Publications by authors named "Ryohei Tsuji"

The growing risk of contracting viral infections due to high-density populations and ecological disruptions, such as climate change and increased population mobility, has highlighted the necessity for effective antiviral treatment and preventive measures against Dengue virus (DENV), Chikungunya virus (CHIKV), and Zika virus (ZIKV). Recently, there has been increasing attention on the use of probiotics as a potential antiviral option to reduce virus infections. The present study aimed to assess the immunomodulatory effects of heat-killed strain plasma (LC-Plasma) on peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and its subsequent antiviral response against DENV, CHIKV, and ZIKV.

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  • Defective IL-2 production is linked to immune issues in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), and low-dose IL-2 treatment shows promise for improving regulatory T cell (Treg) numbers.
  • The study aimed to see if adding IL-2 could maintain Treg levels during treatment with calcineurin inhibitors, using a murine model of SLE.
  • Results revealed that combining IL-2 with tacrolimus improved kidney function and delayed disease symptoms more effectively than using either treatment alone, suggesting a potential benefit for treating lupus nephritis.
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A 51-year-old man visited to our hospital because of chest discomfort and hematemesis. He was diagnosed with Mallory-Weiss syndrome and followed in outpatient clinic. One week later, he visited our hospital again for fever and discomfort.

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The COVID-19 outbreak has caused significant global changes and increased public awareness of SARS-CoV-2. Substantial progress in developing vaccines, enhancing sanitation practices, and implementing various measures to combat the virus, including the utilization of probiotics has been made. This comprehensive review examined the medical impact of clinically proven probiotics on infectious diseases, considering three crucial time periods: before (pre-), during (mid-), and after (post-) COVID-19 pandemic era.

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  • The study investigates the relationship between autonomic nervous system activity, specifically capillary function, and exercise efficiency through a noncontact measurement method using a standard web camera.
  • The method analyzes changes in color values (green and blue) of the face to calculate the G/B ratio, which indicates capillary contraction and dilation during exercise.
  • Results showed that as heart rate increased, the G/B ratio decreased, signifying capillary dilation due to sympathetic nervous system dominance during exercise, while the ratio increased after exercise, indicating capillary constriction from parasympathetic nervous system activity.
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  • Innate immune responses help control SARS-CoV-2 replication, and a specific lactic acid bacteria strain, Lactococcus lactis strain Plasma (LC-Plasma), can activate immune cells called plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs).
  • Research showed that when pDCs are stimulated with LC-Plasma, their secretions can reduce SARS-CoV-2 replication in cell cultures.
  • The study also found that the secretion of interferon-α (IFN-α) from pDCs is crucial to this suppression; blocking IFN-α decreased the effectiveness of LC-Plasma in reducing the virus's replication.
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Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic has been a major concern worldwide; however, easily accessible treatment options for patients with mild COVID-19 remain limited. Since the oral intake of strain plasma (LC-Plasma) enhances both the innate and acquired immune systems through the activation of plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs), we hypothesised that the oral intake of LC-Plasma could aid the relief or prevention of symptoms in patients with asymptomatic or mild COVID-19.

Methods And Analysis: This is an exploratory, multicentre, double-blinded, randomised, placebo-controlled trial.

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  • Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (aHSCT) can cure blood cancers but often leads to graft-versus-host disease (GVHD), a serious complication influenced by immune response balance after transplant.
  • This study explored the effects of lenalidomide (LEN), an immunomodulatory drug, on GVHD by observing its impact on lymphocyte composition in mice before and after aHSCT.
  • Results showed that LEN reduced the severity of acute GVHD in mice, potentially by preventing harmful lymphocyte migration to the gastrointestinal tract, suggesting it could be a protective treatment after aHSCT.
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strain Plasma (LC-Plasma) is reported to have anti-viral effects via direct activation of plasmacytoid dendritic cells, which upregulate the production of type I and III interferons. A randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind, parallel group study was designed for elementary schoolchildren, grades 1 to 3, in Vietnam. LC-Plasma or a control were administered to schoolchildren as a beverage (1.

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Dengue fever (DF) is a mosquito-borne disease still with no effective treatment or vaccine available. A randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blinded, parallel-group trial was undertaken to evaluate the efficacy of oral intake of strain plasma (LC-Plasma) on the presentation and severity of DF-like symptoms among healthy volunteers. Study participants (320) were assigned into two groups, and consumed either placebo or LC-Plasma tablets (approximately 100 billion cells/day) for 8 weeks.

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subsp. strain plasma (LC-plasma) is a bacterial strain that activates plasmacytoid dendritic cells and induces viral resistance genes via the TLR9/MyD88 pathway. We recently showed that oral administration of LC-plasma prevents skin infection by , possibly by activating skin immunity.

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(1) Background: strain Plasma (LC-Plasma) is a unique strain which directly activates plasmacytoid dendritic cells, resulting in the prevention against broad spectrum of viral infection. Additionally, we found that LC-Plasma intake stimulated skin immunity and prevents epicutaneous infection. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of LC-Plasma dietary supplementation on skin microbiome, gene expression in the skin, and skin conditions in healthy subjects.

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  • - The study explores how Lactococcus lactis strain Plasma (LC-Plasma) boosts skin immunity by stimulating plasmacytoid dendritic cells and reducing skin infections, particularly from Staphylococcus aureus.
  • - Researchers administered LC-Plasma orally for two weeks and observed increased immune activity in skin-draining lymph nodes (SLNs), leading to better skin health and less inflammation.
  • - The findings indicate that LC-Plasma enhances skin defense by activating specific immune cells and involves interleukin 17A production, which relies on certain signaling pathways in the immune system.
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The unique lactic acid bacteria, strain plasma (LC-Plasma), stimulates plasmacytoid dendritic cells, which play an important role in viral infection. The authors previously reported that LC-Plasma reduced the number of days athletes experienced cold-like symptoms and fatigue feelings after high-intensity exercise training; however, the mechanism was unclear. In this study, the authors investigated the effect of LC-Plasma on recovery from physical damage after single exercise on a treadmill in BALB/c mice model.

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  • Dengue is a viral disease spread by mosquitoes, and there is currently no effective vaccine or treatment for it.
  • A specific strain of bacteria, Lactococcus lactis strain Plasma (LC-Plasma), has been shown to activate immune cells and help mitigate viral infections, possibly through inducing interferon-alpha (IFN-α).
  • Research using liver cells (HepG2) indicated that LC-Plasma could significantly inhibit dengue virus (DENV) replication, regardless of the virus type, by boosting type I interferon signaling, suggesting it may serve as a safe preventive measure against dengue.
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Dengue virus (DENV), a mosquito‑borne flavivirus, causes an acute febrile illness that is a major public health problem in the tropics and subtropics globally. However, methods to prevent or treat DENV infection have not been well established. It was previously demonstrated that Lactococcus lactis strain plasma (LC‑plasma) has the ability to stimulate plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs).

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  • Aging leads to a decline in immune function, increasing vulnerability to infections and tumors, but previous studies showed that Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis strain Plasma (LC-Plasma) can boost immune response and protect against viral infections in both mice and humans.
  • This study explored the long-term effects of LC-Plasma on immune function and aging in senescence-accelerated mouse strains, finding that it enhanced IFN-α levels and maintained naïve T cell ratios, while also preventing skin thinning and muscle weight loss.
  • Overall, the results suggest that long-term use of LC-Plasma may help combat age-related immune decline and other physiological aging effects, making it a promising functional food for promoting healthier aging.
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Previous study revealed that a specific lignin-carbohydrate preparation, named as lignin-rich enzyme lignin (LREL) derived from plant husk, is a novel toll-like receptor 4 ligand and shows a potent immune-stimulatory activity against dendritic cells (DCs) in vitro. In this report, we investigated immune-stimulatory activity of LREL in vivo. Single intraperitoneal (i.

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  • - The study focuses on two types of lignin-rich carbohydrates extracted from barley husk, which act as immune stimulators for dendritic cells (DCs), key players in the immune system that bridge innate and adaptive immunity.
  • - Researchers found that the immunostimulatory effects depend on the composition and structure of the lignin derivatives, particularly factors like molecular weight, sugar distribution, and the presence of ester bonds.
  • - The activation of DCs by lignin-rich enzyme lignin (LREL) occurs through the TLR4 pathway, leading to increased expressions of immune markers and inflammatory cytokines, suggesting potential applications in enhancing immunity and developing vaccine adjuvants.
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Human salivary α-amylase (HSAMY) is a major component of salivary secretions, possessing multiple important biological functions. Here we have established three methods to purify HSAMY in human saliva for comprehensive characterization of HSAMY by high-resolution top-down mass spectrometry (MS). Among the three purification methods, the affinity method based on the enzyme-substrate specific interaction between amylase and glycogen is preferred, providing the highest purity HSAMY with high reproducibility.

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The effect of a plum ethanol extract (PEE) on immunity was analyzed. An oral administration of PEE increased the interleukin (IL)-12p40 concentration in the serum and T-cell ratio in the spleen. In vitro studies revealed that PEE stimulated IL-12p70 production in peritoneal macrophages and natural killer activity.

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A halophilic lactic acid bacterium, Tetragenococcus halophilus, was found to possess an immunomodulatory activity that promotes T helper type 1 (Th1) immunity in addition to its important roles in soy sauce brewing. Strain Th221 was selected from 151 strains isolated from soy sauce (shoyu) moromi, since it induced strong interleukin (IL)-12 production by mouse peritoneal macrophages in vitro. The relationship between the salt concentration in the medium and the IL-12 production-inducing activity of this strain was investigated, and the activity was found to be strong when the bacteria were grown in medium containing > or =10% (w/v) salt.

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Soy isoflavone aglycones (IFAs) have a wide range of biological actions. We investigated in this study the effect of IFAs on myeloid cells. The cell surface expression of both CD80 and CD86 was up-regulated by treating myeloid cells with IFAs in vitro and in vivo.

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Contact skin immunization of mice with reactive hapten antigen and subsequent airway challenge with the same hapten induces immediate airflow obstruction and subsequent airway hyper-reactivity (AHR) to methacholine challenge, which is dependent on B cells but not on T cells. This responsiveness to airway challenge with antigen is elicited as early as 1 day postimmunization and can be adoptively transferred to naïve recipients via 1-day immune cells. Responses are absent in 1-day immune B-cell-deficient JH(-/-) mice and B-1 B-cell-deficient xid male mice, as well as in recipients of 1-day immune cells depleted of cells with the B-1 cell phenotype (CD19(+) B220(+) CD5(+)).

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  • * Key compounds found in the tomato skin extract included chlorogenic acid, rutin, and naringenin, but a previously unidentified compound, naringenin chalcone, was the most effective at inhibiting histamine release, with an IC(50) value of 68 microg/ml.
  • * In vivo testing on mice confirmed that naringenin chalcone provided the strongest anti-allergic effect among the polyphenols in the extract, suggesting that tomato skin could be beneficial in preventing allergic reactions.
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