VAMP7 knockdown in secretory granules impairs CCL2 secretion in mast cells.

Mast cells (MCs) possess numerous potent inflammatory mediators and undergo differential regulation in response to antigen (Ag) stimulation. Among the regulatory systems governing secretory responses, soluble N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor attachment protein receptors (SNAREs) play a pivotal role in facilitating granule-plasma membrane fusion and subsequent secretion. Our previous investigation documented the involvement of vesicle-associated membrane protein 3 (VAMP3) in regulating cytokine secretions in RBL-2H3 cells, a model for MC IgE-mediated responses.

Diagnosis and Management of Drug-Induced Interstitial Lung Disease Associated with Amikacin Liposome Inhalation Suspension in Refractory Complex Pulmonary Disease: A Case Report.

Amikacin liposome inhalation suspension (ALIS) is a key drug for the treatment of refractory complex pulmonary disease (MAC-PD). Although cases of drug-induced interstitial lung disease (DIILD) by ALIS have been reported, its diagnosis is challenging due to overlapping existing pulmonary shadows, airway bleeding, exacerbation of underlying conditions, and the potential for various concurrent infections. A 72-year-old woman started treatment with ALIS for refractory MAC-PD.

Ephedrine Alkaloid-Independent High-Affinity Immunoglobulin-E Receptor (FcεRI) Internalization Results in CCL2 Production without Inducing Mast Cell Degranulation.

Mast cells (MCs) play an important role in allergies, leading to the development of MC-targeted therapies. Ephedra herb (Mao) has potent anti-allergic activity, but contains ephedrine alkaloids (EAs); therefore, its hazardous effects are taken into consideration during its clinical use. We previously reported that Mao attenuates robust MC degranulation by an allergen through high-affinity immunoglobulin E (IgE) receptor (FcεRI) internalization, in which an EA-independent mechanism was suggested to be at play.

Benzo[]pyrene induces NLRP1 expression and promotes prolonged inflammasome signaling.

Benzo[]pyrene (BaP), a polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon in the air, triggers pulmonary inflammation. This study focused on BaP-induced inflammation in the alveolar epithelium. A549 cells were stimulated with BaP for four days.

Copper in airborne fine particulate matter (PM) from urban sites causes the upregulation of pro-inflammatory cytokine IL-8 in human lung epithelial A549 cells.

Fine atmospheric particles, such as PM, are strongly related to the onset and exacerbation of inflammatory responses leading to the development of respiratory and cardiovascular diseases. PM is a complex mixture of tiny particles with different properties (i.e.

Vertebral Osteomyelitis Caused by Mimicking Tuberculous Spondylitis: First Reported Case and Literature Review.

is a slow-growing, nontuberculous mycobacterium widely found in the environment and is known to cause tenosynovitis and osteomyelitis, mainly in the hands and wrists. We present the first case of vertebral osteomyelitis caused by in a 78-year-old man with renal cell carcinoma. The patient had a history of tuberculous pleuritis in childhood.

Leukotriene D4 accelerates antigen-mediated mast cell responses via the cysteinyl leukotriene 1 receptor.

Cysteinyl leukotrienes (CysLTs), released from mast cells (MCs), are important mediators in allergy. Type 1 receptors for CysLTs (CysLT1R) are involved in accelerating IgE-mediated MC activation. In this study, we aimed to elucidate the mechanisms underlying CysLT1R-mediated MC activation.

Multifunctional regulation of VAMP3 in exocytic and endocytic pathways of RBL-2H3 cells.

Mast cells (MCs) are inflammatory cells involved in allergic reactions. Crosslinking of the high-affinity receptor for IgE (FcϵRI) with multivalent antigens (Ags) induces secretory responses to release various inflammatory mediators. These responses are largely mediated by soluble N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor attachment protein receptors (SNAREs).

FcεRI: A Master Regulator of Mast Cell Functions.

Mast cells (MCs) perform multiple functions thought to underlie different manifestations of allergies. Various aspects of antigens (Ags) and their interactions with immunoglobulin E (IgE) cause diverse responses in MCs. FcεRI, a high-affinity IgE receptor, deciphers the Ag-IgE interaction and drives allergic responses.

Augmented Self-Association by Electrostatic Forces in Thienopyrrole-Fused Thiadiazoles that Contain an Ester instead of an Ether Linker.

During the self-assembly of π-conjugated molecules, linkers and substituents can potentially add supportive noncovalent intermolecular interactions to π-stacking interactions. Here, we report the self-assembly behavior of thienopyrrole-fused thiadiazole (TPT) fluorescent dyes that possess ester or ether linkers and dodecyloxy side chains in solution and the condensed phase. A comparison of the self-association behavior of the ester- and ether-bridged compounds in solution using detailed UV-vis, fluorescence, and NMR spectroscopic studies revealed that the subtle replacement of the ether linkers by ester linkers leads to a distinct increase in the association constant (ca.

FcεRI Cluster Size Determines Effective Mast Cell Desensitization without Effector Responses in vitro.

Background: Allergen-specific desensitization of mast cell (MC) IgE receptors (FcεRI) is an important mechanism of allergen-specific immunotherapy that enables tolerance induction via systemic desensitization. Experimental in vitro IgE-mediated MC desensitization is a potential tool to understand the molecular mechanisms underlying this therapy. Desensitized MCs exhibit internalized IgE and its FcεRI receptors in response to suboptimal doses of allergen without provoking activation.

Ephedra Herb, Mao, Inhibits Antigen-Induced Mast Cell Degranulation by Induction of the Affinity Receptor for IgE Internalization.

Purpose: Ephedra herb (Mao) exerts potent anti-allergic effects. This study aimed to examine the underlying mechanisms of Mao on allergic inflammation using in vitro cultured mast cells (MCs) and an in vivo model of MC-dependent anaphylaxis.

Methods: Bone marrow-derived MCs (BMMCs) were presensitized with anti-2,4-dinitrophenol (DNP) immunoglobulin E (IgE) and challenged with antigens (Ag; DNP-human serum albumin).

Adverse reactions to 1% cyclopentolate eye drops in children: an analysis using logistic regression models.

Purpose: To determine the frequency, symptoms and risk factors for adverse reactions to two-times instillation of 1% cyclopentolate in children.

Study Design: Prospective, observational study.

Methods: The subjects were 646 patients who underwent cycloplegic refraction with cyclopentolate (mean age; 7.

Isoflavones Suppress Cyp26b1 Expression in the Murine Colonic Lamina Propria.

Isoflavones have many biological activities and are major bioactive components of kakkonto, a traditional Japanese herbal medicine. We previously reported that the combined therapy of oral immune therapy (OIT) and kakkonto downregulates the mRNA expression of Cyp26b1, a major retinoic acid (RA)-degrading enzyme, in the colon of food allergy mice and thereby ameliorates allergic symptoms. In this study, we evaluated the effects of various isoflavones on Cyp26b1 expression in primary cultured lamina propria (LP) cells isolated from the mouse colon.

Ginger Increases ALDH1A1 Expression and Enhances Retinoic Acid Signaling in a Human Colonic Epithelial Cell Line.

Aldehyde dehydrogenase 1A1 (ALDH1A1) in intestinal epithelial cells (IECs) plays a critical role in regulating immune responses through the production of retinoic acid (RA). However, little is known about its regulation by dietary components. We previously demonstrated that kakkonto, a Japanese traditional herbal medicine, and its constituent puerarin induce the expression of ALDH1A1 mRNA in colonic IECs and thereby attenuate food allergy symptoms in mice.

A reversible oxygen redox reaction in bulk-type all-solid-state batteries.

An all-solid-state lithium battery using inorganic solid electrolytes requires safety assurance and improved energy density, both of which are issues in large-scale applications of lithium-ion batteries. Utilization of high-capacity lithium-excess electrode materials is effective for the further increase in energy density. However, they have never been applied to all-solid-state batteries.

Influences of Maternal Factors Over Offspring Allergies and the Application for Food Allergy.

The prevalence of food allergy has been steadily rising worldwide with the highest incidence noted among younger children, and increasingly recognized as a growing public concern. The first known ingestion of foods often causes allergic reaction, suggesting that sensitization of offspring with food allergens may occur during pregnancy and/or through breastfeeding. This creates a milieu that shapes the neonatal immune responses to these allergens.

Oxide-Based Composite Electrolytes Using NaZrSiPO/NaPS Interfacial Ion Transfer.

All-solid-state sodium batteries using NaZrSiPO (NASICON) solid electrolytes are promising candidates for safe and low-cost advanced rechargeable battery systems. Although NASICON electrolytes have intrinsically high sodium-ion conductivities, their high sintering temperatures interfere with the immediate development of high-performance batteries. In this work, sintering-free NASICON-based composites with NaPS (NPS) glass ceramics were prepared to combine the high grain-bulk conductivity of NASICON and the interfacial formation ability of NPS.

Improvement of Therapeutic Efficacy of Oral Immunotherapy in Combination with Regulatory T Cell-Inducer Kakkonto in a Murine Food Allergy Model.

Oral immunotherapy (OIT) has been considered a promising approach for food allergies (FAs). However, the current OIT strategy is limited in terms of the long-term efficacy and safety. We have previously demonstrated that kakkonto, a traditional Japanese herbal medicine, suppresses the occurrence of allergic symptoms in a murine model of ovalbumin (OVA)-induced FA, which is attributed to the induction of the Foxp3+ CD4+ regulatory T cells.

Role of macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) in pollen-induced allergic conjunctivitis and pollen dermatitis in mice.

Pollen is a clinically important airborne allergen and one of the major causes of allergic conjunctivitis. A subpopulation of patients with atopic dermatitis (AD) are also known to have exacerbated skin eruptions on the face, especially around the eyelids, after contact with pollen. This pollen-induced skin reaction is now known as pollen dermatitis.

Visualization of neural activity in insect brains using a conserved immediate early gene, Hr38.

Many insects exhibit stereotypic instinctive behavior [1-3], but the underlying neural mechanisms are not well understood due to difficulties in detecting brain activity in freely moving animals. Immediate early genes (IEGs), such as c-fos, whose expression is transiently and rapidly upregulated upon neural activity, are powerful tools for detecting behavior-related neural activity in vertebrates [4, 5]. In insects, however, this powerful approach has not been realized because no conserved IEGs have been identified.

Vascular smooth muscle cell polyploidization involves changes in chromosome passenger proteins and an endomitotic cell cycle.

Vascular smooth muscle cell polyploidization occurs during normal development and is enhanced under physiologic stress, but the mechanism of this cell cycle has not been explored. We show via time-lapse video imaging and immunofluorescence analyses that primary vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC) undergo an endomitotic-type cell cycle, including a normal progression through part of mitosis. Mononuclear polyploid cells are generated by defects in sister chromatid separation and/or segregation, and cellular binucleation occurs by reversal of cytokinesis.