Evidence for expression of 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type3 (HSD11B3/HSD11B1L) in neonatal pig testis

11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (HSD11B) catalyzes the interconversion between active and inactive glucocorticoid, and is known to exist as two distinct isozymes: HSD11B1 and HSD11B2. A third HSD11B isozyme, HSD11B1L (SCDR10b), has recently been identified. Human HSD11B1L, which was characterized as a unidirectional NADP⁺-dependent cortisol dehydrogenase, appears to be specifically expressed in the brain. We previously reported that HSD11B1 and abundant HSD11B2 isozymes are expressed in neonatal pig testis and the Km for cortisol of NADP⁺-dependent dehydrogenase activity of testicular microsomes obviously differs from the same activity catalyzed by HSD11B1 from pig liver microsomes. Therefore, we hypothesized that the neonatal pig testis also expresses the third type of HSD11B isozyme, and we herein examined further evidence regarding the expression of HSD11B1L. (1) The inhibitory effects of gossypol and glycyrrhetinic acid on pig testicular microsomal NADP⁺-dependent cortisol dehydrogenase activity was clearly different from that of pig liver microsomes. (2) A highly conserved human HSD11B1L sequence was observed by RT-PCR in a pig testicular cDNA library. (3) mRNA, which contains the amplified sequence, was evaluated by real-time PCR and was most strongly expressed in pig brain, and at almost the same levels in the kidney as in the testis, but at lower levels in the liver. Based on these results, neonatal pig testis appears to express glycyrrhetinic acid-resistant HSD11B1L as a third HSD11B isozyme, and it may play a physiologically important role in cooperation with the abundantly expressed HSD11B2 isozyme in order to prevent Leydig cell apoptosis or GC-mediated suppression of testosterone production induced by high concentrations of activated GC in neonatal pig testis.     

Peptidoglycan‐induced T helper 2 immune response in mice involves interleukin‐10 secretion from Langerhans cells

Patients with atopic dermatitis (AD) have superficial skin colonization with Staphylococcus aureus and an increased number of T helper (Th)2 cells in their peripheral blood. The purpose of this study was to clarify the involvement of interleukin (IL)‐10 secretion from Langerhans cells (LCs) in staphylococcal peptidoglycan (PEG)‐induced Th2 immune responses in mice. Mice were primed with LCs pulsed with PEG (or LPS) and ovalbumin (OVA) and then given a booster OVA injection 2 days later in the hind footpad. Five days after the OVA injection, cytokine responses in the draining popliteal lymph nodes were investigated by RT‐PCR and ELISA. Production of both IL‐10 and IL‐12 by cultured LCs was detected by ELISA. Administration of PEG‐ or LPS‐stimulated LCs into the hind footpads of the mice induced Th2‐prone and Th1‐prone immune responses, respectively, as represented by expression of IL‐4 and interferon ‐γ . In vitro experiments showed that PEG induced greater production of IL‐12 p40 from LCs than did LPS, whereas LPS induced greater production of IL‐12 p70 from LCs than did PEG. Furthermore, it was found that PEG‐stimulated LCs induced greater production of IL‐10 than did LPS‐stimulated LCs, and that neutralization of IL‐10 augmented IL‐12 p70 production and inhibited Th2 development by PEG‐stimulated LCs. These results suggest that PEG can induce Th2 development through down‐regulation of IL‐12 p70 production by LCs in an IL‐10 production‐dependent manner and would explain the role of S. aureus colonization in patients with AD.     

Distribution of antimicrobial‐resistant lactic acid bacteria in natural cheese in Japan

To determine and compare the extent of contamination caused by antimicrobial‐resistant lactic acid bacteria (LAB) in imported and domestic natural cheeses on the Japanese market, LAB were isolated using deMan, Rogosa and Sharpe (MRS) agar and MRS agar supplemented with six antimicrobials. From 38 imported and 24 Japanese cheeses, 409 LAB isolates were obtained and their antimicrobial resistance was tested. The percentage of LAB resistant to dihydrostreptomycin, erythromycin, and/or oxytetracycline isolated from imported cheeses (42.1%) was significantly higher than that of LAB resistant to dihydrostreptomycin or oxytetracycline from cheeses produced in Japan (16.7%; P = 0.04). Antimicrobial resistance genes were detected in Enterococcus faecalis (tetL, tetM, and ermB; tetL and ermB; tetM) E. faecium (tetM), Lactococcus lactis (tetS), Lactobacillus (Lb.), casei/paracasei (tetM or tetW), and Lb. rhamnosus (ermB) isolated from seven imported cheeses. Moreover, these E. faecalis isolates were able to transfer antimicrobial resistance gene(s). Although antimicrobial resistance genes were not detected in any LAB isolates from Japanese cheeses, Lb. casei/paracasei and Lb. coryniformis isolates from a Japanese farm‐made cheese were resistant to oxytetracycline (minimal inhibitory concentration [MIC], 32 µg/mL). Leuconostoc isolates from three Japanese farm‐made cheeses were also resistant to dihydrostreptomycin (MIC, 32 to > 512 µg/mL). In conclusion, the present study demonstrated contamination with antimicrobial‐resistant LAB in imported and Japanese farm‐made cheeses on the Japanese market, but not in Japanese commercial cheeses.     

Interplant volatile signaling in willows: revisiting the original talking trees

The importance of interplant volatile signaling in plant–herbivore interactions has been a contentious issue for the past 30 years. We revisit willows as the system in which evidence for interplant signaling was originally found, but then questioned. We established three well-replicated experiments with two willow species (Salix exigua and Salix lemmonii) to address whether the receipt of an interplant signal from a neighboring willow reduces herbivore damage. Additionally we tested whether this signal is volatile in nature, and whether plants signal better to themselves than they do to other individuals. In all three experiments, we found evidence that cues from a damaged neighbor reduce subsequent herbivory experienced by willows. In one experiment, we showed that bagging of clipped tissue, which prevents the exchange of volatile signals, removed the effect of neighbor wounding. This was consistent with results from the other two experiments, in which clipping potted neighbors connected only through airborne volatile cues reduced damage of receivers. In one year, we found evidence that the perception of volatile signals from genetically identical clones was more effective at reducing foliar damage to a neighbor than signals from a genetically different individual. However, this trend was not significant in the following year. In three well-replicated experiments, we found strong evidence for the importance of interplant volatile cues in mediating herbivore interactions with willows.     

Identification of N-substituted 8-azatetrahydroquinolone derivatives as selective and orally active M1 and M4 muscarinic acetylcholine receptors agonists

We designed and synthesized N-substituted 8-azatetrahydroquinolone derivatives as selective M₁ and M₄ muscarinic acetylcholine receptors agonists. Optimization of selected derivatives led to the discovery of compound 7 as a highly potent M₁ and M₄ agonist with weak hERG inhibition. Oral administration of compound 7 improved psychosis-like behavior in rats.     

Solubilization of Chicken Feather Keratin by Ammonium Copper Hydroxide (Schweitzer’s Reagent)

Chicken feather powder was solubilized by Schweitzer’s reagent with shaking in the presence of air and the soluble feather keratin was prepared by dialyzing this extract against running water. Cystine residues in the starting feather keratin was converted to cysteic acid residues in the solubilized derivatives by air oxygen. Copper was bound fairly tightly to the solubilized protein and this copper-protein complex was separated into four fractions by CM- and DEAE-cellulose column chromatography. Each fraction had varied amount of bound copper, having a broad distribution of the molecular weight between 10,000 and 60,000 Sephadex column chromatographically. Although the amino acid composition of all separated feather keratin fractions were quite similar, the different electrophoretic patterns were observed among them by DISC electrophoresis.     

Conjugated Serotonins and Phenolic Constituents in Safflower Seed (Carthamus tinctorius L.)

New three conjugated serotonins were isolated from safflower meal (carthamus tinctorius L.). On the basis of spectral properties and chemical evidence, their structures were determined as N-feruloylserotonin (4), N-(p-coumaroyl)serotonin (5) and N-(p-coumaroyl)serotonin mono-β-d-glucopyranoside (6), The known compounds, 2-hydroxyarctiin (2), matairesinol mono-β-d-glucoside (1) and acacetin (3) were also isolated and identified.     

Late-maturing cooking rice Sensyuraku has excellent properties,equivalent to sake rice,for high-quality sake brewing

Low protein content and sufficient grain rigidity are desired properties for the rice used in high-quality sake brewing such as Daiginjo-shu (polishing ratio of the rice, less than 50%). Two kinds of rice, sake rice (SR) and cooking rice (CR), have been used for sake brewing. Compared with those of SR, analyses of CR for high-quality sake brewing using highly polished rice have been limited. Here we described the original screening of late-maturing CR Sensyuraku (SEN) as rice with low protein content and characterization of its properties for high-quality sake brewing. The protein content of SEN was lower than those of SR Gohyakumangoku (GOM) and CR Yukinosei (YUK), and its grain rigidity was higher than that of GOM. The excellent properties of SEN with respect to both water-adsorption and enzyme digestibility were confirmed using a Rapid Visco Analyzer (RVA). Further, we confirmed a clear taste of sake produced from SEN by sensory evaluation. Thus, SEN has excellent properties, equivalent to those of SR, for high-quality sake brewing.