DNA.