An epidermis-permeable dipeptide is a potential cosmetic ingredient with partial agonist/antagonist activity toward fibroblast growth factor receptors.

Background: Fibroblast growth factors (FGFs) are promising agents with which to treat problems of skin and hair. But their inability to penetrate into the skin due to their large size and hydrophilic nature prevents their topical application as effective cosmetic ingredients.

Aims: To identify small peptide(s) with FGF-like activity and epidermis permeability.

The topical penta-peptide Gly-Pro-Ile-Gly-Ser increases the proportion of thick hair in Japanese men with androgenetic alopecia.

Background: A penta-peptide, Gly-Pro-Ile-Gly-Ser (GPIGS), promotes proliferation of mouse hair keratinocytes and accelerates hair growth in mice.

Aim Of This Study: This study focused on the ability of the peptide to promote human hair growth.

Methods: We used a human hair keratinocyte proliferation assay and organ cultures of human hair follicle as in vitro systems.

betaKlotho is required for fibroblast growth factor (FGF) 21 signaling through FGF receptor (FGFR) 1c and FGFR3c.

Fibroblast growth factor (FGF) 21, a structural relative of FGF23 that regulates phosphate homeostasis, is a regulator of insulin-independent glucose transport in adipocytes and plays a role in the regulation of body weight. It also regulates ketogenesis and adaptive responses to starvation. We report that in a reconstituted receptor activation assay system using BaF3 cells, which do not endogenously express any type of FGF receptor (FGFR) or heparan sulfate proteoglycan, FGF21 alone does not activate FGFRs and that betaKlotho is required for FGF21 to activate two specific FGFR subtypes: FGFR1c and FGFR3c.

Rapid detection of mycoplasma contamination in cell cultures using SYBR Green-based real-time polymerase chain reaction.

We have developed a simple method for rapid detection of mycoplasma contamination in cell cultures using SYBR Green-based real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). To detect eight common contaminant mollicutes, including Mycoplasma (M. arginini, M.

A short peptide GPIGS promotes proliferation of hair bulb keratinocytes and accelerates hair regrowth in mice.

The aim of this study was to discover a novel agent that promotes hair growth. We carried out a screening test in 298 types of conditioned medium (CM) from cultures of bacteria by using a hair bulb keratinocyte (HBK) growth assay. As a result, we found a HBK growth factor in the CM of Bacillus sp.

Alteration of gene expression of G protein-coupled receptors in endocrine disruptors-caused hyperactive rats.

We examined the effects of endocrine disruptors on rat behavioral and cellular responses. Single intracisternal administration of bisphenol A, p-octylphenol, nonylphenol, dibutylphthalate (DBP), dicyclohexylphthalate (DCHP), or diethylhexylphthalate (DEHP) into 5-day-old male Wistar rats caused significant hyperactivity at 4-5 weeks of age. It was about 1.

Motor hyperactivity caused by a deficit in dopaminergic neurons and the effects of endocrine disruptors: a study inspired by the physiological roles of PACAP in the brain.

Recent studies have revealed that the pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP) might act as a psychostimulant. Here we investigated the mechanisms underlying motor hyperactivity in patients with pervasive developmental disorders, such as autism, and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). We studied the effects of intracisternal administration of 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) or endocrine disruptors (EDs) on spontaneous motor activity (SMA) and multiple gene expression in neonatal rats.

Polyphenols from peanut skins and their free radical-scavenging effects.

Separation of the water-soluble fraction of peanut skins led to the isolation of five proanthocyanidins. Based on the spectroscopic investigation and partial acid catalyzed degradation, their structures were determined to be epicatechin-(2beta-->O -->7, 4beta -->6)-[epicatechin-(4beta-->8)]-catechin (1), epicatechin-(2beta-->O -->7, 4beta-->8) epicatechin-(4beta-->8)-catechin-(4alpha-->8)-epicatechin (2), and procyanidins B2 (3), B3 (4) and B4 (5). The absolute configuration of the new compounds was determined from their circular dichroism curves and the (1)H NMR spectra of analysis of flavan-3-ols formed by thiolytic degradation of 1 and 2 in the presence of a chiral dirhodium complex (dirhodium tetra-(R)-(trifluoromethyl) phenyl acetate).

Dicyclohexylphthalate causes hyperactivity in the rat concomitantly with impairment of tyrosine hydroxylase immunoreactivity.

Endocrine disruptors possibly exert effects on neuronal functions leading, in particular, to behavioural alterations. In this study, we examined the effects of dicyclohexylphthalate (DCHP), an endocrine disruptor, on rat behavioural and cellular responses. Single intracisternal administration of DCHP (0.

Motor activity and gene expression in rats with neonatal 6-hydroxydopamine lesions.

A rat model of a hyperkinetic disorder was used to investigate the mechanisms underlying motor hyperactivity. Rats received an intracisternal injection of 6-hydroxydopamine on post-natal day 5. At 4 weeks of age, the animals showed significant motor hyperactivity during the dark phase, which was attenuated by methamphetamine injection.

Effects of neonatal treatment with 6-hydroxydopamine and endocrine disruptors on motor activity and gene expression in rats.

To investigate the mechanisms underlying motor hyperactivity, we performed intracisternal injection of 6-hydroxydopamine or endocrine disruptors in rats on postnatal day 5. 6-Hydroxydopamine (100 microg, 488 nmol) caused a significant increase in spontaneous motor activities at 4 weeks of age. Gene-expression profiling using a cDNA membrane array revealed alterations in several classes of gene at 8 weeks of age.

p-Nitrotoluene causes hyperactivity in the rat.

It has not been known which endocrine disruptors exert their effects on neuronal functions, particularly leading to behavioral alterations. To address this, we examined the effects of p-nitrotoluene, an endocrine disruptor, on rat behavior and gene expression. Single intracisternal administration of p-nitrotoluene (ca.

Bisphenol A causes hyperactivity in the rat concomitantly with impairment of tyrosine hydroxylase immunoreactivity.

We examined the effects of bisphenol A, an endocrine disruptor, on rat behavioral and cellular responses. Single intracisternal administration of bisphenol A (0.2-20 microg) into 5-day-old male Wistar rats caused significant hyperactivity at 4-5 weeks of age.

A new approach to species determination for yeast strains: DNA microarray-based comparative genomic hybridization using a yeast DNA microarray with 6000 genes.

DNA-DNA hybridization is known as the superior method in the elucidation of relationships between closely related taxa, such as species and strain. For species determination we propose a new DNA-DNA hybridization method: the DNA microarray-based comparative genomic hybridization (CGH) method, using a yeast DNA microarray with approximately 6000 genes. The genome from a yeast strain as a sample strain (Sample) was labelled with Cy3-dye and hybridized to a single DNA microarray, together with the Cy5-labelled genome of S.

Constitutively active Src facilitates NGF-induced phosphorylation of TrkA and causes enhancement of the MAPK signaling in SK-N-MC cells.

Here we investigated a biological association of constitutively active Src with TrkA in SK-N-MC human neuroblastoma cells. Activation of TrkA and extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) by nerve growth factor (NGF) was inhibited by pretreatment with PP2, an inhibitor of Src family kinases. Moreover, NGF-induced phosphorylation of TrkA and ERK was also attenuated by the transfection with a dominant-negative src construct.

Screening of genes that respond to cryopreservation stress using yeast DNA microarray.

We studied the response of yeast cells after cryopreservation treatment using DNA microarray technology. Genes that contribute to "Cell rescue, defense and virulence," "energy," and "metabolism," were significantly induced. These genes were classified as encoding heat shock proteins, oxidative stress scavenger, and enzymes involved in glucose metabolism.

Decapeptide with fibroblast growth factor (FGF)-5 partial sequence inhibits hair growth suppressing activity of FGF-5.

Earlier studies demonstrated that knock-out of fibroblast growth factor-5 gene (Fgf-5) prolonged anagen VI phase of hair cycle, resulting long hairs in the mice. We showed the activities on hair growth of the two Fgf-5 gene products, one of which, FGF-5 suppressed hair growth by inhibiting anagen proceeding and inducing the transition from anagen to catagen, and FGF-5S, a shorter polypeptide with FGF-5-antagonizing activity translated from alternatively spliced mRNA, suppressed this activity of FGF-5. As the results suggested that FGF-5 antagonist would increase hair growth, we synthesized various peptides having partial sequences of human FGF-5 and FGF-5S and determined their FGF-5 antagonist activity.

Differential effects of vitamin E and three hydrophilic antioxidants on the actinomycin D-induced and colcemid-accelerated apoptosis in human leukemia CMK-7 cell line.

The actinomycin D (AD)-induced apoptosis in human leukemia CMK-7 cell line is greatly accelerated by microtubule disruption with colcemid (CL). We studied the effect of antioxidants on this apoptosis in order to learn how the universal signal mediators, reactive oxygen species (ROS), are involved. Caspase-3 activation and DNA fragmentation were both suppressed by vitamin E (VE), t-butylhydroxyanisole, and luteolin.

Elemental mapping of DNA chains by energy-filtering TEM.

DNA chains were detected by phosphorus mapping based on energy-filtering transmission electron microscopy (EF-TEM). The three-window method and the image-merging system were used to make phosphorus-mapping images. It was impossible to observe DNA chains without the image-merging system, because of the low signal levels of single images.

ATPase inhibitors suppress actinomycin D-induced apoptosis in leukemia cells.

Background: Apoptosis is mediated by many kinds of enzymes such as caspases, DNase and protein kinases. Recently, ATPase has been shown to be involved in the apoptotic system, but its role is not fully understood.

Materials And Methods: We investigated the effect of 8 species of ATPase inhibitors on actinomycin D plus colcemid-induced apoptosis in human megakaryoblastic leukemia CMK-7 cells by monitoring caspase-3 activation and DNA cleavage.

Effects of neonatal 6-hydroxydopamine lesion on the gene expression profile in young adult rats.

Patients with pervasive developmental disorders, including autism, and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder show behavioral hyperactivity during childhood. We investigated the effects of a neonatal 6-hydroxydopamine lesion on multiple gene expression in the rat striatum and midbrain. Spontaneous motor activity was significantly increased at 4-5 weeks of age.

Effects of polyphenolic anthrone derivatives, resistomycin and hypercin, on apoptosis in human megakaryoblastic leukemia CMK-7 cell line.

A tetrahydroxyanthrone derivative, resistomycin, was isolated from the culture broth of Streptomyces sulphureus and a similar polyphenolic dianthraquinone, hypericin, was isolated from an extract of Hypericum perforatum L. as modulators for apoptosis. Resistomycin inhibited apoptosis induced by actinomycin D (AD) with or without acceleration by colcemid (CL) in human megakaryoblastic leukemia CMK-7 cells, IC50 for inhibition against AD-induced apoptosis was about 0.