Galectin-9 in physiological and pathological conditions

We first cloned galectin-9 (Gal-9)/ecalectin as a T cell-derived eosinophil chemoattractant. Gal-9 plays a role in not only accumulation but also activation of eosinophils in experimental allergic models and human allergic patients, because Gal-9 induces eosinophil chemoattraction in vitro and in vivo and activates eosinophils in many aspects. Gal-9 requires divalent galactoside-binding activity but not the linker peptide of Gal-9 to exhibit its biological functions, and an unidentified matrix metalloproteinase is involved in the release of Gal-9. Our recent studies also showed that Gal-9 has other functions, such as cell differentiation, aggregation, adhesion, and death. Now, we and other groups are on the way of investigating the regulation and function of Gal-9 in a variety of physiological and pathological conditions. In this article, we will show the possible role of Gal-9 in physiological and pathological conditions by using our recent findings. Published in 2004.     

Glucocorticoid enhances Na(+)/K(+) ATPase mRNA expression in rat olfactory mucosa during regeneration: a possible mechanism for recovery from olfactory disturbance.

Systemic or topical application of glucocorticoid is the treatment of choice for olfactory disturbance. Recently, Na(+)/K(+) ATPase and glucocorticoid receptor immunoreactivity in the olfactory mucosa was reported. To elucidate a glucocorticoid action on Na(+)/K(+) ATPase production, an animal model was produced by an intra-nasal application of 5% ZnSO(4) solution to Wistar rats. Dexamethasone was injected i.p. (0.01 mg/100 g) for 14 days after the insult. Histologically, the regeneration process was completed on day 14 in both dexamethasone- and saline-injected control rats. We used a quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method to evaluate mRNA production of Na(+)/K(+) ATPase and glucocorticoid receptor. In dexamethasone-injected rats, up-regulation of glucocorticoid receptor mRNA (95% more than control rats, P = 0.00068, unpaired t-test) and of Na(+)/K(+) ATPase mRNA expression (76% more than control rats, P = 0.0042) was observed on day 14. The increased Na(+)/K(+) ATPase expression in the regenerated olfactory mucosa is thought to be beneficial for an active uptake of K(+), which is released during excitation, around olfactory neurons and for the transepithelial absorption of Na(+) from olfactory mucus. Dexamethasone may thus contribute to the recovery of function after the morphological regeneration in part, at least, through its receptor by regulation of the ionic concentration in the olfactory mucosal microenvironment.     

Developing a photosynthetic sterility model to estimate CO2 fixation through the crop yield in Asia with the aid of MODIS data

Remote sensing technologies have been advanced continuously to a certain level for multi-scale applications to ease social and political concerns resulting from food security. In this study, an integrated monitoring, sensing and modeling system for estimating CO₂ fixation and grain yields using a photosynthetic sterility model was developed. Input data for model computation include observed meteorological data, numerical prediction reanalysis data, and satellite data such as solar radiation, land-cover and Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) on a continental scale. Model validation requires crop yields and the Crop Situation Index (CSI) was provided by the Japanese government. It also demonstrates the application potential of this system to grain fields of paddy rice, winter wheat, and maize in Southeast Asia. The carbon hydrate in grains has the same chemical formula as that of cellulose in grain vegetation. The partition of sequestered CO₂ into grain, straw, and root portions of plant biomass weight was computed. The present photosynthesis model was evaluated using the mass of carbon included in the harvested grains of provincial crop production. Results indicate that the proposed system successfully estimates the photosynthesis fixation of rice reasonably well in Japan and China through the analysis of carbon in grains. However, the model tends to underestimate the photosynthesis rates for winter wheat and maize. The parameterization of radiation response function and the temperature response functions for low-temperature sterility need to be improved in the future.     

IL-22-Producing RORγt-Dependent Innate Lymphoid Cells Play a Novel Protective Role in Murine Acute Hepatitis

Retinoid-related orphan receptor (ROR) γt is known to be related to the development and function of various immunological compartments in the liver, such as Th17 cells, natural killer T (NKT) cells, and innate lymphoid cells (ILCs). We evaluated the roles of RORγt-expressing cells in mouse acute hepatitis model using RORγt deficient (RORγt^−/−) mice and RAG-2 and RORγt double deficient (RAG-2^−/− × RORγt^−/−) mice. Acute hepatitis was induced in mice by injection with carbon tetrachloride (CCl₄), to investigate the regulation of liver inflammation by RORγt-expressing cells. We detected RORC expression in three compartments, CD4⁺ T cells, NKT cells, and lineage marker-negative SCA-1⁺Thy1^high ILCs, of the liver of wild type (WT) mice. CCl₄-treated RORγt^−/− mice developed liver damage in spite of lack of RORγt-dependent cells, but with reduced infiltration of macrophages compared with WT mice. In this regard, ILCs were significantly decreased in RAG-2^−/− × RORγt^−/− mice that lacked T and NKT cells. Surprisingly, RAG-2^−/− × RORγt^−/− mice developed significantly severer CCl₄-induced hepatitis compared with RAG-2^−/− mice, in accordance with the fact that hepatic ILCs failed to produce IL-22. Lastly, anti-Thy1 monoclonal antibody (mAb), but not anti-NK1.1 mAb or anti-asialo GM1 Ab administration exacerbated liver damage in RAG-2^−/− mice with the depletion of liver ILCs. Collectively, hepatic RORγt-dependent ILCs play a part of protective roles in hepatic immune response in mice.     

Inhibitory CD161 receptor identified in glioma-infiltrating T cells by single-cell analysis

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Reconstruction of the Human Colon Epithelium In Vivo

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Human Pancreatic Tumor Organoids Reveal Loss of Stem Cell Niche Factor Dependence during Disease Progression

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Changes in activities of enzymes in erythrocytes from ddY mice supplemented with dietary selenium.

Plasma and erythrocyte enzyme activities were measured in ddY mice supplemented with dietary selenium (Se) from baker's yeast (Saccharomyces serevisiae) or selenious acid at 0.3 ppm Se content. Glutathione peroxidase (GSHpx) activities increased significantly in erythrocytes from mice supplemented with dietary Se. It was concluded that addition of dietary Se as food additive is very effective for activation of GSHpx in mice.