Expression Analysis of Serotonin Receptors, Serotonin Transporter and l-Amino Acid Decarboxylase in the Mouse Sphenopalatine Ganglion by RT-PCR, Northern Blot Analysis and In Situ Hybridization.

The sphenopalatine ganglion (SPG) is a gathering of the cell bodies of parasympathetic fibers that dominate the nasal gland, lacrimal gland and cerebral blood vessels. The SPG controls nasal secretions, tears, and the dilation of cerebral blood vessels. However, it is unclear how serotonin regulates SPG functions.

Fabrication of Microfluidic Valves Using a Hydrogel Molding Method.

In this paper, a method for fabricating a microfluidic valve made of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) using a rapid prototyping method for microchannels through hydrogel cast molding is discussed. Currently, the valves in microchannels play an important role in various microfluidic devices. The technology to prototype microfluidic valves rapidly is actively being developed.

Complement activation plays a key role in antibody-induced infusion toxicity in monkeys and rats.

Infusion reactions are a major side effect of the administration of therapeutic Abs and are the result of a complex immune reaction. In this study, we report that substitutions of Fc amino acids in the anti-HLA-DR Ab HD8 reduce its ability to induce infusion reactions in rats and monkeys. We first showed that i.

Fully human antibody exhibits pan-human leukocyte antigen-DR recognition and high in vitro/vivo efficacy against human leukocyte antigen-DR-positive lymphomas.

HD8, a fully human monoclonal antibody specific for human leukocyte antigen-DR (HLA-DR), was generated by using the transchromosome mouse that bears the human immunoglobulin genes. HD8 could bind to all 13 tested HLA-DR-positive cell lines and 35 B-cells from healthy donors. Epitope mapping revealed that while the antibody recognizes the most polymorphic region of the HLA-DRB chain, its critical epitope residues are conserved in the major alleles.