A secretory protein neudesin regulates splenic red pulp macrophages in erythrophagocytosis and iron recycling.

Neudesin, originally identified as a neurotrophic factor, has primarily been studied for its neural functions despite its widespread expression. Using 8-week-old neudesin knockout mice, we elucidated the role of neudesin in the spleen. The absence of neudesin caused mild splenomegaly, shortened lifespan of circulating erythrocytes, and abnormal recovery from phenylhydrazine-induced acute anemia.

Minocycline Hydrochloride Controlled-release Microsphere Preparation Process Optimization Based on the Robust Design Method.

Objectives: The objective of the present study is to establish a robust preparation method that could steadily produce minocycline hydrochloride (MCH) microspheres regardless of used polymer types.

Materials And Methods: Taguchi's Robust Experimental Design methodology was employed to optimize the process parameters for MCH-loaded poly(D,L-lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) microspheres. In the experimental design, seven controllable factors, i.

Free Fatty Acid Receptors in Health and Disease.

Fatty acids are metabolized and synthesized as energy substrates during biological responses. Long- and medium-chain fatty acids derived mainly from dietary triglycerides, and short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) produced by gut microbial fermentation of the otherwise indigestible dietary fiber, constitute the major sources of free fatty acids (FFAs) in the metabolic network. Recently, increasing evidence indicates that FFAs serve not only as energy sources but also as natural ligands for a group of orphan G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) termed free fatty acid receptors (FFARs), essentially intertwining metabolism and immunity in multiple ways, such as via inflammation regulation and secretion of peptide hormones.

Membrane progesterone receptor beta (mPRβ/Paqr8) promotes progesterone-dependent neurite outgrowth in PC12 neuronal cells via non-G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) signaling.

Recently, sex steroid membrane receptors garnered world-wide attention because they may be related to sex hormone-mediated unknown rapid non-genomic action that cannot be currently explained by their genomic action via nuclear receptors. Progesterone affects cell proliferation and survival via non-genomic effects. In this process, membrane progesterone receptors (mPRα, mPRβ, mPRγ, mPRδ, and mPRε) were identified as putative G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) for progesterone.

Dietary gut microbial metabolites, short-chain fatty acids, and host metabolic regulation.

During feeding, the gut microbiota contributes to the host energy acquisition and metabolic regulation thereby influencing the development of metabolic disorders such as obesity and diabetes. Short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) such as acetate, butyrate, and propionate, which are produced by gut microbial fermentation of dietary fiber, are recognized as essential host energy sources and act as signal transduction molecules via G-protein coupled receptors (FFAR2, FFAR3, OLFR78, GPR109A) and as epigenetic regulators of gene expression by the inhibition of histone deacetylase (HDAC). Recent evidence suggests that dietary fiber and the gut microbial-derived SCFAs exert multiple beneficial effects on the host energy metabolism not only by improving the intestinal environment, but also by directly affecting various host peripheral tissues.

Free fatty acid receptors as therapeutic targets for the treatment of diabetes.

Nutrition regulates energy balance; however, dysfunction of energy balance can cause metabolic disorders, such as obesity and diabetes. Fatty acids are an essential energy source and signaling molecules that regulate various cellular processes and physiological functions. Recently, several orphan G protein-coupled receptors were identified as free fatty acid receptors (FFARs).

The SCFA Receptor GPR43 and Energy Metabolism.

Free fatty acids (FFAs) are essential nutrients and act as signaling molecules in various cellular processes via binding with FFA receptors. Of these receptors, GPR43 is activated by short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs; e.g.

A rapid and efficient method for neuronal induction of the P19 embryonic carcinoma cell line.

Background: P19 mouse embryonic carcinoma cells are conventionally induced to differentiate into neural cells by suspension culture in the presence of retinoic acid to form cell aggregates, followed by adhesion culture in a poly-l-lysine-coated dish. Drawbacks of this procedure include it taking more than 10 days to obtain mature neurons, and non-neuronal proliferating cells occupying the majority of the cell population with time.

New Method: Here, we show a novel method for the rapid and efficient neurogenesis of P19 cells, without aggregate formation in a suspension culture.

Neurotrophic effects of neudesin in the central nervous system.

Neudesin (neuron-derived neurotrophic factor; NENF) was identified as a neurotrophic factor that is involved in neuronal differentiation and survival. It is abundantly expressed in the central nervous system, and its neurotrophic activity is exerted via the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) pathways. Neudesin is also an anorexigenic factor that suppresses food intake in the hypothalamus.

Mutation of junctophilin type 2 associated with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

Junctophilin subtypes, designated as JPH1 approximately 4, are protein components of junctional complexes and play essential roles in cellular Ca2+ signaling in excitable cells. Knockout mice lacking the cardiac-type Jph2 die of embryonic cardiac arrest, and the mutant cardiac myocytes exhibit impaired formation of peripheral couplings and arrhythmic Ca2+ signaling caused by functional uncoupling between dihydropyridine and ryanodine receptor channels. Based on these observations, we hypothesized that mutations of JPH2 could cause human genetic cardiac diseases.