Erratum: Isoform requirement of clustered protocadherin for preventing neuronal apoptosis and neonatal lethality.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.

Effect of Intracerebroventricular Administration of Galanin-Like Peptide on Hepatokines in C57BL/6 J Mice.

Galanin-like peptide (GALP) is a neuropeptide that was first isolated and identified from the porcine hypothalamus. Studies have described an anti-obesity effect of GALP. We previously found that intracerebroventricular administration of GALP in mice resulted in an increase in respiratory exchange rate 12 to 16 h later.

Reciprocal Connections between Parvalbumin-Expressing Cells and Adjacent Pyramidal Cells Are Regulated by Clustered Protocadherin γ.

Functional neural circuits in the cerebral cortex are established through specific neural connections between excitatory and various inhibitory cell types. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying synaptic partner recognition remain unclear. In this study, we examined the impact of clustered protocadherin-γ () gene deletion in parvalbumin-positive (PV) cells on intralaminar and translaminar neural circuits formed between PV and pyramidal (Pyr) cells in the primary visual cortex (V1) of male and female mice.

Visualization of homophilic interaction of clustered protocadherin in neurons.

Clustered protocadherin (Pcdh) functions as a cell recognition molecule through the homophilic interaction in the central nervous system. However, its interactions have not yet been visualized in neurons. We previously reported PcdhγB2-Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) probes to be applicable only to cell lines.

Docosapentaenoic acid-rich oil lowers plasma glucose and lipids in a mouse model of diabetes and mild obesity.

Many studies have investigated the beneficial effects of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, such as their potential for lowering lipid levels and reducing diabetes risk. However, few studies have specifically examined docosapentaenoic acid (DPA), an n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid with limited availability in its pure form. We hypothesized that DPA would have lipid-lowering effects and improve insulin resistance in KK/Ta mice.

Molecular and Physiological Functions of PACAP in Sweat Secretion.

Sweat plays a critical role in human body, including thermoregulation and the maintenance of the skin environment and health. Hyperhidrosis and anhidrosis are caused by abnormalities in sweat secretion, resulting in severe skin conditions (pruritus and erythema). Bioactive peptide and pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP) was isolated and identified to activate adenylate cyclase in pituitary cells.

Potential Therapeutic Role of Pituitary Adenylate Cyclase-Activating Polypeptide for Dry Eye Disease.

Dry eye disease (DED) is caused by a reduction in the volume or quality of tears. The prevalence of DED is estimated to be 100 million in the developed world. As aging is a risk factor for DED, the prevalence of DED is expected to grow at a rapid pace in aging populations, thus creating an increased need for new therapies.

Effect of PACAP on sweat secretion by immortalized human sweat gland cells.

The process of sweating plays an important role in the human body, including thermoregulation and maintenance of the environment and health of the skin. It is known that the conditions of hyperhidrosis and anhidrosis are caused by abnormalities in sweat secretion and can result in severe skin conditions such as pruritus and erythema, which significantly reduce the patient's quality of life. However, there are many aspects of the signaling mechanisms in the process of sweating that have not been clarified, and no effective therapies or therapeutic agents have yet been discovered.

Molecular Mechanism for PACAP 38-Induced Neurite Outgrowth in PC12 Cells.

The present research investigates the molecular mechanism of neurite outgrowth (protrusion elongation) under pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP) 38 treatments using a rat adrenal-derived pheochromocytoma cell line-PC12. This study specifically looks into the regulation of PACAP38-induced collapsing response mediator protein 2 (CRMP2) previously identified in a mouse brain ischemia model and which could be recovered by PACAP38 treatment. Previously, DNA microarray analysis revealed that PACAP 38-mediated neuroprotection involved not only CRMP2 but also pathways related to glycogen synthase kinase-3 (GSK-3) and other signaling components.

Attenuation of relaxing response induced by pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide in bronchial smooth muscle of experimental asthma.

Bronchomotor tone is regulated by contraction and relaxation of airway smooth muscle (ASM). A weakened ASM relaxation might be a cause of airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR), a characteristic feature of bronchial asthma. Pituitary adenylyl cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP) is known as a mediator that causes ASM relaxation.

Towards identification of bioactive compounds in cold vacuum extracted double cherry blossom (Gosen-Sakura) leaves.

The present research examines the possibility of finding bio-molecular compounds from the double cherry blossom (termed as 'Gosen-Sakura' of Gosen-city, Niigata-prefecture, Japan) leaves, which have been long used in the preparation of the traditional Japanese sweet (wagashi) - 'sakura-mochi'. Based on its indicated anti-microbial properties historically, our study provides a new low temperature vacuum extraction method for extracting 'near natural form of water soluble leaf (cell) extracts from the Gosen-Sakura, and demonstrates the presence of some 'novel' compound(s) with anti-tumor cell lines proliferation inhibitory affects through the MTT assay. To our knowledge, no reports exist on the sakura tree 'leaf (cell) extracts' inhibiting tumor cell line growth.

Regulation of Feeding Behavior and Energy Metabolism by Galanin-like Peptide (GALP): A Novel Strategy to Fight Against Obesity.

Galanin-like peptide (GALP) is composed of 60 amino acid residues and its sequence is highly homologous across species. GALP is produced in the hypothalamic arcuate nucleus and has diverse physiological effects such as the regulation of feeding, energy metabolism, and reproductive behavior. GALP-containing neurons express leptin receptors and these neurons form networks in the hypothalamus that contain various peptides that regulate feeding behavior.

Prostaglandin D₂ Induces Ca Sensitization of Contraction without Affecting Cytosolic Ca Level in Bronchial Smooth Muscle.

Prostaglandin D₂ (PGD₂) is one of the key lipid mediators of allergic airway inflammation, including bronchial asthma. However, the role of PGD₂ in the pathogenesis of asthma is not fully understood. In the present study, the effect of PGD₂ on smooth muscle contractility of the airways was determined to elucidate its role in the development of airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR).

Analgesic effect of mineral cream containing natural spa minerals for use on the skin.

Previous studies have shown that dissolved substances in some natural hot springs have analgesic/anti-nociceptive and anti-inflammatory actions. However, the mechanisms underlying how such dissolved substances exert these actions are not fully understood. In the present study on mice, we examined the analgesic/anti-nociceptive and anti-inflammatory properties of a mineral cream containing natural hot spring ingredients.

Effects of PACAP on Dry Eye Symptoms, and Possible Use for Therapeutic Application.

Pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP) is a 27- or 38-amino acid neuropeptide, which belongs to the vasoactive intestinal polypeptide/glucagon/secretin family of peptides. PACAP and its three receptor subtypes are expressed in neural tissues and in the eye, including the retina, cornea, and lacrimal gland. PACAP is known to exert pleiotropic effects on the central nervous system and in eye tissues where it plays important roles in protecting against dry eye.

Discovery of PACAP and its receptors in the brain.

Pituitary adenylate-cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP) is a 27- or 38-amino acid neuropeptide, which belongs to the vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP)/glucagon/secretin family. PACAP shows particularly high homology (~ 68%) to VIP. Because of the high homology of the amino acid sequences of PACAP and VIP, these peptides share three class B-G-protein coupled receptors: the PAC1-Receptor (PAC1-R), the VPAC1-Receptor (VPAC1-R) and VPAC2-Receptor (VPAC2-R).

Protocadherin-αC2 is required for diffuse projections of serotonergic axons.

Serotonergic axons extend diffuse projections throughout various brain areas, and serotonergic system disruption causes neuropsychiatric diseases. Loss of the cytoplasmic region of protocadherin-α (Pcdh-α) family proteins, products of the diverse clustered Pcdh genes, causes unbalanced distributions (densification and sparsification) of serotonergic axons in various target regions. However, which Pcdh-α member(s) are responsible for the phenotype is unknown.

Activation of SF1 Neurons in the Ventromedial Hypothalamus by DREADD Technology Increases Insulin Sensitivity in Peripheral Tissues.

The ventromedial hypothalamus (VMH) regulates glucose and energy metabolism in mammals. Optogenetic stimulation of VMH neurons that express steroidogenic factor 1 (SF1) induces hyperglycemia. However, leptin acting via the VMH stimulates whole-body glucose utilization and insulin sensitivity in some peripheral tissues, and this effect of leptin appears to be mediated by SF1 neurons.

Clustered Protocadherins Are Required for Building Functional Neural Circuits.

Neuronal identity is generated by the cell-surface expression of clustered protocadherin (Pcdh) isoforms. In mice, 58 isoforms from three gene clusters, αβ, and γ, are differentially expressed in neurons. Since -heteromeric Pcdh oligomers on the cell surface interact homophilically with that in other neurons , it has been thought that the Pcdh isoform repertoire determines the binding specificity of synapses.

Distinct and Cooperative Functions for the -α, -β and -γ Clusters in Neuronal Survival and Axon Targeting.

The clustered () genes are divided into the αβ, and γ clusters. Gene-disruption analyses in mice have revealed the functions of the α and γ clusters. However, all Pcdh protein isoforms form combinatorial -hetero dimers and enter -homophilic interactions.

Establishment of high reciprocal connectivity between clonal cortical neurons is regulated by the Dnmt3b DNA methyltransferase and clustered protocadherins.

Background: The specificity of synaptic connections is fundamental for proper neural circuit function. Specific neuronal connections that underlie information processing in the sensory cortex are initially established without sensory experiences to a considerable extent, and then the connections are individually refined through sensory experiences. Excitatory neurons arising from the same single progenitor cell are preferentially connected in the postnatal cortex, suggesting that cell lineage contributes to the initial wiring of neurons.

Pleiotropic and retinoprotective functions of PACAP.

Pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP) is a 27- or 38-amino acid neuropeptide, which belongs to the vasoactive intestinal polypeptide/glucagon/secretin family. PACAP and its three receptor subtypes are expressed in neural tissues of the eye, including the retina, cornea and lacrimal gland, and PACAP is known to exert pleiotropic effects throughout the central nervous system. This review provides an overview of current knowledge regarding the cell protective effects, mechanisms of action and therapeutic potential of PACAP in response to several types of eye injury.

Impaired clustered protocadherin-α leads to aggregated retinogeniculate terminals and impaired visual acuity in mice.

Clustered protocadherins (cPcdhs) comprising cPcdh-α, -β, and -γ, encode a large family of cadherin-like cell-adhesion molecules specific to neurons. Impairment of cPcdh-α results in abnormal neuronal projection patterns in specific brain areas. To elucidate the role of cPcdh-α in retinogeniculate projections, we investigated the morphological patterns of retinogeniculate terminals in the lateral geniculate (LG) nucleus of mice with impaired cPcdh-α.

Protocadherins in neurological diseases.

Cadherins were originally isolated as calcium-dependent cell adhesion molecules and are characterized by their cadherin motifs in the extracellular domain. In vertebrates, including humans, there are more than 100 different cadherin-related genes, which constitute the cadherin superfamily. The protocadherin (Pcdh) family comprises a large subgroup within the cadherin superfamily.