A single application of fertilizer can affect semi-natural grassland vegetation over half a century.

Restoration of species-rich semi-natural grassland requires not only a seed source but also appropriate soil properties. In Europe, approximately 10 years are required for the properties of fertilized soils to reach suitable conditions and be considered successfully restored. However, restoration may require additional time in Japan because heavier precipitation causes leaching of basic cations from soils, resulting in soil acidification; volcanic ejecta also forms active Al and Fe hydroxides with high phosphate sorption.

Malabaricone C derived from nutmeg inhibits arachidonate 5-lipoxygenase activity and ameliorates psoriasis-like skin inflammation in mice.

As pro-inflammatory lipid mediators, leukotrienes have pathophysiological activities in several inflammatory diseases, including psoriasis. In the biosynthesis of leukotrienes from arachidonic acid, 5-lipoxygenase catalyzes the first two steps. In the present study, we showed that nutmeg (Myristica fragrans) strongly inhibited the catalytic activity of 5-lipoxygenase.

Diosgenin suppresses COX-2 and mPGES-1 via GR and improves LPS-induced liver injury in mouse.

Using a wild yam (Dioscorea japonica), we previously found novel anti-inflammatory and anti-carcinogenic effects via the downregulation of cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 and microsomal prostaglandin E synthase (mPGES)-1. One of the substances in wild yam is a steroidal saponin, diosgenin. We demonstrated that diosgenin suppressed COX-2 in human non-small-cell lung carcinoma A549 cells via nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) translocation and the effects were reversed by a glucocorticoid receptor antagonist, RU486.

ALOX12 mutation in a family with dominantly inherited bleeding diathesis.

The arachidonic acid (AA) cascade plays a significant role in platelet aggregation. AA released from membrane phospholipids is metabolized by cyclooxygenase (COX) pathway to thromboxane A (TXA) or by 12S-lipoxygenase (ALOX12) to 12-hydroperoxyeicosatetraenoic acid (12-HPETE). In contrast to a well-known role of the COX pathway in platelet aggregation, the role of ALOX12 is not well understood.

Arachidonate 12S-lipoxygenase of platelet-type in hepatic stellate cells of methionine and choline-deficient diet-fed mice.

A role of 12-lipoxygenase in the progression of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is suggested, although the underlying mechanism is not entirely understood. The catalytic activity of 12S-lipoxygenase that was hardly observed in liver cytosol of normal chow-fed mice was clearly detectable in that of NASH model mice prepared by feeding a methionine and choline-deficient (MCD) diet. The product profile, substrate specificity and immunogenicity indicated that the enzyme was the platelet-type isoform.

Red-kerneled rice proanthocyanidin inhibits arachidonate 5-lipoxygenase and decreases psoriasis-like skin inflammation.

5-lipoxygenase is a key enzyme in the synthesis of leukotrienes from arachidonic acid. The produced leukotrienes are involved in inflammatory diseases including psoriasis, asthma, and atherosclerosis. A suitable 5-lipoxygenase inhibitor might be useful for preventing and improving the symptoms of leukotriene-related inflammatory diseases.

Ellagitannins from leaves suppress microsomal prostaglandin E synthase-1 expression and induce lung cancer cells to undergo apoptosis.

Prostaglandin E (PGE), which is a potent pro-inflammatory lipid mediator, is biosynthesized from arachidonic acid by cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and microsomal PGE synthase-1 (mPGES-1). Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are used clinically as COX inhibitors, but they have gastrointestinal and cardiovascular side-effects. Thus, the terminal enzyme mPGES-1 holds promise as the next therapeutic target.

Involvement of the Hydroperoxy Group in the Irreversible Inhibition of Leukocyte-Type 12-Lipoxygenase by Monoterpene Glycosides Contained in the Qing Shan Lu Shui Tea.

We have previously found two novel monoterpene glycosides, liguroside A and liguroside B, with an inhibitory effect on the catalytic activity of the enzyme leukocyte-type 12-lipoxygenase in the Qing Shan Lu Shui tea. Here, two new monoterpene glycosides, liguroside C and liguroside D which inhibit this enzyme, were isolated from the same tea. The spectral and chemical evidence characterized the structures of these compounds as (5)-7-hydroperoxy-3,7-dimethyl-1,5-octadienyl-3--(α-l-rhamnopyranosyl)-(1''→3')-(4'''----coumaroyl)-β-d-glucopyranoside and (2)-6-hydroxy-3,7-dimethyl-2,7-octadienyl-3--(α-l-rhamnopyranosyl)-(1''→3')-(4'''----coumaroyl)-β-d-glucopyranoside, respectively.

Ingestion of soy protein isolate attenuates eccentric contraction-induced force depression and muscle proteolysis via inhibition of calpain-1 activation in rat fast-twitch skeletal muscle.

Objective: Eccentric contraction (ECC) is a contraction in which skeletal muscles are stretched while contracting. The aim of this study was to determine how ingestion of soy protein isolate (SPI) or animal-based proteins affect force deficit, calpain activation, and proteolysis of calcium ion (Ca)-regulatory proteins in rat fast-twitch muscles subjected to ECC.

Methods: In the first experiment, male Wistar rats were randomly assigned to a control and an SPI group, which were fed a 20% casein and a 20% SPI diet, respectively, for 28 d before the ECC protocol.

Preventive effect of on squamous cell carcinoma of mouse skin involving down-regulation of prostaglandin E synthetic pathway.

Hyperproduced prostaglandin E by cyclooxygenase-2 and microsomal prostaglandin E synthase-1 evokes several pathophysiological responses such as inflammation and carcinogenesis. Our recent study demonstrated that extract suppressed the expression of cyclooxygenase-2 and microsomal prostaglandin E synthase-1 and induced apoptosis in lung carcinoma A549 cells. In the present study, we investigated the effects of on squamous cell carcinoma of mouse skin.

l-arginine ingestion inhibits eccentric contraction-induced proteolysis and force deficit via S-nitrosylation of calpain.

It has been shown that calpains are involved in the proteolysis of muscle proteins that occurs with eccentric contraction (ECC) and that exogenously applied nitric oxide decreases the calpain-mediated proteolysis. The aim of this study was to examine the effects of ingestion of l-arginine (ARG), a nitric oxide precursor, on ECC-related calpain activation. In the first and second experiments, male Wistar rats were given ARG in water for 7 days starting from 3 days before the ECC protocol (average ingestion, ~600 mg kg-body wt  day ).

Molecular cloning of rat acss3 and characterization of mammalian propionyl-CoA synthetase in the liver mitochondrial matrix.

Among the three acyl-CoA synthetase short-chain family members (ACSS), ACSS3 is poorly characterized. To characterize ACSS3, we performed molecular cloning and protein expression of rat acss3 and determined its intracellular localization, tissue distribution, and substrate specificity. Transient expression of rat ACSS3 in HeLa cells resulted in a 10-fold increase of acetyl-CoA synthetase activity compared with that in control cells.

The Y54(L)W mutation of anti-leukotriene C4 single-chain antibody increases affinity to leukotriene E4.

The X-ray crystal structure of an anti-leukotriene (LT) C monoclonal antibody (mAbLTC) in complex with LTC was determined, however, crystallographic studies alone are not enough to fully understand the structures of the antigen-binding site. To elucidate the individual contribution of Tyr-54 and Asn-58 in the light chain of mAbLTC, both of which formed a hydrogen bond with glutamic acid of LTC, we examined whether substitution of the residues affects the antigen binding affinity and specificity using an anti-LTC single chain variable fragment (scFvLTC). Among the Tyr-54(L) mutants, Y54(L)W showed a dramatic increase in the affinity to LTE which was comparable to that to LTD Essentially the same results were obtained using the Y54(L)W mutant expressed in Escherichia coli and Pichia pastoris.

Activation of AMP-Activated Protein Kinase and Stimulation of Energy Metabolism by Acetic Acid in L6 Myotube Cells.

Previously, we found that orally administered acetic acid decreased lipogenesis in the liver and suppressed lipid accumulation in adipose tissue of Otsuka Long-Evans Tokushima Fatty rats, which exhibit hyperglycemic obesity with hyperinsulinemia and insulin resistance. Administered acetic acid led to increased phosphorylation of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) in both liver and skeletal muscle cells, and increased transcripts of myoglobin and glucose transporter 4 (GLUT4) genes in skeletal muscle of the rats. It was suggested that acetic acid improved the lipid metabolism in skeletal muscles.

Insulin Secretory Defect and Insulin Resistance in Isolated Impaired Fasting Glucose and Isolated Impaired Glucose Tolerance.

Objective: To investigate the characteristics of isolated impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) and isolated impaired fasting glucose (IFG), we analyzed the factors responsible for elevation of 2-hour postchallenge plasma glucose (2 h PG) and fasting plasma glucose (FPG) levels.

Methods: We investigated the relationship between 2 h PG and FPG levels who underwent 75 g OGTT in 5620 Japanese subjects at initial examination for medical check-up. We compared clinical characteristics between isolated IGT and isolated IFG and analyzed the relationships of 2 h PG and FPG with clinical characteristics, the indices of insulin secretory capacity, and insulin sensitivity.

Inhibition of leukocyte-type 12-lipoxygenase by guava tea leaves prevents development of atherosclerosis.

Oxidation of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) is one of the crucial steps for atherosclerosis development, and an essential role of leukocyte-type 12-lipoxygenase expressed in macrophages in this process has been demonstrated. The biochemical mechanism of the oxidation of circulating LDL by leukocyte-type 12-lipoxygenase in macrophages has been proposed. The major ingredients in guava tea leaves which inhibited the catalytic activity of leukocyte-type 12-lipoxygenase were quercetin and ethyl gallate.

Dioscorea japonica extract down-regulates prostaglandin E2 synthetic pathway and induces apoptosis in lung cancer cells.

Prostaglandin E2 plays a role in an array of pathophysiological responses, including inflammation, carcinogenesis and so on. Prostaglandin E2 is synthesized from arachidonic acid by the enzymes cyclooxygenase and prostaglandin E synthase. In some pathological conditions, the isozymes cyclooxygenase-2 and microsomal prostaglandin E synthase-1 are transiently induced, leading to prostaglandin E2 overproduction.

Neutralization of leukotriene C4 and D4 activity by monoclonal and single-chain antibodies.

Background: Cysteinyl leukotrienes (LTs) are key mediators in inflammation. To explore the structure of the antigen-recognition site of a monoclonal antibody against LTC4 (mAbLTC), we previously isolated full-length cDNAs for heavy and light chains of the antibody and prepared a single-chain antibody comprising variable regions of these two chains (scFvLTC).

Methods: We examined whether mAbLTC and scFvLTC neutralized the biological activities of LTC4 and LTD4 by competing their binding to their receptors.

Two new monoterpene glycosides from Qing Shan Lu Shui tea with inhibitory effects on leukocyte-type 12-lipoxygenase activity.

We evaluated the inhibitory effect of 12 Chinese teas on leukocyte-type 12-lipoxygenase (LOX) activity. Tea catechins such as epigallocatechin gallate have been known to exhibit leukocyte-type 12-LOX inhibition. Qing Shan Lu Shui, which contains lower catechin levels than the other tested teas, suppressed leukocyte-type 12-LOX activity.

COX-2 overexpression Induced by gene transfer reduces sensitivity of TE13 esophageal carcinoma cells to 5-fluorouracil and cisplatin.

Previous clinicopathological studies demonstrated that overexpression of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) is associated with a poor treatment response of esophageal carcinoma. The aim of this study was to elucidate the role of COX-2 overexpression in the chemosensitivity of esophageal carcinoma cells. TE13 human esophageal squamous cell carcinoma cells were transfected with a COX-2 constitutive expression vector, and stable transfectants overexpressing COX-2 were established.

Insulin secretory capacity and insulin sensitivity in impaired fasting glucose in Japanese.

Unlabelled: Aims/Introduction:  Impaired fasting glucose (IFG) increases the risk of developing diabetes mellitus (DM). This study was carried out to characterize Japanese patients who have fasting glucose levels (FPG) between 100 and 109 mg/dL (IFG100-109).

Materials And Methods:   A total of 1383 Japanese participants were examined by oral glucose tolerance test.

Asymmetric dimethylarginine, an endogenous NOS inhibitor, is actively metabolized in rat erythrocytes.

N(G), N(G)-Dimethyl-L-arginine (asymmetric dimethylarginine: ADMA) is an endogenous competitive inhibitor of nitric oxide synthase (NOS). Plasma ADMA concentrations have been reported to increase in connection with diseases associated with an impaired endothelial L-arginine/NO pathway. In this study, we investigated the metabolism of ADMA in circulating blood cell populations to elucidate the regulatory mechanism of elevation of plasma ADMA, a novel risk factor for cardiovascular disease.

Cyclooxygenase 2 and prostaglandin E2 regulate the attachment of calcium oxalate crystals to renal epithelial cells.

Objective: To determine the roles of endogenous cyclooxygenase 2 and prostaglandin E(2) in crystal-cell binding, which is considered to be an important step in the development of intratubular nephrocalcinosis.

Methods: An expression plasmid for human cyclooxygenase 2 was introduced into Madin-Darby canine kidney cells using the lipofection method. Cyclooxygenase activity was measured using thin-layer chromatography, and the prostaglandin E(2) concentration was determined with an enzyme immunoassay.