Space biology class as part of science education programs for high schools in Japan.

Declining incentives and scholastic abilities in science class has been concerned in Japan. The Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology encourages schools to cooperate with research institutions to raise student's interest in natural sciences. The Science Partnership Program (SPP) and the Super Science High-School (SSH) are among such efforts.

Evaluation of cell culture flasks designed for experiment under altered gravity-vector conditions.

Cell culture flasks applicable for altered gravity conditions, such as centrifugation, clino-rotation or microgravity in space, were manufactured for trial. The flask has flat polystyrene surface for monolayer culture and gas-permeable film window on the opposite face. The space in-between consists the culture chamber to be filled with liquid medium.

Vector-averaged gravity regulates gene expression of receptor activator of NF-kappaB (RANK) ligand and osteoprotegerin in bone marrow stromal cells via cyclic AMP/protein kinase A pathway.

Bone loss due to unloading of the skeleton may be caused by an acceleration of osteoclastic bone resorption as well as a decline of osteoblastic bone formation. Recently, two molecular species that play important roles in osteoclastogenesis were discovered: (i) the receptor activator of NF-kappaB ligand (RANKL)/osteoprotegerin (OPG) ligand/osteoclast differentiation factor induces osteoclastogenesis; and (ii) the OPG/osteoclastogenesis inhibitory factor potently inhibits osteoclastogenesis. To investigate the effects of gravity on gene expression of RANKL and OPG, a mouse bone marrow-derived stromal cell line, ST2, was cultured on a single axis clinostat, which generates a vector-averaged gravity environment.

Water purification system by using the biofilter for long-term experiment equipment with aquatic animals for the space station.

We have developed a water purification system that enables long-term experiment with aquatic animals for 90 days or more on the space station. We designed the system that combined a biofilter for ammonia removal (nitrification) with another for nitrate removal (denitrification). The experiment with goldfish was for 90 days with an aquatic animals' examination device.

Effects of microgravity on c-fos gene expression in osteoblast-like MC3T3-E1 cells.

The paper summarizes the data on proliferation and gravity-related gene expression of osteoblasts that were obtained from an experiment conducted under simulated and real microgravity conditions. Simulated microgravity conditions obtained in a clinostat depress proliferation of both osteoblast-like MC3T3-E1 and HeLa carcinoma cells. This depression of proliferation occurs in a collagen gel culture in which the flow of culture medium by rotation may be reduced.

Separation of bacterial cells by free flow electrophoresis under microgravity: a result of the SpaceLab-Japan project on Space Shuttle flight STS-47.

We demonstrated free flow electrophoresis (FFE) of charged cells under microgravity, where gravitational effects are almost eliminated. Separation of a mixture of three bacterial strains (mutants of Salmonella typhimurium LT2) by FFE was conducted on NASA Space Shuttle flight STS-47 (September 1992). The experiment was designed to differentiate three strains having different lipopolysaccharide core structures in the cell membrane.

Electrophoretic free mobility and viability of microbial cells: a preliminary study in preparation for space experiments.

Electrophoretic free mobilities (EFM) of four fungal spores and five bacterial cells were determined in 7 mM triethanolamine/acetate (TEA) buffer by means of microscopic electrophoresis (ME) and free flow electrophoresis (FFE). Spores of Aspergillus terreus, Penicillium citrinum, Gliocladium virens, and Rhizopus oryzae had similar EFM from 2.2 to 3.

Immunogenicity of a new type of yeast-derived hepatitis B vaccine consisting of M (pre-S2 + S) protein particles.

Genetically modified M (pre-S2+S; P31) protein (M-P31c) particles were formulated into a vaccine (TGP-943) through adsorption on to an alum adjuvant. The immunogenicity of this vaccine was investigated using guinea-pigs and various kinds of mice. In terms of anti-HBs(S) response, TGP-943 was found to be as immunogenic as the control plasma-derived vaccine (PDV) and yeast-derived S vaccine (YDSV) in Balb/c mice.

Effect of indomethacin, aspirin, and acetaminophen on in vitro antiviral and antiproliferative activities of recombinant human interferon-alpha 2a.

The effects of indomethacin, aspirin, and acetaminophen on the antiviral and antiproliferative activities of recombinant human interferon-alpha 2a (rIFN-alpha 2a) were studied in vitro. None of the drugs inhibited the antiviral activity of rIFN-alpha 2a in human amnion FL cells against vesicular stomatitis virus, or interfered with its antiproliferative activity against acute lymphoblastic leukemia MOLT-4 cells or renal cell carcinoma NC 65 cells. Although, at high concentrations, aspirin (1 mM) or indomethacin (0.

Suppression of HBsAg production in PLC/PRF/5 human hepatoma cell line by interferons.

Recombinant human interferon alpha 2a as well as natural human interferons alpha and beta significantly suppressed the production of hepatitis B surface antigen by PLC/PRF/5 cells (which have been established from a human primary hepatocellular carcinoma and proven to carry the hepatitis B virus DNA) and inhibited proliferation of these cells in vitro. However, the production of alpha-fetoprotein by PLC/PRF/5 cells was less significantly affected by any of the interferons. These results suggest that these interferons not only suppress cellular proliferation but also selectively inhibit the action of the HBV gene which is persistently present in these cells.

Radioimmunoassay of serum thymic factor (FTS).

We established a radioimmunoassay (RIA) method which enables a quantitative estimation of serum thymic factor (FTS). This assay is based on the displacement of 125I-(Lys[Tyr] 3)-FTS bound to the anti-FTS antibodies by FTS. Formaldehyde-fixed Staphylococcus aureus Cowan I cells were used to precipitate the antigen-antibody complex.

The activity of synthetic analogs of serum thymic factor (FTS) to convert mouse pre-T cells into Thy-1 positive cells.

Serum thymic factor (FTS) and its 33 analogs were compared with regard to the ability to induce Thy-1 antigen on mouse pre-T cells. The pre-T cells were prepared from spleen cells of athymic nu/nu mice by passing them through a nylon wool column, and the induction of Thy-1 antigen was analysed using a fluorescence-activated cell sorter. Thy-1 negative cells were converted into Thy-1 positive cells by FTS and some of its analogs.

Identification of an I-J+ antigen-presenting cell required for third order suppressor cell activation.

We have found that an I-J+ I-A- antigen-presenting cell (APC) is required for Ts3 activation in vivo. Together with the I-J restriction previously reported for Ts3 induction (Takaoki, M., M.

The role of the epitope density and cross-reactivity between two different purine nucleosides coupled to cells.

Cellular immune responses against nucleic acid antigens were analyzed in BALB/C mice. Delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) could be elicited by immunizing and challenging with either guanosine-coupled spleen cells (G-SC) or adenosine-coupled spleen cells (A-SC), and measured by footpad swellings. The epitope density was critical for immunization.