Functions of beta2-adrenergic receptor in human periodontal ligament cells

Adrenergic receptors (ARs) are receptors of noradrenalin and adrenalin, of which there are nine different subtypes. In particular, β2 adrenergic receptor (β2-AR) is known to be related to the restoration and maintenance of homeostasis in bone and cardiac tissues; however, the functional role of signaling through β2-AR in periodontal ligament (PDL) tissue has not been fully examined. In this report, we investigated that β2-AR expression in PDL tissues and their features in PDL cells. β2-AR expressed in rat PDL tissues and human PDL cells (HPDLCs) derived from two different patients (HPDLCs-2G and -3S). Rat PDL tissue with occlusal loading showed high β2-AR expression, while its expression was downregulated in that without loading. In HPDLCs, β2-AR expression was increased exposed to stretch loading. The gene expression of PDL-related molecules was investigated in PDL clone cells (2-23 cells) overexpressing β2-AR. Their gene expression and intracellular cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) levels were also investigated in HPDLCs treated with a specific β2-AR agonist, fenoterol (FEN). Overexpression of β2-AR significantly promoted the gene expression of PDL-related molecules in 2 to 23 cells. FEN led to an upregulation in the expression of PDL-related molecules and increased intracellular cAMP levels in HPDLCs. In both HPDLCs, inhibition of cAMP signaling by using protein kinase A inhibitor suppressed the FEN-induced gene expression of α-smooth muscle actin. Our findings suggest that the occlusal force is important for β2-AR expression in PDL tissue and β2-AR is involved in fibroblastic differentiation and collagen synthesis of PDL cells. The signaling through β2-AR might be important for restoration and homeostasis of PDL tissue.     

Comparative study on the replication of HCV1b genome between wild-type and cell culture-adaptive mutant in regard to sensitivities against anti-HCV drugs

The replicon system, which mimics viral genome replication in culture cells, has been widely used to analyze the genome replication of the hepatitis C virus (HCV). However, most HCV genomes used in the system include adaptive mutations (AMs) that are vital for replication in culture cells despite the nonexistence of such mutations in the genome of wild-type (WT) HCV in patients. In order to study the genome replications of WT HCV, new HCV subgenomic replicon (SGR) systems were established using Huh-7.5-derived cells producing Sec14-like protein 2 constitutively and SGR of KT9 (one of the HCV genotype 1b clones) with WT genome (SGR KT9WT) in this study. The replication efficiency and sensitivities of SGR KT9WT to anti-HCV drugs in the cloned cells permanently bearing replicon RNA, HS55-4 cells, were similar to those of reports using SGR, including AM. The SGR transient transfection system using SGR KT9WT and SGR KT9AM encoding secreted Nano-luciferase and HS55-4C cells established by the elimination of SGR KT9 RNA from HS55-4 cells, however, showed that the replication efficiency of SGR KT9WT was much lower than that of SGR KT9AM under a same condition. Furthermore, the sensitivities of SGR KT9WT to almost all tested anti-HCV reagents, except the inhibitor of miR-122, a cellular factor important for HCV replication, were quite low compared with SGR KT9AM. These results suggested that the new replicon systems might not only provide information about precise responses against new anti-HCV drugs but also reveal novel molecular mechanisms supporting negligent proliferation of HCV.     

Base composition and nucleosome density in exonic and intronic regions in genes of the filamentous ascomycetes Aspergillus nidulans and Aspergillus oryzae

We sequenced nucleosomal DNA fragments of the filamentous ascomycetes Aspergillus nidulans and Aspergillus oryzae and then mapped those sequences on their genomes. We compared the GC content and nucleosome density in the exonic and intronic regions in the genes of A. nidulans and A. oryzae. Although the GC content and nucleosome density in the exonic regions tended to be higher than those in the intronic regions, the difference in the distribution of the GC content was more notable than that of the nucleosome density. Next, we compared the GC content and nucleosome density in the exonic regions of 9616 orthologous gene pairs. In both Aspergillus species, the GC content did not correlate with the nucleosome density. In addition, the Spearman's rank correlation coefficient (ρ = 0.51) between the GC content of the exonic regions of the 9616 orthologous gene pairs was higher than that (ρ = 0.31) of the nucleosome densities of A. nidulans and A. oryzae. These results strongly suggest that the GC content in the exons of the orthologous gene pairs has been conserved during evolution but the nucleosome density has varied throughout.     

Ly6C+Ly6G− Myeloid‐derived suppressor cells play a critical role in the resolution of acute inflammation and the subsequent tissue repair process after spinal cord injury

Acute inflammation is a prominent feature of central nervous system (CNS) insult and is detrimental to the CNS tissue. Although this reaction spontaneously diminishes within a short period of time, the mechanism underlying this inflammatory resolution remains largely unknown. In this study, we demonstrated that an initial infiltration of Ly6C⁺Ly6G^? immature monocyte fraction exhibited the same characteristics as myeloid‐derived suppressor cells (MDSCs), and played a critical role in the resolution of acute inflammation and in the subsequent tissue repair by using mice spinal cord injury (SCI) model. Complete depletion of Ly6C⁺Ly6G^? fraction prior to injury by anti‐Gr‐1 antibody (clone: RB6‐8C5) treatment significantly exacerbated tissue edema, vessel permeability, and hemorrhage, causing impaired neurological outcomes. Functional recovery was barely impaired when infiltration was allowed for the initial 24 h after injury, suggesting that MDSC infiltration at an early phase is critical to improve the neurological outcome. Moreover, intraspinal transplantation of ex vivo‐generated MDSCs at sites of SCI significantly reduced inflammation and promoted tissue regeneration, resulting in better functional recovery. Our findings reveal the crucial role of an Ly6C⁺Ly6G^? fraction as MDSCs in regulating inflammation and tissue repair after SCI, and also suggests an MDSC‐based strategy that can be applied to acute inflammatory diseases.     

Cryopreservation of rat MSCs by use of a programmed freezer with magnetic field

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) can be used for the regeneration of various tissues and cryopreservation of MSCs is so important for regenerative medicine. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the influences of cryopreservation on MSCs by use of a programmed freezer with a magnetic field (CAS freezer). MSCs were isolated from bone marrow of rat femora. The cells were frozen by a CAS freezer with 10% dimethyl sulfoxide (Me2SO) and cryopreserved for 7 days at a temperature of −150 °C. Immediately after thawing, the number of survived cells was counted. The cell proliferation also examined after 48 h culture. Next, MSCs were frozen by two different freezers; CAS freezer and a conventional programmed freezer without magnetic field. Then, osteogenic and adipogenic differentiations of cryopreserved cells were examined. As a result, survival and proliferation rates of MSCs were significantly higher in CAS freezer than in the non-magnetic freezer. Alizarin positive reaction, large amount of calcium quantification, and greater alkaline phosphatase activity were shown in both the non-cryopreserved and CAS groups after osteogenic differentiation. Moreover, Oil Red O staining positive reaction and high amount of PPARγ and FABP4 mRNAs were shown in both the non-cryopreserved and CAS groups after adipogenic differentiation. From these findings, it is shown that a CAS freezer can maintain high survival and proliferation rates of MSCs and maintain both adipogenic and osteogenic differentiation abilities. It is thus concluded that CAS freezer is available for cryopreservation of MSCs, which can be applied to various tissue regeneration.     

Piperine analogs in a hydrophobic fraction from Piper ribersoides (Piperaceae) and its insect antifeedant activity

Piper ribersoides Wall. (Piperaceae), which is called “Khua Sa khan” in the local language, is mainly grown in Laos. This plant is used as a food in Laos, but no report on its metabolites exists. Crushed stems were immersed in methanol. The ethyl acetate fraction showed potential insect antifeedant activity for Spodoptera litura (Fabricius) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), and some of the active compounds were piperine analogs. Piperine and its geometrical isomer independently showed potent antifeedant activities, and piperine was presumably the main active compound in the methanol extract. Interestingly, we discovered that the antifeedant activity was reduced when they were mixed (50:50).     

Inhibitory effect of novel somatostatin peptide analogues on human cancer cell growth based on the selective inhibition of DNA polymerase β

The present study was designed to investigate the anticancer activity of novel nine small peptides (compounds 1–9) derived from TT-232, a somatostatin structural analogue, by analyzing the inhibition of mammalian DNA polymerase (pol) and human cancer cell growth. Among the compounds tested, compounds 3 [tert-butyloxycarbonyl (Boc)-Tyr-Phe-1-naphthylamide], 4 (Boc-Tyr-Ile-1-naphthylamide), 5 (Boc-Tyr-Leu-1-naphthylamide) and 6 (Boc-Tyr-Val-1-naphthylamide) containing tyrosine (Tyr) but no carboxyl groups, selectively inhibited the activity of rat pol β, which is a DNA repair-related pol. Compounds 3–6 strongly inhibited the growth of human colon carcinoma HCT116 p53^+/+ cells. The influence of compounds 1–9 on HCT116 p53^?/? cell growth was similar to that observed for HCT116 p53^+/+ cells. These results suggest that the cancer cell growth suppression induced by these compounds might be related to their inhibition of pol. Compound 4 was the strongest inhibitor of pol β and cancer cell growth among the nine compounds tested. This compound specifically inhibited rat pol β activity, but had no effect on the other 10 mammalian pols investigated. Compound 4 combined with methyl methane sulfonate (MMS) treatment synergistically suppressed HCT116 p53^?/? cell growth compared with MMS alone. This compound also induced apoptosis in HCT116 cells with or without p53. From these results, the influence of compound 4, a specific pol β inhibitor, on the relationship between DNA repair and cancer cell growth is discussed.     

Design and synthesis of a series of α-benzyl phenylpropanoic acid-type peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) gamma partial agonists with improved aqueous solubility

In the continuing study directed toward the development of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (hPPARγ) agonist, we attempted to improve the water solubility of our previously developed hPPARγ-selective agonist 3, which is insufficiently soluble for practical use, by employing two strategies: introducing substituents to reduce its molecular planarity and decreasing its hydrophobicity via replacement of the adamantyl group with a heteroaromatic ring. The first approach proved ineffective, but the second was productive. Here, we report the design and synthesis of a series of α-benzyl phenylpropanoic acid-type hPPARγ partial agonists with improved aqueous solubility. Among them, we selected (R)-7j, which activates hPPARγ to the extent of about 65% of the maximum observed with a full agonist, for further evaluation. The ligand-binding mode and the reason for the partial-agonistic activity are discussed based on X-ray-determined structure of the complex of hPPARγ ligand-binding domain (LBD) and (R)-7j with previously reported ligand-LDB structures. Preliminal apoptotic effect of (R)-7j against human scirrhous gastric cancer cell line OCUM-2MD3 is also described.     

Protoplast-transfection of Streptomyces chartreusis SF1623 with Actinophage Φr5 DNA

To establish a procedure for high frequency transfection in streptomycetes, the conditions and factors affecting the polyethyleneglycol (PEG) mediated transfection of S. chartreusis SF1623 by actinophage Φr5 DNA were studied. Protoplasts of S. chartreusis SF1623 prepared by treatment with lysozyme and achromopeptidase were very stable. Protoplasts from 20 to 22hr culture cells were more competent for transfection. The optimal pH of the medium for transfection was pH 7.6. The presence of NaCl, thymidine, ATP, ADP or adenosine in the transfection medium enhanced the frequency of transfection. The optimal conditions determined for protoplast transfection were 12.5% PEG 4,000, 300 mm NaCl, 1 mm thymidine, final concentration, Φr5 DNA and protoplasts in P3 medium (pH 7.6). The frequency of transfection under the optimal conditions was 5 × 10⁵ per μg Φr5 DNA and was about 3 × 10^?3 per regenerated protoplasts.

Progenitively mature phages appeared 4hr after incubation in the regeneration solution and their number continued to increase for about 11 hr. The burst size was estimated to be about 400.