Molecular basis for subtypic differences of the “a” subunit of coagulation factor XIII with description of the genesis of the subtypes

The “a” subunit of human coagulation factor XIII (F13A) exhibits genetic polymorphism defined by four common alleles, F13A*1A, *1B, *2A, and *2B. We have previously suggested on the basis of the isoelectric focusing patterns of the four allele products that point mutations at two separate sites and one intragenic crossing over might be involved in the genes of F13A polymorphism. Here, we report nucleotide substitutions associated with F13A polymorphism. A C/T transition of the second nucelotide of codon 564 in exon 12 is responsible for the difference between F13A*1A and *1B and that between F13A*2A and *2B, and a set of two base changes in codons 650 and 651 in exon 14 leads to the differences between F13A*1A and *2A and those between F13A*1B and *2B. The four combinations of the point mutations at the two exons thus correspond to the four alleles, two of which were generated by the point mutations from ancestral monomorphic gene. The results suggest strongly that intragenic crossing over must be involved in the genesis of the fourth allele. Polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) methods discriminating these base changes in exons 12 and 14 are also presented.     

Stable transformation of cultured cells of the liverwortMarchantia polymorpha by particle bombardment

Suspension-cultured cells (A-18 line) of the liverwortMarchanta polymorpha were bombarded by a pneumatic particle gun with plasmid pCH harbouring the hygromycin phosphotransferase (HPT) gene (hpt) under the control of the cauliflower mosaic virus (CaMV) 35 S promoter and the nopaline synthase polyadenylation region. Nine weeks after bombardments, 128 hygromycin-resistant calluses were obtained from an approximate total of 7×10⁶ cells. Ten cell lines chosen randomly were analysed further. Southern blot analysis showed that all of the ten lines contain thehpt gene in the genome, demonstrating that these lines are transformants. An HPT enzyme activity assay confirmed the expression of the gene in all of the transformant lines.     

Persistent Autoantibody-Production by Intermediates between Short-and Long-Lived Plasma Cells in Inflamed Lymph Nodes of Experimental Epidermolysis Bullosa Acquisita

Autoantibodies are believed to be maintained by either the continuous generation of short-lived plasma cells in secondary lymphoid tissues or by long-lived plasma cells localized in bone marrow and spleen. Here, we show in a mouse model for the autoimmune blistering skin disease epidermolysis bullosa acquisita (EBA) that chronic autoantibody production can also be maintained in inflamed lymph nodes, by plasma cells exhibiting intermediate lifetimes. After EBA induction by immunization with a mCOL7c-GST-fusion protein, antigen-specific plasma cells and CD4 T cells were analyzed. Plasma cells were maintained for months in stable numbers in the draining lymph nodes, but not in spleen and bone marrow. In contrast, localization of mCOL7c-GST -specific CD4 T cells was not restricted to lymph nodes, indicating that availability of T cell help does not limit plasma cell localization to this site. BrdU-incorporation studies indicated that pathogenic mCOL7c- and non-pathogenic GST-specific plasma cells resemble intermediates between short-and long-lived plasma cells with half-lives of about 7 weeks. Immunization with mCOL7c-GST also yielded considerable numbers of plasma cells neither specific for mCOL7c- nor GST. These bystander-activated plasma cells exhibited much shorter half-lives and higher population turnover, suggesting that plasma cell lifetimes were only partly determined by the lymph node environment but also by the mode of activation. These results indicate that inflamed lymph nodes can harbor pathogenic plasma cells exhibiting distinct properties and hence may resemble a so far neglected site for chronic autoantibody production.     

Homostachydrine is a Xenobiotic Substrate of OCTN1/SLC22A4 and Potentially Sensitizes Pentylenetetrazole-Induced Seizures in Mice

Neurochemical Research - Understanding of the underlying mechanism of epilepsy is desired since some patients fail to control their seizures. The carnitine/organic cation transporter OCTN1/SLC22A4...     

Neuronal control of pedal sole cilia in the pond snail Lymnaea stagnalis appressa

5-HT (serotonin) is a ubiquitous neurotransmitter that produces ciliary beating in gastropods when applied topically, but ciliary beating caused by gastropod serotonergic neurons has been described in only three neuron pairs. We extend these results to the North American Lymnaea stagnalis appressa, which is a different species from the European Lymnaea stagnalis. We describe a non-serotonergic neuron pair, PeV1, which accelerates pedal sole mucociliary transport and a serotonergic neuron pair, PeD7, which slows mucociliary transport. We compare and discuss development and identified neurons in L. s. appressa and in L. stagnalis, which have homologs to L. s. appressa PeD7 and PeV1 neurons. In addition to PeD7 and PeV1 neurons, we test neurons immunoreactive to Tritonia pedal peptide antibodies with negative results for mucociliary transport. In characterizing PeD7 and PeV1 neurons, we find that PeV1 does not excite PeD7. In semi-intact preparations, a strong increase in PeD7 neuron activity occurs during tactile stimulation, but V1 neurons are inhibited during tactile stimulation. Following tactile stimulation, PeV1 neurons show strong activity. This suggests a distinct difference in function of the two neuron pairs, which both have their axons overlying pedal sole ciliary cells. Application of 5-HT to the pedal sole initiates mucociliary transport in 1.4–1.9 s with a time course similar to that seen when stimulating a PeV1 neuron. This result appears to be through a 5-HT_1A-like receptor on the pedal sole. We describe a possible external source of 5-HT on the pedal sole from 5-HT immunoreactive granules that are released with mucus.     

A design for the control of apoptosis in genetically modified Saccharomyces cerevisiae

We have engineered a system that holds potential for use as a safety switch in genetically modified yeasts. Human apoptotic factor BAX (no homolog in yeast), under the control of the FBP1 (gluconeogenesis enzyme) promoter, was conditionally expressed to induce yeast cell apoptosis after glucose depletion. Such systems might prove useful for the safe use of genetically modified organisms.     

Quantification of Chitinase mRNA Levels in Human and Mouse Tissues by Real-Time PCR: Species-Specific Expression of Acidic Mammalian Chitinase in Stomach Tissues

Chitinase hydrolyzes chitin, which is an N-acetyl-D-glucosamine polymer that is present in a wide range of organisms, including insects, parasites and fungi. Although mammals do not contain any endogenous chitin, humans and mice express two active chitinases, chitotriosidase (Chit1) and acidic mammalian chitinase (AMCase). Because the level of expression of these chitinases is increased in many inflammatory conditions, including Gaucher disease and mouse models of asthma, both chitinases may play important roles in the pathophysiologies of these and other diseases. We recently established a quantitative PCR system using a single standard DNA and showed that AMCase mRNA is synthesized at extraordinarily high levels in mouse stomach tissues. In this study, we applied this methodology to the quantification of chitinase mRNAs in human tissues and found that both chitinase mRNAs were widely expressed in normal human tissues. Chit1 mRNA was highly expressed in the human lung, whereas AMCase mRNA was not overexpressed in normal human stomach tissues. The levels of these mRNAs in human tissues were significantly lower than the levels of housekeeping genes. Because the AMCase expression levels were quite different between the human and mouse stomach tissues, we developed a quantitative PCR system to compare the mRNA levels between human and mouse tissues using a human-mouse hybrid standard DNA. Our analysis showed that Chit1 mRNA is expressed at similar levels in normal human and mouse lung. In contrast, the AMCase expression level in human stomach was significantly lower than that expression level observed in mouse stomach. These mRNA differences between human and mouse stomach tissues were reflecting differences in the chitinolytic activities and levels of protein expression. Thus, the expression level of the AMCase in the stomach is species-specific.     

Identification of lysophosphatidylthreonine with an aromatic fatty acid surrogate as a potent inducer of mast cell degranulation

Upon various stimulations, mast cells (MCs) release a wide variety of chemical mediators stored in their cytoplasmic granules, which then initiates subsequent allergic reactions. Lysophosphatidylserine (LysoPS), a kind of lysophospholipid, potentiates the histamine release from MCs triggered by antigen stimulation. We previously showed through structure-activity studies of LysoPS analogs that LysoPS with a methyl group at the carbon of the serine residue, i.e., lysophosphatidylthreonine (LysoPT), is extremely potent in stimulating the MC degranulation. In this study, as our continuing study to identify more potent LysoPS analogs, we developed LysoPS analogs with fatty acid surrogates. We found that the substitution of oleic acid to an aromatic fatty acid surrogate (C3-pH-p-O-C11) in 2-deoxy-1-LysoPS resulted in significant increase in the ability to induce MCs degranulation compared with 2-deoxy-1-LysoPS with oleic acid. Conversion of the serine residue into the threonine residue further increased the activity of MC degranulation both in vitro and in vivo. The resulting super agonist, 2-deoxy-LysoPT with C3-pH-p-O-C11, will be a useful tool to elucidate the mechanisms of stimulatory effect of LysoPS on MC degranulation.