Swiprosin-1 is expressed in mast cells and up-regulated through the protein kinase C beta I/eta pathway.

Swiprosin-1 exhibits the highest expression in CD8(+) T cells and immature B cells and has been thought to play a role in lymphocyte physiology. Here we report that swiprosin-1 is also expressed in mast cells and up-regulated in both in vitro cultured mast cells by phorbol ester and in vivo model tissues of passive cutaneous anaphylaxis and atopic dermatitis. Targeted inhibition of the specific protein kinase C (PKC) isotypes by siRNA revealed that PKC-beta I/eta are involved in the expression of swiprosin-1 in the human mast cell line HMC-1.

Eupatilin inhibits T-cell activation by modulation of intracellular calcium flux and NF-kappaB and NF-AT activity.

Eupatilin, one of the pharmacologically active ingredients of Artemisia princeps, exhibits a potent anti-ulcer activity, but its effects on T-cell immunity have not been investigated. Here, we show that eupatilin has a profound inhibitory effect on IL-2 production in Jurkat T cells as well as in human peripheral blood leukocytes. Eupatilin neither influenced clustering of CD3 and LFA-1 to the immunological synapse nor inhibited conjugate formation between T cells and B cells in the presence or absence of superantigen (SEE).

Eupatilin exhibits a novel anti-tumor activity through the induction of cell cycle arrest and differentiation of gastric carcinoma AGS cells.

In many cases, the process of cancer cell differentiation is associated with the programmed cell death. In the present study, interestingly, we found that eupatilin, one of the pharmacologically active ingredients of Artemisia asiatica that has been reported to induce apoptosis in human gastric cancer AGS cells, also triggers differentiation of these cells. Treatment of AGS cells with eupatilin induced cell cycle arrest at the G(1) phase with the concomitant induction of p21(cip1), a cell cycle inhibitor.

Comprehensive analysis of reproductive ADAMs: relationship of ADAM4 and ADAM6 with an ADAM complex required for fertilization in mice.

A Disintegrin And Metalloprotease (ADAM) family members expressed in male reproductive tissues are divided phylogenetically into three major groups. In the present study, we analyzed six ADAMs in one of the groups (ADAMs 4, 6, 24, 26, 29, and 30) of which function is largely unknown. Our results showed that most of the ADAMs undergo unique processing during sperm maturation and are located at the surface of sperm head.

A novel germ cell-specific protein, SHIP1, forms a complex with chromatin remodeling activity during spermatogenesis.

To determine the mechanisms of spermatogenesis, it is essential to identify and characterize germ cell-specific genes. Here we describe a protein encoded by a novel germ cell-specific gene, Mm.290718/ZFP541, identified from the mouse spermatocyte UniGene library.

Characterization of eight novel proteins with male germ cell-specific expression in mouse.

Background: Spermatogenesis and fertilization are highly unique processes. Discovery and characterization of germ cell-specific genes are important for the understanding of these reproductive processes. We investigated eight proteins encoded by novel spermatogenic cell-specific genes previously identified from the mouse round spermatid UniGene library.

Trapping of a micro-bubble by non-paraxial Gaussian beam: computation using the FDTD method.

Optical forces on a micro-bubble were computed using the Finite Difference Time Domain method. Non-paraxial Gaussian beam equation was used to represent the incident laser with high numerical aperture, common in optical tweezers. The electromagnetic field distribution around a micro-bubble was computed using FDTD method and the electromagnetic stress tensor on the surface of a micro-bubble was used to compute the optical forces.

Differentially expressed genes implicated in unexplained recurrent spontaneous abortion.

Recurrent spontaneous abortion occurs in approximately 3% of women with diagnosed pregnancies. The etiology in approximately 40% of recurrent spontaneous abortion is unexplained. To elucidate unexplained recurrent spontaneous abortion at the molecular level, we systemically identified differentially expressed genes during implantation window period in unexplained recurrent spontaneous abortion and characterized their functions in a human endometrial cell line.

Hydrophobic interface between two regulators of K+ conductance domains critical for calcium-dependent activation of large conductance Ca2+-activated K+ channels.

It has been suggested that the large conductance Ca(2)+-activated K(+) channel contains one or more domains known as regulators of K(+) conductance (RCK) in its cytosolic C terminus. Here, we show that the second RCK domain (RCK2) is functionally important and that it forms a heterodimer with RCK1 via a hydrophobic interface. Mutant channels lacking RCK2 are nonfunctional despite their tetramerization and surface expression.