A preliminary study on the distribution pattern of isoflavones in rhizomes of Iris from China and its systematic significance

A comparative isoflavonoid analysis of 22 species of Iris, representing almost all the subgenera, and one species of its allied genus Balamcanda, B. chinensis (L.) DC. was carried out by TLC, with iridin, tectoridin, irigenin, tectorigenin, irisfloretin, dichotomin, wogonin, rhamnazin, apocynin, androsin being used as authentic compounds. The results show that the isoflavones are the characteristic constituents of Iris and Belamcanda. According to the distribution pattern of isoflavones, the Iris species here studied can be divided into 2 groups; one contains isoflavonoid aglycons, while the other contains both glycosides and isoflavonoid aglycons. From the point view of chemosystematics, subgen. Limniris contains isoflavonoid aglycons only and might be a natural group; subgen. Crossiris might be also a natural group when Iris speculatrix Hance is excluded; subgen. Pardanthopsis is similar to B. chinensis in the chemical constituent might be a primitive group in Iris and has close relationship with subgen. Crossiris, subgen. Xyridion and subgen. Iris. Based on the evidence from phytochemistry, palynology and cytology, Iris cathayensis Migo and I. mandshurica Pall. are considered intermediate groups between subgen. Limniris and subgen. Iris and I. speculatrix Hance an intermediate group between subgen. Limniris and subgen.Crossiris, while I. confusa Sealy and I. wattii Baker might be conspecific.     

Hydrogen in Drinking Water Reduces Dopaminergic Neuronal Loss in the 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine Mouse Model of Parkinson's Disease

It has been shown that molecular hydrogen (H₂) acts as a therapeutic antioxidant and suppresses brain injury by buffering the effects of oxidative stress. Chronic oxidative stress causes neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson''s disease (PD). Here, we show that drinking H₂-containing water significantly reduced the loss of dopaminergic neurons in PD model mice using both acute and chronic administration of 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP). The concentration-dependency of H₂ showed that H₂ as low as 0.08 ppm had almost the same effect as saturated H₂ water (1.5 ppm). MPTP-induced accumulation of cellular 8-oxoguanine (8-oxoG), a marker of DNA damage, and 4-hydroxynonenal (4-HNE), a marker of lipid peroxidation were significantly decreased in the nigro-striatal dopaminergic pathway in mice drinking H₂-containing water, whereas production of superoxide (O₂•⁻) detected by intravascular injection of dihydroethidium (DHE) was not reduced significantly. Our results indicated that low concentration of H₂ in drinking water can reduce oxidative stress in the brain. Thus, drinking H₂-containing water may be useful in daily life to prevent or minimize the risk of life style-related oxidative stress and neurodegeneration.     

Neutrophil and lymphocyte responses to oral Streptococcus in Adamantiades-Behçet's disease

Immune reactions against microorganisms play an important pathogenic role in Adamantiades-Beh?et's disease. We had previously obtained Streptococcus sanguinis (strain BD113-20), isolated from the oral cavity of patients with Adamantiades-Beh?et's syndrome. To investigate the pathogenesis of this isolate, we examined neutrophil reactions and levels of cytokine production by lymphocytes after stimulation with the strain. The reactions of neutrophils were examined by chemiluminescence assay using whole blood. The amounts of interferon gamma (IFN-gamma) and interleukin (IL)-4, IL-8, IL-10 and IL-12, produced by peripheral blood mononuclear cells, were measured by ELISA. Strain BD113-20 activated neutrophils from Adamantiades-Beh?et's patients and healthy volunteers, and, in addition it increased the IFN-gamma production by lymphocytes. Lymphocytes from Adamantiades-Beh?et's patients showed a dominant T helper-1 immune response. Results indicated that both bacterial stimulation and host hypersensitivity might be involved in the symptoms and pathogenesis of Adamantiades-Beh?et's disease.     

Physiological and molecular characterization of a microbial community established in unsaturated, petroleum-contaminated soil

The microbial communities established in soil samples from an unsaturated, petroleum-contaminated zone and from an adjacent uncontaminated site were characterized by physiological and molecular approaches. Possible electron acceptors such as sulfate and nitrate had been completely depleted in these soil samples. Slurries of these soil samples were incubated in bottles in the presence of hydrocarbon indicators (benzene, toluene, xylene and decane), and the degradation of these compounds was examined. Supplementation with electron acceptors stimulated hydrocarbon degradation, although the stimulatory effect was small in the contaminated soil. The initial degradation rates in the contaminated soil under fermentative/methanogenic conditions were comparable to those under aerobic conditions. The microbial populations in the original soil samples were analysed by cloning and sequencing of polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-amplified bacterial and archaeal 16S rRNA gene fragments, showing that the sequences retrieved from these soils were substantially different. For instance, Epsilonproteobacteria, Gammaproteobacteria, Crenarchaeota and Methanosarcinales could only be detected at significant levels in the contaminated soil. Denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) analyses of 16S rRNA gene fragments amplified by PCR from the incubated soil-slurry samples showed that supplementation of the electron acceptors resulted in a shift in the major populations, while the DGGE profiles after incubating the contaminated soil under the fermentative/methanogenic conditions were not substantially changed. These results suggest that petroleum contamination of the unsaturated zone resulted in the establishment of a fermentative/methanogenic community with substantial hydrocarbon-degrading potential.     

Role of multidrug resistance-associated protein 1 in the pathogenesis of allergic airway inflammation

Multidrug resistance-associated protein 1 (MRP1) is a cysteinyl leukotriene (CysLT) export pump expressed on mast cells. CysLTs are crucial mediators in allergic airway disease. However, biological significance of MRP1 in allergic airway inflammation has not yet been elucidated. In this study, we sensitized wild-type control mice (mrp1(+/+)) and MRP1-deficient mice (mrp1(-/-)) to ovalbumin (OVA) and challenged them with OVA by aerosol. Airway inflammation and goblet cell hyperplasia after OVA exposure were reduced in mrp1(-/-) mice compared with mrp1(+/+) mice. Furthermore, CysLT levels in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) from OVA-exposed mrp1(-/-) mice were significantly lower than those from OVA-exposed mrp1(+/+) mice. Levels of OVA-specific IgE, IL-4, and IL-13 in BALF were also decreased in OVA-exposed mrp1(-/-) mice. IgE-mediated release of CysLTs from murine bone marrow-derived mast cells was markedly impaired by MRP1 deficiency. Our results indicate that MRP1 plays an important role in the development of allergic airway inflammation through regulation of IgE-mediated CysLT export from mast cells.     

PAF responsiveness in Japanese subjects with plasma PAF acetylhydrolase deficiency

Approximately 4% of the Japanese population genetically lack plasma platelet activating factor acetylhydrolase (PAF-AH) and show a higher prevalence of thromboembolic disease, but whether they are susceptible to another PAF-related disease, asthma, remains controversial. To determine the role of plasma PAF-AH in airway physiology, we performed PAF bronchoprovocation tests in 8 plasma PAF-AH-deficient subjects and 16 control subjects. Serial inhalation of PAF (1-1000 microg/ml) concentration-dependently induced acute bronchoconstriction, but there was no significant difference between PAF-AH-deficient and control subjects (11.7 +/- 4.6% vs. 9.6 +/- 2.8% decrease in forced expiratory volume in 1 s). Transient neutropenia after single inhalation of PAF (1000 microg/ml) showed no significant difference between the groups either in its magnitude (72 +/- 11% vs. 65 +/- 9% decrease) or duration (4.1 +/- 1.0 vs. 3.3 +/- 0.8 min). In conclusion, a lack of plasma PAF-AH activity alone does not augment physiological responses to PAF in the airway.     

Habitat niche specialization in an understory species in a warm temperate forest

Relationships between microhabitat variables; understory light conditions in summer and winter, altitude, slope inclination and topographic categories (valley, ridge, and slope) and the distribution of Aucuba japonica Thunb. (Cornaceae), a common understory shrub species in Japan were examined using non-contagious 66, 20 × 20 m² quadrats. The Morishita’s I _δ suggested that A. japonica distributions were strongly heterogeneous among the quadrats. Therefore positive spatial autocorrelation of A. japonica at a within-quadrat level (≤20 m) was obvious. Moran’s I statistics showed a significant positive spatial autocorrelation in A. japonica abundance within the distance shorter than 60 m. But the partial Mantel tests suggested that the mass effect from neighboring quadrats would little explain A. japonica abundance in a quadrat. The partial Mantel tests also clearly showed that A. japonica distributions were strongly structured by topography and understory light conditions. Using Monte Carlo randomization tests, we found that A. japonica was aggregately distributed in quadrats in valley which were covered by deciduous canopies. Better understory light conditions in winter together with valley edaphic conditions may increase the abundance of A. japonica there. It is concluded that habitat niche specialization is important in structuring distribution of A. japonica in this forest community.     

FUNCTIONAL REDUCTION OF THE SOUTHERN MINKE WHALE (BALAENOPTERA ACUTOROSTRATA) TESTIS DURING THE FEEDING SEASON

Seasonal variation in reproductive activity in the male southern minke whales was investigated. The animals were killed and collected during the feeding season (December-March) in the Antarctic Ocean in the eastern part of Area III (35°E-70°E, south of 60°S) and Area IV (70°E-130°E, south of 60°S). Blood samples, testes, epididymides, and vasa deferentia were collected from 62 males, which had testes weighing over 400 g each. Changes in testicular morphology and plasma testosterone, estradiol-17β and LH concentrations measured by enzyme immunoassay were investigated. Reduction of testicular function associated with different capture periods was found in the summer season. From December to March, body length and body weight remained steady, but decreases in testicular weight, epididymal weight, and testicular volume were found in February. During the same period, plasma testosterone concentration also declined. A significant decrease in the number of germ cells continued during the period of feeding season. An increase in area of seminiferous tubule tended to proceed in a number of germ cells. These changes reflected the percentage of spermatozoa in the vasa deferentia ; in particular, motile spermatozoa were observed in December. Based on morphological observation, spermatogenesis had also declined. These results indicate regulation of testicular function by testosterone, as in terrestrial mammals. A gradual decrease of testicular function occurred during December-January.     

Spred-2 Deficiency Exacerbates Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Acute Lung Inflammation in Mice

Background

Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is a severe and life-threatening acute lung injury (ALI) that is caused by noxious stimuli and pathogens. ALI is characterized by marked acute inflammation with elevated alveolar cytokine levels. Mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathways are involved in cytokine production, but the mechanisms that regulate these pathways remain poorly characterized. Here, we focused on the role of Sprouty-related EVH1-domain-containing protein (Spred)-2, a negative regulator of the Ras-Raf-extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK)-MAPK pathway, in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced acute lung inflammation.

Methods

Wild-type (WT) mice and Spred-2^−/− mice were exposed to intratracheal LPS (50 µg in 50 µL PBS) to induce pulmonary inflammation. After LPS-injection, the lungs were harvested to assess leukocyte infiltration, cytokine and chemokine production, ERK-MAPK activation and immunopathology. For ex vivo experiments, alveolar macrophages were harvested from untreated WT and Spred-2^−/− mice and stimulated with LPS. In in vitro experiments, specific knock down of Spred-2 by siRNA or overexpression of Spred-2 by transfection with a plasmid encoding the Spred-2 sense sequence was introduced into murine RAW264.7 macrophage cells or MLE-12 lung epithelial cells.

Results

LPS-induced acute lung inflammation was significantly exacerbated in Spred-2^−/− mice compared with WT mice, as indicated by the numbers of infiltrating leukocytes, levels of alveolar TNF-α, CXCL2 and CCL2 in a later phase, and lung pathology. U0126, a selective MEK/ERK inhibitor, reduced the augmented LPS-induced inflammation in Spred-2^−/− mice. Specific knock down of Spred-2 augmented LPS-induced cytokine and chemokine responses in RAW264.7 cells and MLE-12 cells, whereas Spred-2 overexpression decreased this response in RAW264.7 cells.

Conclusions

The ERK-MAPK pathway is involved in LPS-induced acute lung inflammation. Spred-2 controls the development of LPS-induced lung inflammation by negatively regulating the ERK-MAPK pathway. Thus, Spred-2 may represent a therapeutic target for the treatment of ALI.     

Terrestrins A-G: p-terphenyl derivatives from the inedible mushroom Thelephora terrestris

Seven p-terphenyl derivatives named terrestrins A-G together with three known ganbajunin B, thelephantins F and H, were isolated from the methanol extract of fruiting bodies of the Japanese inedible mushroom Thelephora terrestris (Thelephoraceae). Their structures were elucidated by means of high-resolution MS, 2D NMR, IR and UV spectroscopy, and X-ray crystallographic analysis.