Reversible and monitorable nephrotoxicity in rats by the novel potent transcriptional enhanced associate domain (TEAD) inhibitor, K-975.

The Hippo pathway plays an important role in the growth, development, and regeneration of cells and organs. Transcriptional enhanced associate domain (TEAD), a transcription activator of the Hippo pathway, forms the complex with a transcriptional coactivator yes-associated protein (YAP) or a transcriptional coactivator PDZ-binding motif (TAZ). Their excessive activations are involved in carcinogenesis such as malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM), and thus inhibition of the TEAD complex is expected to have potent anticancer activity against MPM.

Suppressive Effects of Neuromedin U Receptor 2-Selective Peptide Agonists on Appetite and Prolactin Secretion in Mice.

Neuromedin U receptor 2 (NMUR2), which is expressed in the central nervous system (CNS) including the hypothalamus, has been noted as a therapeutic target against obesity. We previously reported that intranasal administration of CPN-219, a NMUR2-selective hexapeptide agonist, suppresses body weight gain in mice; however, there is no detailed information regarding its CNS effects. Recently, in addition to appetite suppression, stress responses and regulation of prolactin (PRL) secretion have also attracted attention.

Influence of Molecular Structures of Organic Foulants on the Antifouling Properties of Poly(2-methoxyethyl acrylate) and Its Analogs: A Molecular Dynamics Study.

Elucidating the fouling phenomena of polymer surfaces will facilitate the molecular design of high-performance biomedical devices. Here, we investigated the remarkable antifouling properties of two acrylate materials, poly(2-methoxyethyl acrylate) (PMEA) and poly(3-methoxypropionic acid vinyl ester) (PMePVE), which have a terminal methoxy group on the side chain, via molecular dynamics simulations of binary mixtures of acrylate/methacrylate trimers with -pentane or 2,2-dimethylpropane (neopentane), that serve as the nonpolar organic probe (organic foulants). The second virial coefficient () was determined to assess the aggregation/dispersion properties in the binary mixtures.

Lysophosphatidylcholine-based liposome to improve oral absorption and nephroprotective effects of astaxanthin.

Background: The present study was aimed to develop astaxanthin (AX)-loaded liposomes by the utilization of soybean phosphatidylcholine (PC) and lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC) to improve the nutraceutical properties of AX. AX-loaded liposomes consisting of PC (PC/AX) and LPC (LPC/AX) were evaluated in terms of particle size distribution, morphology, release characteristics, pharmacokinetic behavior, and nephroprotective effects in a rat model of acute kidney injury.

Results: PC/AX and LPC/AX had uniform size distributions with a mean particle size of 254 and 148 nm, respectively.

The infectivity of progeny adenovirus in the presence of neutralizing antibody.

Human adenoviruses (Ads), common pathogens that cause upper respiratory and gastrointestinal infections, are blocked by neutralizing antibodies (nAbs). However, Ads are not fully eliminated even in hosts with nAbs. In this study, we assessed the infectivity of progeny Ad serotype 5 (Ad5) in the presence of nAb.

Mogamulizumab Treatment Elicits Autoantibodies Attacking the Skin in Patients with Adult T-Cell Leukemia-Lymphoma.

Purpose: The anti-CCR4 mAb, mogamulizumab, offers therapeutic benefit to patients with adult T-cell leukemia-lymphoma (ATL), but skin-related adverse events (AE) such as erythema multiforme occur frequently. The purpose of this study was to determine the mechanisms by which mogamulizumab causes skin-related AEs in patients with ATL.

Experimental Design: We investigated whether autoantibodies were present in patients' sera using flow cytometry to determine binding to keratinocytes and melanocytes ( = 17), and immunofluorescence analysis of tissue sections.

Construction of N-Heterocyclic Systems Containing a Fully Substituted Allylic Carbon by Palladium/Phosphine Catalysis.

The unique cyclization of benzamide derivatives that contain an alkyne by a Pd(0)/dialkyl(biaryl)phosphine catalytic system is reported. The reaction efficiently provides a variety of six-membered N-heterocyclic compounds that contain a fully substituted carbon center without the need for a stoichiometric additive. Mechanistic studies suggest that this unprecedented cyclization starts with the cleavage of a propargylic C-O bond, and a 1,3-diene has been identified as a relevant intermediate.

The Effect of Emotional State on the Processing of Morphosyntactic and Semantic Reversal Anomalies in Japanese: Evidence from Event-Related Brain Potentials.

The present study examined the locus responsible for the effect of emotional state on sentence processing in healthy native speakers of Japanese, using event-related brain potentials. The participants were induced into a happy, neutral, or sad mood and then subjected to electroencephalogram recording during which emotionally neutral sentences, including grammatical sentences (e.g.

Potent Therapeutic Activity Against Peritoneal Dissemination and Malignant Ascites by the Novel Anti-Folate Receptor Alpha Antibody KHK2805.

Many ovarian cancer patients often show peritoneal metastasis with malignant ascites. However, unmet medical needs remain regarding controlling these symptoms after tumors become resistant to chemotherapies. We developed KHK2805, a novel anti-folate receptor α (FOLR1) humanized antibody with enhanced antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) and complement-dependent cytotoxicity (CDC).

Photoinduced Fusion of Lipid Bilayer Membranes.

We have developed a novel system for photocontrol of the fusion of lipid vesicles through the use of a photosensitive surfactant containing an azobenzene moiety (AzoTAB). Real-time microscopic observations clarified a change in both the surface area and internal volume of vesicles during fusion. We also determined the optimal cholesterol concentrations and temperature for inducing fusion.

A Simple Protocol for the Myocardial Differentiation of Human iPS Cells.

We have developed a simple protocol for inducing the myocardial differentiation of human induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells. Human iPS cell-derived embryonic bodies (EBs) were treated with a combination of activin-A, bone morphogenetic protein-4 and wnt-3a for one day in serum-free suspension culture, and were subsequently treated with noggin for three days. Thereafter, the EBs were subjected to adherent culture in media with 5% serum.

Systematic syntheses and metalloligand doping of flexible porous coordination polymers composed of a Co(III)-metalloligand.

A series of flexible porous coordination polymers (PCPs) RE-Co, composed of a Co(III)-metalloligand [Co(dcbpy)3](3-) (Co; H2dcbpy = 4,4'-dicarboxy-2,2'-bipyridine) and lanthanide cations (RE(3+) = La(3+), Ce(3+), Pr(3+), Nd(3+), Sm(3+), Eu(3+), Gd(3+), Tb(3+), Er(3+)), was systematically synthesized. X-ray crystallographic analysis revealed that the six carboxylates at the top of each coordination octahedron of Co(III)-metalloligand were commonly bound to RE(3+) cations to form a rock-salt-type porous coordination framework. When RE-Co contains a smaller and heavier RE(3+) cation than Nd(3+), the RE-Co crystallized in the cubic Fm-3m space group, whereas the other three RE-Co with larger RE(3+) crystallized in the lower symmetrical orthorhombic Fddd space group, owing to the asymmetric 10-coordinated bicapped square antiprism structure of the larger RE(3+) cation.

Histopathological characterization of renal tubular and interstitial changes in 5/6 nephrectomized marmoset monkeys (Callithrix jacchus).

Common marmosets (Callithrix jacchus) have become a useful animal model, particularly for development of biopharmaceuticals. While various renal failure models have been established in rodents, there is currently no acceptable model in marmosets. We analyzed the damaged renal tubules and tubulointerstitial changes (inflammation and fibrosis) of 5/6 nephrectomized (Nx) common marmosets by histopathological/immunohistochemical methods, and compared these findings to those in 5/6 Nx SD rats.

Therapeutic activity of glycoengineered anti-GM2 antibodies against malignant pleural mesothelioma.

Malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) is a rare and highly aggressive neoplasm that arises from the pleural, pericardial, or peritoneal lining. Although surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and combinations of these therapies are used to treat MPM, the median survival of such patients is dismal. Therefore, there is a compelling need to develop novel therapeutics with different modes of action.

Five-sixth Nephrectomy in Female Common Marmosets(Callithrix jacchus) as a Chronic Renal Failure Model: -A Longitudinal Course of Serum Biochemical, Hematological and Histopathological Changes-.

To assess the relevance and availability of subtotal nephrectomized common marmoset monkeys as a chronic renal failure (CRF) model, we observed for 26 weeks the pathophysiological condition of female marmosets subjected to five-sixth surgical nephrectomy (5/6Nx) by a two-step surgical method. The 5/6Nx marmosets showed a significant increase in serum levels of urea nitrogen, creatinine and cystatin-C immediately after 5/6Nx surgery. These renal disorder parameters subsequently tended to decrease with the passage of time but remained higher than the control levels by the end of the study.

Flexible coordination polymers composed of luminescent ruthenium(II) metalloligands: importance of the position of the coordination site in metalloligands.

Coordination polymerization reactions between ruthenium(II) metalloligands [Ru(n,n'-dcbpy)](4-) ([nRu]; n = 4, 5; n,n'-dcbpy = n,n'-dicarboxy-2,2'-bipyridine) and several divalent metal salts in basic aqueous solutions afforded porous luminescent complexes formulated as [Mg(H2O)6]{[Mg(H2O)3][4Ru]·4H2O} (Mg2[4Ru]·13H2O), [Mg2(H2O)9][5Ru]·10H2O (Mg2[5Ru]·19H2O), {[Sr4(H2O)9][4Ru]2·9H2O} (Sr2[4Ru]·9H2O)2, {[Sr2(H2O)8][5Ru]·6H2O} (Sr2[5Ru]·14H2O), and {[Cd2(H2O)2][5Ru]·10H2O} (Cd2[5Ru]·12H2O). Single-crystal X-ray structural analyses revealed that the divalent metal ions were commonly coordinated by the carboxyl groups of the [nRu] metalloligand, forming porous frameworks with a void fraction varying from 11.4% Mg2[4Ru]·13H2O to 43.

Spontaneous Malignant T Cell Lymphoma in a Young Male Common Marmoset (Callithrix jacchus).

We histopathologically and immunohistochemically investigated a case of malignant lymphoma that spontaneously developed in a male common marmoset at two years of age. Beginning at two years four months of age, the animal had an enlargement of the submandibular and inguinal lymph nodes, small subcutaneous nodules near the right breast and an approximately fivefold increase in peripheral lymphocyte count compared with the previous examination value. The postmortem findings at two years eight months of age showed lymphadenopathy with enlargement of the thymus and spleen.

Spontaneous Adenosquamous Carcinoma with Rapid Growth and EMT-like Changes in the Mammary Gland of a Young Adult Female BALB/c Mouse.

This study histopathologically and immunohistochemically investigated a spontaneously occurring single mass subcutaneously located in the left lower abdomen of a female BALB/cAJcl-nu/+ mouse at 10 weeks of age. The mass was about 20 × 15 × 10 mm in size after formalin fixation; nevertheless, it was not detected by clinical observations at 9 weeks of age. H&E staining revealed the tumor origin was epithelial and probably arose from the mammary gland, and the tumor cells demonstrated a squamous, acinar or polyhedral/basal pattern.

Differential renal glomerular changes induced by 5/6 nephrectomization between common marmoset monkeys (Callithrix jacchus) and rats.

We have been investigating the relevance and availability of 5/6 nephrectomized (Nx) common marmoset monkeys (Callithrix jacchus) as a chronic renal failure model. As a part of this investigation, renal glomerular changes in the Nx marmosets were histopathologically and immunohistochemically evaluated, and then compared with those in 5/6 Nx SD rats. In the Nx marmosets, the blood and urine parameters were elevated, excluding urine protein; histopathologically, enlargement of Bowman's capsule and atrophy of the glomeruli were observed in all animals, and other slight changes were also observed in 1 or 2 marmosets.

Histopathological, immunohistochemical and ultrastructural studies of a renal mesenchymal tumor in a young beagle dog.

A 15-month-old male beagle dog used in a toxicity study had a primary renal mesenchymal tumor. Macroscopically, the tumor was a gray-white mass which was found in the right kidney, and extended from the capsule to a position slightly compressing the medulla. Microscopically, most of the tumor cells showed a myxoid pattern, in which the matrix was positive for alcian blue staining.

Ln-Co-based rock-salt-type porous coordination polymers: vapor response controlled by changing the lanthanide ion.

We synthesized new porous coordination polymers (PCPs) {Ln(III)[Co(III)(dcbpy)(3)]·nH(2)O} (Ln = La(3+), Nd(3+), Gd(3+); H(2)dcbpy = 4,4'-dicarboxy-2,2'-bipyridine) and characterized them by X-ray diffraction and vapor-adsorption measurements. These three Ln-Co-based PCPs have similar rock-salt types and highly symmetrical porous structure and show a reversible structural collapse-regeneration accompanied by water-vapor desorption-adsorption. Similar structural regeneration was also observed for the Gd-Co PCP upon exposure to MeOH and CH(3)CN vapors, whereas the remaining two PCPs barely responded to organic vapors.