A pairwise cytokine code explains the organism-wide response to sepsis.

Sepsis is a systemic response to infection with life-threatening consequences. Our understanding of the molecular and cellular impact of sepsis across organs remains rudimentary. Here, we characterize the pathogenesis of sepsis by measuring dynamic changes in gene expression across organs.

GM-CSF Promotes the Survival of Peripheral-Derived Myeloid Cells in the Central Nervous System for Pain-Induced Relapse of Neuroinflammation.

We recently discovered a (to our knowledge) new neuroimmune interaction named the gateway reflex, in which the activation of specific neural circuits establishes immune cell gateways at specific vessel sites in organs, leading to the development of tissue-specific autoimmune diseases, including a multiple sclerosis (MS) mouse model, experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE). We have reported that peripheral-derived myeloid cells, which are CD11b+MHC class II+ and accumulate in the fifth lumbar (L5) cord during the onset of a transfer model of EAE (tEAE), play a role in the pain-mediated relapse via the pain-gateway reflex. In this study, we investigated how these cells survive during the remission phase to cause the relapse.

ATP spreads inflammation to other limbs through crosstalk between sensory neurons and interneurons.

Neural circuits between lesions are one mechanism through which local inflammation spreads to remote positions. Here, we show the inflammatory signal on one side of the joint is spread to the other side via sensory neuron-interneuron crosstalk, with ATP at the core. Surgical ablation or pharmacological inhibition of this neural pathway prevented inflammation development on the other side.

Scleraxis upregulated by transforming growth factor-β1 signaling inhibits tension-induced osteoblast differentiation of priodontal ligament cells via ephrin A2.

During tooth movement in orthodontic treatment, bone formation and resorption occur on the tension and compression sides of the alveolar bone, respectively. Although the bone formation activity increases in the periodontal ligament (PDL) on the tension side, the PDL itself is not ossified and maintains its homeostasis, indicating that there are negative regulators of bone formation in the PDL. Our previous report suggested that scleraxis (Scx) has an inhibitory effect on ossification of the PDL on the tension side through the suppression of calcified extracellular matrix formation.

Preparation of Thin Frozen Sections from Nonfixed and Undecalcified Hard Tissues Using Kawamoto's Film Method (2020).

A method for preparing frozen sections with an adhesive film is described. In order to observe fine structures and weak fluorescence of samples, new types of adhesive films [Cryofilm type 3C(16UF) and 4D(16UF)] are used. The adhesive film is made with very clear and very low autofluorescence.

Modified application of Kawamoto's film method for super-resolution imaging of megakaryocytes in undecalcified bone marrow.

Background: Super-resolution microscopy has enabled high-resolution imaging of the actin cytoskeleton in megakaryocytes and platelets. These technologies have extended our knowledge of thrombopoiesis and platelet spreading using megakaryocytes and platelets cultured in vitro on matrix proteins. However, for better understanding of megakaryocytopoiesis and platelet production, high-resolution imaging of cells in an in vivo bone marrow microenvironment is required.

Conductive Adhesive Film Expands the Utility of Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization Mass Spectrometry Imaging.

The matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry imaging (MALDI-MSI) technique is a promising approach for detecting the distribution of small molecules in a section of biological tissue. However, when a cryosection is created from fragile, hard, or whole-body samples, obtaining a high-quality section that maintains the distribution of the various components has been difficult. Since adhesive films have the potential to obtain high-quality cryosections, we attempted to utilize a conductive adhesive film for MALDI-MSI.

SiiE prevents an efficient humoral immune memory by interfering with IgG plasma cell persistence in the bone marrow.

Serum IgG, which is mainly generated from IgG-secreting plasma cells in the bone marrow (BM), protects our body against various pathogens. We show here that the protein SiiE of is both required and sufficient to prevent an efficient humoral immune memory against the pathogen by selectively reducing the number of IgG-secreting plasma cells in the BM. Attenuated SiiE-deficient induces high and lasting titers of specific and protective -specific IgG and qualifies as an efficient vaccine against A SiiE-derived peptide with homology to laminin β1 is sufficient to ablate IgG-secreting plasma cells from the BM, identifying laminin β1 as a component of niches for IgG-secreting plasma cells in the BM, and furthermore, qualifies it as a unique therapeutic option to selectively ablate IgG-secreting plasma cells in autoimmune diseases and multiple myeloma.

LARGE GRAIN Encodes a Putative RNA-Binding Protein that Regulates Spikelet Hull Length in Rice.

Grain size is a key determiner of grain weight, one of the yield components in rice (Oryza sativa). Therefore, to increase grain yield, it is important to elucidate the detailed mechanisms regulating grain size. The Large grain (Lgg) mutant, found in the nonautonomous DNA-based active rice transposon1 (nDart1)-tagged lines of Koshihikari, is caused by a truncated nDart1-3 and 355 bp deletion in the 5' untranslated region of LGG, which encodes a putative RNA-binding protein, through transposon display and cosegregation analysis between grain length and LGG genotype in F2 and F3.

Easy sectioning of whole grain of rice using cryomicrotome.

To obtain a clear intact section of a ripened rice grain, which is suitable for biochemical and histological analysis, the Kawamoto method using a specific adhesive film was applied using a cryomicrotome. The longitudinal and sagittal sections were easily obtained together with the cross-section, and cell characteristics were clearly discerned in the ripened grain. It was demonstrated that the Kawamoto method is readily applicable for intact sectioning of hard tissue, including ripened grain.

Morphological and Functional Analyses of the Tight Junction in the Palatal Epithelium of Mouse.

Tight junction (TJ) is one of the cell-cell junctions and known to have the barrier and fence functions between adjacent cells in both simple and stratified epithelia. We examined the distribution pattern, constitutive proteins, and permeability of TJ in the stratified squamous epithelium of the palatal mucosa of mice. Ultrastructural observations based on the ultrathin section and freeze-fracture methods revealed that poorly developed TJs are located at the upper layer of the stratum granulosum.

Brain micro-inflammation at specific vessels dysregulates organ-homeostasis via the activation of a new neural circuit.

Impact of stress on diseases including gastrointestinal failure is well-known, but molecular mechanism is not understood. Here we show underlying molecular mechanism using EAE mice. Under stress conditions, EAE caused severe gastrointestinal failure with high-mortality.

Biochemical Characterization of Medaka (Oryzias latipes) Transglutaminases, OlTGK1 and OlTGK2, as Orthologues of Human Keratinocyte-Type Transglutaminase.

Calcium-dependent transglutaminases (TGs) are a family of enzymes that catalyze protein cross-linking and/or attachment of primary amines in a variety of organisms. Mammalian TGs are implicated in multiple biological events such as skin formation, blood coagulation, and extracellular matrix stabilization. Medaka (Oryzias latipes) has been used as a model fish to investigate the physiological functions of mammalian proteins.

A pain-mediated neural signal induces relapse in murine autoimmune encephalomyelitis, a multiple sclerosis model.

Although pain is a common symptom of various diseases and disorders, its contribution to disease pathogenesis is not well understood. Here we show using murine experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), a model for multiple sclerosis (MS), that pain induces EAE relapse. Mechanistic analysis showed that pain induction activates a sensory-sympathetic signal followed by a chemokine-mediated accumulation of MHC class II+CD11b+ cells that showed antigen-presentation activity at specific ventral vessels in the fifth lumbar cord of EAE-recovered mice.

Localization of Core Planar Cell Polarity Proteins, PRICKLEs, in Ameloblasts of Rat Incisors: Possible Regulation of Enamel Rod Decussation.

To confirm the possible involvement of planar cell polarity proteins in odontogenesis, one group of core proteins, PRICKLE1, PRICKLE2, PRICKLE3, and PRICKLE4, was examined in enamel epithelial cells and ameloblasts by immunofluorescence microscopy. PRICKLE1 and PRICKLE2 showed similar localization in the proliferation and secretory zones of the incisor. Immunoreactive dots and short rods in ameloblasts and stratum intermedium cells were evident in the proliferation to differentiation zone, but in the secretion zone, cytoplasmic dots decreased and the distal terminal web was positive for PRICKLE1 and PRICKLE2.

Scleraxis and osterix antagonistically regulate tensile force-responsive remodeling of the periodontal ligament and alveolar bone.

The periodontal ligament (PDL) is a mechanosensitive noncalcified fibrous tissue connecting the cementum of the tooth and the alveolar bone. Here, we report that scleraxis (Scx) and osterix (Osx) antagonistically regulate tensile force-responsive PDL fibrogenesis and osteogenesis. In the developing PDL, Scx was induced during tooth eruption and co-expressed with Osx.

Bone response of TGF-β2 immobilized titanium in a rat model.

The present study aimed to immobilize TGF-β2 onto titanium implants by using a tresyl chloride-activation technique and to evaluate the bone response of TGF-β2 immobilized titanium (TGF-β2/Ti) implants in a rat femur defect model. XPS and FT-IR measurements identified the presence of TGF-β2 on titanium. Atomic force microscopy showed globular images of immobilized TGF-β2.

Preparation of thin frozen sections from nonfixed and undecalcified hard tissues using Kawamot's film method (2012).

A method for preparing hard tissue sections by using an adhesive film is described. The method produces very thin (to one-micrometer thick) frozen sections from adult mouse and rat bone. The bone tissue is freeze-embedded with water-soluble medium and then cut with a disposable tungsten carbide blade after mounting the adhesive film onto the cut surface.

Distribution and deposition of respirable PLGA microspheres in lung alveoli.

Although treatment of pulmonary tuberculosis with respirable microspheres (MS) with an incorporated antituberculosis drug is expected to be highly effective, this treatment seems to achieve a much lesser effect than expected in the case of killing Mycobacterium tuberculosis residing in the lungs. To elucidate the reason for this weaker effect, we examined the distribution and accumulation of respirable MS consisting of poly(lactic-co-glycolic) acid (PLGA) in rat lungs. For this, we delivered the PLGA MS containing fluorescent coumarin 6 or an antituberculosis agent, rifampicin (RFP), by insufflation via the trachea and then determined the pulmonary distribution by counting the number of the MS in lung cryosections observed under a microscope.

Identification of a highly reactive substrate peptide for transglutaminase 6 and its use in detecting transglutaminase activity in the skin epidermis.

Mammalian transglutaminases (TGs) are a family of enzymes that catalyze the formation of covalent crosslinks between glutamine and lysine residues in proteins. These catalytic reactions play roles in several essential biological processes, including blood coagulation, skin formation, and stabilization of the extracellular matrix. Among the members of this family, factor XIII and TGs 1-5 have been characterized well, but very little is known about the novel members TG6 and TG7.

Planar cell polarity protein localization in the secretory ameloblasts of rat incisors.

The localization of the planar cell polarity proteins Vang12, frizzled-3, Vang11, and Celsr1 in the rat incisors was examined using immunocytochemistry. The results showed that Vang12 was localized at two regions of the Tomes' processes of inner enamel-secretory ameloblasts in rat incisors: a proximal and a distal region. In contrast, frizzled-3 was localized at adherens junctions of the proximal and distal areas of inner enamel- and outer enamel-secretory ameloblasts, where N-cadherin and β-catenin were localized.

Regional neural activation defines a gateway for autoreactive T cells to cross the blood-brain barrier.

Although it is believed that neural activation can affect immune responses, very little is known about the neuroimmune interactions involved, especially the regulators of immune traffic across the blood-brain barrier which occurs in neuroimmune diseases such as multiple sclerosis (MS). Using a mouse model of MS, experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis, we show that autoreactive T cells access the central nervous system via the fifth lumbar spinal cord. This location is defined by IL-6 amplifier-dependent upregulation of the chemokine CCL20 in associated dorsal blood vessels, which in turn depends on gravity-induced activation of sensory neurons by the soleus muscle in the leg.

In situ detection of active transglutaminases for keratinocyte type (TGase 1) and tissue type (TGase 2) using fluorescence-labeled highly reactive substrate peptides.

Transglutaminase is a calcium-dependent enzyme that posttranslationally modifies proteins by cross-linking between glutamine and lysine residues or attachment of a primary amine to specific polypeptide-bound glutamine residues. Eight isozymes play essential roles in various mammalian biological processes. The authors have recently identified 12–amino acid preferred substrate peptide sequences that are highly reactive and act in an isozyme-specific manner.

Differential expression patterns of the tight junction-associated proteins occludin and claudins in secretory and mature ameloblasts in mouse incisor.

Tight junctions (TJs) function primarily as a barrier against paracellular transport between epithelial cells and are composed mainly of occludin (OLD) and claudins (CLDs). The CLD family consists of 24 members that show tissue- or cell-specific expression. Ameloblasts, which originate from the oral epithelium, form enamel, and enamel proteins and minerals are transported across the ameloblastic layer during amelogenesis.