Absorption of mulberry root urease to the hemolymph of the silkworm, Bombyx mori

Mulberry leaves are the sole diet of the silkworm, Bombyx mori. The host urease is incorporated into the larval hemolymph and involved in nitrogen metabolism in the insect. To investigate the selective absorption of the host urease to the larvae, crude urease was prepared from mulberry leaves and roots. Root urease was identical to leaf urease on the basis of electrophoretic analyses: (1) the urease activity appeared in the same migration position in a native gel; (2) There was no difference in molecular mass of the subunit. The root urease was orally injected to the fifth instar larvae of the silkworm. Just before spinning, the larvae absorbed intact urease from the midgut lumen to the hemolymph without the loss of activity. The capacity to absorb urease occurred only at the specific stage. Localization of host urease in midgut tissue was observed using confocal laser scanning microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. Based on spatial distribution of immunofluorescent signals and immunogold particles, host urease specifically attached to the surfaces of microvilli existing in the apical side of columnar cells and appeared in the cytoplasm of the cells for transport to the hemolymph. The incorporation efficiency of root urease into the hemolymph was significantly higher than for ureases from jack bean seeds and Bacillus pasteurii. The urease that was transported to the hemolymph was electrophoretically altered, compared with the host urease extracted.     

Nation-wide litter fall data from 21 forests of the Monitoring Sites 1000 Project in Japan

This data paper reports litter fall data collected in a network of 21 forest sites in Japan. This is the largest litter fall data set freely available in Japan to date. The network is a part of the Monitoring Sites 1000 Project launched by the Ministry of the Environment, Japan. It covers subarctic to subtropical climate zones and the four major forest types in Japan. Twenty-three permanent plots in which usually 25 litter traps were installed were established in old-growth or secondary natural forests. Litter falls were collected monthly from 2004, and sorted into leaves, branches, reproductive structures and miscellaneous. The data provide seasonal patterns and inter-annual dynamics of litter falls, and their geographical patterns, and offer good opportunities for meta-analyses and comparative studies among forests.     

l-2-Amino-4-methylpimelic acid: A new amino acid from Lactarius species

A PC survey revealed the occurrence of an unusual amino acid in fruit bodies of the mushroom Lactarius quietus Fr. and a related species. This was identified as l-2-amino-4-methylpimelic acid, which has not been previously reported as a naturally occurring compound.     

Efficacy of liraglutide, a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) analogue, on body weight, eating behavior, and glycemic control, in Japanese obese type 2 diabetes

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: We recently reported that short-term treatment with liraglutide (20.0 +/- 6.4 days) reduced body weight and improved some scales of eating behavior in Japanese type 2 diabetes inpatients. However, it remained uncertain whether such liraglutide-induced improvement is maintained after discharge from the hospital. The aim of the present study was to determine the long-term effects of liraglutide on body weight, glycemic control, and eating behavior in Japanese obese type 2 diabetics. METHODS: Patients with obesity (body mass index (BMI) >25 kg/m2) and type 2 diabetes were hospitalized at Osaka University Hospital between November 2010 and December 2011. BMI and glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) were examined on admission, at discharge and at 1, 3, and 6 months after discharge. For the liraglutide group (BMI; 31.3 +/- 5.3 kg/m2, n = 29), patients were introduced to liraglutide after correction of hyperglycemic by insulin or oral glucose-lowering drugs and maintained on liraglutide after discharge. Eating behavior was assessed in patients treated with liraglutide using The Guideline For Obesity questionnaire issued by the Japan Society for the Study of Obesity, at admission, discharge, 3 and 6 months after discharge. For the insulin group (BMI; 29.1 +/- 3.0 kg/m2, n = 28), each patient was treated with insulin during hospitalization and glycemic control maintained by insulin after discharge. RESULTS: Liraglutide induced significant and persistent weight loss from admission up to 6 months after discharge, while no change in body weight after discharge was noted in the insulin group. Liraglutide produced significant improvements in all major scores of eating behavior questionnaire items and such effect was maintained at 6 months after discharge. Weight loss correlated significantly with the decrease in scores for recognition of weight and constitution, sense of hunger, and eating style. CONCLUSION: Liraglutide produced meaningful long-term weight loss and significantly improved eating behavior in obese Japanese patients with type 2 diabetes.     

Effects of selenium status and supplementary seleno-chemical sources on mouse T-cell mitogenesis

Although selenium is thought to be essential for various immune responses, the excess supplementation may have an adverse effect on certain immunological functions. The present study was designed to determine the effective chemical forms of selenium and their optimal levels on T-cell mitogenesis with splenic cells from mice given a selenium-deficient diet for 8 weeks to avoid effects of cellular selenium sources. Although selenium in tissues, except for spleen and thymus, was almost depleted by feeding selenium-deficient diet, the lymphoid organs still contained low levels of selenium. Both activities of cellular glutathione peroxidase (cGPx) and thioredoxin reductase (TR) in liver and splenic cells showed a tendency to decrease by selenium deficiency. However, splenic cells were tolerant against decrease of the selenoenzyme activities, and TR was also more tolerant than cGPx. T-cell proliferation of the selenium-insufficient splenic cells induced by concanavalin A was increased by addition of Na₂SeO₃, Na₂SeO₄, Na₂Se, seleno-dl-cystine, seleno-l-methionine and selenocystamine. Their promoting action was observed at levels lower than 0.1 μmol/L and was completely suppressed at the highest concentration (1 μmol/L), except for selenocystamine. Na₂SeO₃ was one of the efficient selenocompounds for the mitogenesis, which was concomitant with the significant induction of cGPx and TR. However, recovery of cGPx activity in the selenium-insufficient cells by supplementary Na₂SeO₃ was only partial, while TR activity was readily recovered from selenium deficiency. These results therefore indicate that only low levels of selenium is essential for T-cell mitogenesis even in selenium-insufficient splenic cells, and TR, which is readily recovered by Na₂SeO₃, may be the critical enzyme.     

Diabetic modifier QTLs in F2 intercrosses carrying homozygous transgene of TGF-β

When the homozygous active form of porcine TGF-β1 transgene (Tgf/Tgf) (under control of the rat glucagon promoter) is introduced into the nonobese diabetic mouse (NOD) genetic background, the mice develop endocrine and exocrine pancreatic hypoplasia, low serum insulin concentrations, and impaired glucose tolerance. To identify genetic modifiers of the diabetic phenotypes, we crossed hemizygous NOD-Tgf with DBA/2J mice (D2) or C3H/HeJ mice (C3H) and used the “transgenic mice” for quantitative trait loci (QTL) analysis. Genome-wide scans of F₂-D Tgf/Tgf (D2 × NOD) and F₂-C Tgf/Tgf (C3H × NOD), homozygous for the TGF-β1 transgene, identified six statistically significant modifier QTLs: one QTL (Tdn1) in F₂-D Tgf/Tgf, and five QTLs (Tcn1 to Tcn5) in F₂-C Tgf/Tgf. Tdn1 (Chr 13, LOD = 4.39), and Tcn3 (Chr 2, LOD = 4.94) showed linkage to body weight at 8 weeks of age. Tcn2 (Chr 7, LOD = 4.38) and Tcn4 (Chr 14, LOD = 3.99 and 3.78) showed linkage to blood glucose (BG) concentrations in ipGTT at 30, 0, and 120 min, respectively. Tcn1 (Chr 1, LOD = 4.41) and Tcn5 (Chr 18, LOD = 4.99) showed linkage to serum insulin concentrations in ipGTT at 30 min. Tcn2 includes the candidate gene, uncoupling protein 2 (Ucp2), and shows linkage to Ucp2 mRNA levels in the soleus muscle (LOD = 4.90). Identification of six QTLs for diabetes-related traits in F₂-D Tgf/Tgf and F₂-C Tgf/Tgf raises the possibility of identifying candidate susceptibility genes and new targets for drug development for human type 2 diabetes. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

5a-Carba-β-D-glucopyranose derivatives as novel sodium-dependent glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors for the treatment of type 2 diabetes

5a-Carba-β-D-glucopyranose derivatives were synthesized and identified as novel SGLT2-selective inhibitors. These inhibitors exhibited potent SGLT2 inhibition with high selectivity over SGLT1. Among the tested compounds, 6f indicated the most potent hSGLT2 inhibition and the highest selectivity over hSGLT1. Moreover, the pharmacokinetics data also showed that 6h, which had the same aglycon structure as sergliflozin-active (3-active), had a threefold longer half-life time (T(1/2)) than sergliflozin (3) with a high distribution volume in db/db mice. Subsequently, 6h lowered blood glucose levels as much as 3 and showed longer hypoglycemic action than 3 in db/db mice.     

A food-derived synergist of NGF signaling: identification of protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B as a key regulator of NGF receptor-initiated signal transduction

Neurotrophins, such as the nerve growth factor (NGF), play an essential role in the growth, development, survival and functional maintenance of neurons in the central and peripheral systems. They also prevent neuronal cell death under various stressful conditions, such as ischemia and neurodegenerative disorders. NGF induces cell differentiation and neurite outgrowth by binding with and activating the NGF receptor tyrosine kinase followed by activation of a variety of signaling cascades. We have investigated the NGF-dependent neuritogenesis enhancer potential of a food-derived small molecule contained in Brassica vegetables and identified the protein tyrosine phosphatase (PTP) 1B as a key regulator of the NGF receptor-initiated signal transduction. Based on an extensive screening of Brassica vegetable extracts for the neuritogenic-promoting activity in the rat pheochromocytoma cell line PC12, we found the Japanese horseradish, wasabi (Wasabia japonica, syn. Eutrema wasabi), as the richest source and identified 6-methylsulfinylhexyl isothiocyanate (6-HITC), an analogue of sulforaphane isolated from broccoli, as one of the major neuritogenic enhancers in the wasabi. 6-HITC strongly enhanced the neurite outgrowth and neurofilament expression elicited by a low-concentration of NGF that alone was insufficient to induce neuronal differentiation. 6-HITC also facilitated the sustained-phosphorylation of the extracellular signal-regulated kinase and the autophosphorylation of the NGF receptor TrkA. It was found that PTP1B act as a phosphatase capable of dephosphorylating Tyr-490 of TrkA and was inactivated by 6-HITC in a redox-dependent manner. The identification of PTP1B as a regulator of NGF signaling may provide new clues about the chemoprotective potential of food components, such as isothiocyanates.     

Teprenone, but not H2-receptor blocker or sucralfate, suppresses corpus Helicobacter pylori colonization and gastritis in humans: teprenone inhibition of H. pylori-induced interleukin-8 in MKN28 gastric epithelial cell lines

Background. The role of teprenone in Helicobacter pylori‐associated gastritis has yet to be determined. To investigate the effect of teprenone on inflammatory cell infiltration, and on H. pylori colonization of the gastric mucosa in H. pylori‐infected patients, we first compared the effect of teprenone with that of both histamine H2 receptor antagonists (H2‐RA) and sucralfate on the histological scores of H. pylori gastritis. We then examined its in vitro effect on H. pylori‐induced interleukin (IL)‐8 production in MKN28 gastric epithelial cells. Materials and Methods. A total of 68 patients were divided into three groups, each group undergoing a 3‐month treatment with either teprenone (150 mg/day), H2‐RA (nizatidine, 300 mg/day), or sucralfate (3 g/day). All subjects underwent endoscopic examination of the stomach before and after treatment. IL‐8 production in MKN28 gastric epithelial cells was measured by enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Results. Following treatment, the teprenone group showed a significant decrease in both neutrophil infiltration and H. pylori density of the corpus (before vs. after: 2.49 ± 0.22 vs. 2.15 ± 0.23, p = .009; 2.36 ± 0.25 vs. 2.00 ± 0.24, p = .035, respectively), with no significant differences seen in either the sucralfate or H2‐RA groups. Teprenone inhibited H. pylori‐enhanced IL‐8 production in MKN28 gastric epithelial cells in vitro, in a dose‐dependent manner. Conclusions. Teprenone may modify corpus H. pylori‐associated gastritis through its effect on neutrophil infiltration and H. pylori density, in part by its inhibition of IL‐8 production in the gastric mucosa.