Function of Tongue-Playing of Cattle in Association With Other Behavioral and Physiological Characteristics

To study the function of tongue-playing of cattle, this study observed 71 Japanese Black × Holstein steers after feeding in 2 repetitive experiments. The number of steers who performed tongue-playing did not differ among the 3 levels of environmentally enriched pens. Most (90.6%) performances of tongue-playing terminated within 20 min. Frequency of tongue-playing positively correlated with the frequency of resting (r = 0.25, p < .05). Frequency of eating was lower in tongue-playing steers (n = 40) than in non-tongue-playing steers (n = 31; p < .05). Frequencies of self-grooming (p < .05), ruminating (p < .05), and lying ruminating (p < .01) were higher in tongue-playing steers. Plasma dopamine concentration was lower in tongue-playing steers (p < .05). In conclusion, tongue-playing that lasts only for a short time after feeding was induced by behavioral features of steers who rest more and eat hay less at the same time as they perform grooming and ruminating.     

ADAMTS9 activation by interleukin 1β via NFATc1 in OUMS-27 chondrosarcoma cells and in human chondrocytes

ADAMTS9 is a member of the disintegrin and metalloproteinase with thrombospondin motifs (ADAMTS) genes, with aggrecan-degrading activity. It has also been characterized to be reactive and highly activated ADAMTS by IL-1β in both chondrosarcoma cells and human chondrocytes (Demircan et al. Arthritis Rheum 52:1451–1460, 2005). In order to understand the regulation of ADAMTS9 gene expression a functional 3.0 kb human ADAMTS9 promoter has been cloned and characterized. A sequence analysis of the promoter revealed the presence of putative binding sites for Nuclear Factor of Activated T cells (NFAT), which is commonly found in the ADAMTS4 and ADAMTS5 promoters. NFATc1 was up-regulated in an activated form by IL-1β in human chondrocytes. The IL-1β inducible ADAMTS9 expression was inhibited by NFAT inhibitors, FK506 and 11Arg (11R)-VIVIT. Furthermore, direct binding of NFATc1 on distal and proximal promoters of ADAMTS9 was demonstrated by a chromatin immunoprecipitation assay. Promoter-reporter assays supported those results. These findings may provide a better understanding of the regulation of ADAMTS9 expression induced by inflammatory cytokines.     

DNA glycosylases of human lymphoblastoid cells.

Lymphoblastoid cell lines were established after transformation by Epstein-Barr virus of peripheral lymphocytes from xeroderma pigmentosum (XP) patients and normal donors. These lines expressed B-lymphocyte characteristics. Typical characteristics related to XP of these cell lines were not altered by transformation. Extracts of these cells catalyzed release of uracil (Ura) and 3-methyladenine (3MeAde) from Ura-containing DNA (Ura-DNA) and methylated DNA (Me-DNA), respectively. These two activities, Ura-DNA glycosylase and 3MeAde-DNA glycosylase, differed in heat stability. Extracts released Ura more rapidly and 3MeAde more slowly from a single-stranded DNA than from a double-stranded DNA. On incubation with reconstituted chromatins prepared from Ura-DNA and Me-DNA, respectively, with calf thymus chromosomal protein, cell extracts released all the Ura but about half the 3MeAde residues. The activity levels of these two enzymes of XP cells were similar to those of normal cells.