Characterization of the P5 subfamily of P-type transport ATPases in mice.

In mammals, the most poorly understood P-type ATPases are those of the P(5) subfamily. To begin characterization of the mammalian P(5)-ATPases, BLAST searches of DNA sequence databases were performed. Five genes were identified in the mouse, human, dog, and rat genomes, and the coding sequences of the mouse genes, termed Atp13a1-Atp13a5, were determined.

Near completely humanized liver in mice shows human-type metabolic responses to drugs.

Human hepatocytes were transplanted into urokinase-type plasminogen activator-transgenic SCID mice (uPA/SCID mice), which are immunodeficient and undergo liver failure. The transplanted cells were characterized in terms of their in vivo growth potential and functions. The human hepatocytes progressively repopulated the murine host liver.

Rapid fabrication of keratin-hydroxyapatite hybrid sponges toward osteoblast cultivation and differentiation.

Wool keratin sponges were reported to be useful scaffolds for long-term and high-density cell cultivation (J. Biotechnol. 93 (2002) 165).

Low transposition frequency of the medaka fish Tol2 element may be due to extranuclear localization of its transposase.

Transposase proteins of some highly active DNA-based transposable elements, such as the maize Activator element, are known to possess nuclear localization signals (NLSs). We examined if this is also the case for the transposase of the medaka fish Tol2 element, a member of the hAT (hobo/Activator/Tam3) transposable element family, using human and mouse culture cells. Unexpectedly, the transposase-lacZ fusion protein, in which the lacZ is a location marker, was found to be present in the cytoplasm rather than in the nucleus, suggesting that the Tol2 transposase contains a signal for extranuclear localization.

Dual signaling and effector pathways mediate human eosinophil activation by platelet-activating factor.

Platelet-activating factor (PAF) induces various cellular functions in eosinophils including chemotaxis, adhesion, superoxide anion (O2-) production, and degranulation. While PAF shares many biological effects with other chemotactic factors such as N-formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine, complement fragments, and lipid mediators, PAF is unique in that its action is relatively resistant to pertussis toxin (PTX), and in activating eosinophils more strongly than neutrophils. In this review we consider how PAF might activate human eosinophils in preference to neutrophils, and discuss possible mechanisms of PAF-induced activation of human eosinophils via two distinct signaling and effector pathways.

Recombination repair pathway in the maintenance of chromosomal integrity against DNA interstrand crosslinks.

DNA interstrand crosslinks (ICL) present a major threat to cell viability and genome integrity. In eukaryotic cells, the ICLs have been suggested to be repaired by a complex process involving Xpf/Ercc1-mediated endonucleolytic incision and homologous recombination (HR). However, the entire feature of the ICL tolerating mechanism is still poorly understood.

Acquisition of operant-trained bipedal locomotion in juvenile Japanese monkeys (Macaca fuscata): a longitudinal study.

This study investigated developmental aspects of the acquisition of operant-trained bipedal (Bp) standing and Bp walking in the normally quadrupedal (Qp) juvenile Japanese monkey (M. fuscata). Four male monkeys (age: 1.

Reactive and anticipatory control of posture and bipedal locomotion in a nonhuman primate.

Bipedal locomotion is a common daily activity. Despite its apparent simplicity, it is a complex set of movements that requires the integrated neural control of multiple body segments. We have recently shown that the juvenile Japanese monkey, M.

Stress-induced premature senescence in hTERT-expressing ataxia telangiectasia fibroblasts.

In addition to replicative senescence, normal diploid fibroblasts undergo stress-induced premature senescence (SIPS) in response to DNA damage caused by oxidative stress or ionizing radiation (IR). SIPS is not prevented by telomere elongation, indicating that, unlike replicative senescence, it is triggered by nonspecific genome-wide DNA damage rather than by telomere shortening. ATM, the product of the gene mutated in individuals with ataxia telangiectasia (AT), plays a central role in cell cycle arrest in response to DNA damage.

Distinct isoforms of protein kinase C are involved in human eosinophil functions induced by platelet-activating factor.

Background: Platelet-activating factor (PAF) is a potent stimulator of eosinophils. Recently, treatment with a protein kinase C (PKC) inhibitor which generally inhibits PKC isoforms has been shown to modulate several eosinophil functions in distinct manners, in that PKC inhibition enhanced CD11b expression and cellular adhesion, but inhibited superoxide generation and degranulation in PAF-stimulated human eosinophils. These results suggested that distinct PKC isoforms were likely to be involved in each eosinophil function induced by PAF.

The medaka fish Tol2 transposable element can undergo excision in human and mouse cells.

Tol2 is an active DNA-based transposable element identified in the medaka fish, Oryzias latipes. Originating from a vertebrate and belonging to the hAT ( hobo/ Activator/ Tam3) transposable element family, featuring a wide distribution among organisms, Tol2 would be expected to be active if introduced into mammals. We, therefore, examined if excision, one part of the transposition reaction, can occur in human and mouse culture cells.

Inhibition by fenoterol of human eosinophil functions including beta2-adrenoceptor-independent actions.

Agonists at beta2 adrenoceptors are used widely as bronchodilators in treating bronchial asthma. These agents also may have important anti-inflammatory effects on eosinophils in asthma. We examined whether widely prescribed beta2-adrenoceptor agonists differ in ability to suppress stimulus-induced eosinophil effector functions such as superoxide anion (O2-) generation and degranulation.

Platelet-activating factor activates two distinct effector pathways in human eosinophils.

In granulocytes, platelet-activating factor (PAF) shares many of its biological effects with other chemotactic factors, such as FMLP, complement fragments, and lipid mediators. Two unique effects are that PAF is relatively resistant to pertussis toxin (PTX) and that PAF activates the inflammatory functions of eosinophils more strongly than it activates those of neutrophils. To investigate the molecular mechanisms of the responses of eosinophils to PAF, we analyzed superoxide anion production by a chemiluminescence method that provides real-time kinetic data for the cellular responses.

Characteristics of the end-joining of DNA double-strand breaks by the ataxia-telangiectasia nuclear extract.

A double-strand break was introduced in plasmid pZErO-2 at a specific site within the ccdB gene that is lethal to Escherichia coli cells and treated with nuclear extracts from human cells. The efficiency of rejoining was monitored by Southern blot analysis and the fidelity of rejoining was measured by expressing the ccdB gene after bacterial transformation. The efficiency of rejoining in the nuclear extract from an ataxia-telangiectasia (A-T) cell line was comparable to that from a control cell line.

Development of novel corneal storage medium: first report. Examinations of rabbit cornea.

Purpose: To develop a new corneal storage medium with a simple formula and evaluate it by histological methods.

Methods: Two corneal storage media containing minimum essential medium and 2.5% chondroitin sulfate (pH 7.

Prevalence of gastro-esophageal reflux-related symptoms in Japanese infants.

Background: To obtain precise information on the natural course of gastro-esophageal reflux (GER)-related symptoms in Japanese children, we surveyed the prevalence of regurgitation or vomiting and other GER-related symptoms and complications in infants visiting for healthy baby check-ups.

Methods: We interviewed the mothers of 921 infants who had visited for baby check-ups at 1, 4, 7 and 12 months after birth, about the number of regurgitation or vomiting episodes per day, other GER-related symptoms, milk volume, feeding interval, and the body position after feeding.

Results: Of 1-month-old infants, 47.

Radiation-induced apoptosis in the scid mouse spleen after low dose-rate irradiation.

Purpose: To elucidate the process of radioadaptation, the role of DNA-PK activity was examined using the scid mouse defective in DNA-PKcs.

Materials And Methods: The induction of apoptosis in the spleens of the C.B-17 Icr scid mouse and the parental mouse was studied after chronic irradiation with gamma-rays at 1.

Inhibition of protein kinases A and C demonstrates dual modes of response in human eosinophils stimulated with platelet-activating factor.

Background: Platelet-activating factor (PAF) is a potent stimulator of human eosinophils involved in the pathogenesis of allergic diseases. However, intracellular signaling mechanisms in eosinophils involving the PAF receptor are incompletely understood.

Objective: We sought to determine the roles of protein kinase C (PKC) and cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase (protein kinase A [PKA]) in signaling pathways of human eosinophils stimulated with PAF.

Cellular adhesion is required for effector functions of human eosinophils via G-protein coupled receptors.

Background: Eosinophils play an important role in the pathogenesis of allergic diseases. Chemoattractants, including platelet-activating factor (PAF) and complement component 5a (C5a), induce eosinophil infiltration and promote eosinophil effector functions.

Objective: To compare eosinophil degranulation and superoxide anion (O2-) generation induced by various chemoattractants, and to elucidate the role of cellular adhesion on these effector functions.

DNA damage response pathway in radioadaptive response.

Radioadaptive response is a biological defense mechanism in which low-dose ionizing irradiation elicits cellular resistance to the genotoxic effects of subsequent irradiation. However, its molecular mechanism remains largely unknown. We previously demonstrated that the dose recognition and adaptive response could be mediated by a feedback signaling pathway involving protein kinase C (PKC), p38 mitogen activated protein kinase (p38MAPK) and phospholipase C (PLC).

[Clinical characteristics in 8 sporadic cases of community-acquired Legionella pneumonia].

To study the clinical characteristics of community-acquired Legionella pneumonia, we carried out a study of 8 patients (7 men and a woman; mean age, 68.4 years) with Legionella pneumonia at Yaizu Municipal General Hospital between 1996 and 1999. We surmised that the sources of infection were travel or a hot spring, or both, in 4 cases, occupation (plumbing and fish market work) in 2 cases and gardening in one.

Fenoterol inhibits superoxide anion generation by human polymorphonuclear leukocytes via beta-adrenoceptor-dependent and -independent mechanisms.

Background: Beta2-adrenoceptor agonists, used widely as bronchodilator in treating bronchial asthma, may have anti-inflammatory activity.

Objective: We examined whether various widely prescribed beta2-adrenoceptor agonists differ in anti-inflammatory mechanisms.

Methods: We investigated effects of these drugs on superoxide anion generation by stimulated human polymorphonuclear leukocytes in vitro using chemiluminescence.

Efficacy of phenytoin against hyponatremic seizures due to SIADH after administration of anticancer drugs in a neonate.

A neonate with the syndrome of inappropriate secretion of antidiuretic hormone (SIADH) developed refractory hyponatremic seizures following administration of anticancer drugs. The seizures did not respond to diazepam, phenobarbital, or lidocaine, but resolved immediately with administration of phenytoin. The low water-excretion capacity in neonates should be taken into consideration when fluid loading is attempted, to avoid renal damage upon administration of drugs such as cisplatin that have a potential damaging effect on the kidney.