Transplanted interleukin-4--secreting mesenchymal stromal cells show extended survival and increased bone mineral density in the murine femur

Background

Mesenchymal stromal cell (MSC)–based therapy has great potential to modulate chronic inflammation and enhance tissue regeneration. Crosstalk between MSC-lineage cells and polarized macrophages is critical for bone formation and remodeling in inflammatory bone diseases. However, the translational application of this interaction is limited by the short-term viability of MSCs after cell transplantation.

CHANGES OF CHROMOSOMES DURING THE EARLY NEURAL DEVELOPMENT OF A JAPANESE NEWT, CYNOPS PYRRHOGASTER

The karyotype of Cynops pyrrhogaster was determined on the mitotic chromosomes in the presumptive neural area of an early gastrula. 24 chromosomes of a diploid set consisted of 8 metacentric and 4 submetacentric pairs. Individual chromosomes were identified on the basis of their morphology and characteristic C-binding patterns. Sex chromosomes were not identified. Total length of the haploid chromosome set in the presumptive neural area decreased remarkably from morulae to gastrulae, further continued to decrease up to neurulae and thereafter remained unchanged till tail-buds. Chromosome shortening occurring from morulae to gastrulae was accompanied with a prominent decrease in chromosome volume, keeping chromosome width constant. Shortening took place evenly along the longitudinal axis of a chromosome. When gastrulae and neurulae were compared concerning their positions of the appearance of the C-bands, the basic pattern remained unchanged. In certain chromosomes, the number of C-bands decreased as the result of their fusion, as gastrulae proceeded to neurulae.     

A Monoclonal Antibody that Binds Preferentially to Human Suppressor T Cells

A monoclonal antibody termed JM3-3-3A was produced by somatic cell hybridization. The reactivity was assessed by indirect immunofluorescence. JM3-3-3A was reactive with 41% human peripheral blood T cells and 48% non-T cells. Among various human lymphoblastoid cell lines (MOLT 4F, JM, and TALL-I), TALL-I was found not to be reactive with JM-13-3-3A. Human peripheral blood Tcells fractionated by JM3-3-3A-coated dish panning were submitted to functional studies. JM3-3-3A positive T cells responded to mitogens, concanavalin A and phytohemagglutinin-P much better than JM3-3-3A negative T cells in the presence or absence of adherent cells. JM3-3-3A positive T cells showed suppressor activity and JM3-3-3A negative T cells showed helper activity in pokeweed mitogen-induced Ig production. More than fifty percent of the JM3-3-3A positive T cells were reactive with OKT8 which binds to suppressor/ cytotoxic T cells, whereas 18% of JM3-3-3A negative T cells were reactive with OKTIl. In addition, immunoprecipitation experiments identified a protein with an approximate molecular weight of 43,000 as a cell surface antigen for JM3-3-3A. Thus, the reactivity of JM3-3-3A showed a wide distribution but human peripheral blood T cells could be dissected functionally by this antibody.     

Evaluating the relationship between basin‐scale fish species richness and ecologically relevant flow characteristics in rivers worldwide

1. River flow alterations due to climate change and increasing water usage affect freshwater biodiversity including fish species richness. Here, we statistically explored the relationships of fish species richness to 14 ecologically relevant flow metrics as well as basin area and latitude in 72 rivers worldwide. 2. The statistical models best supported by the data included three variables with positive coefficients (mean river discharge, basin area and the maximum proportion of no‐flooding period) and three variables with negative coefficients (latitude, coefficients of variation in the frequency of low flow and the Julian date of annual minimum flow). 3. The model outputs have provided the first empirical indication that specific low‐ and high‐flow characteristics may be important in explaining variations in basin‐scale fish species richness. Our findings can be useful in identifying high‐risk basins for conservation of fish species diversity. 4. The results not only support the adoption of mean discharge as a predictor, but also suggest the importance of basin area in predicting basin‐scale fish species richness around the world.     

Action Spectra for Step-Up Photophobic Response in Blepharisma

ABSTRACT The cells of Blepharisma which possess red pigment (blepharismin) show step-up photophobic response (temporal ciliary reversal induced by a sudden increase in light intensity). Bleaching of the cells by cold shock raised a threshold light intensity for the response, Oxidation of red pigment that produced blue pigment did not raise the threshold for the response. The action spectrum for the step-up photophobic response of the cells which possess normal red pigment had peaks at about 580, 540 and 490 nm, a value which coincided with peaks of an absorption spectrum of the red pigment. The absorption spectrum of oxidized pigment (blue pigment) shifted 20 nm toward infrared light. The action spectrum for the response of the cells which possess blue pigment also shifted 20 nm toward infrared light. Results suggest that red pigment might be involved in the step-up photophobic response. Key words. Blepharismin, ciliary reversal, photoreceptors, photoresponse.