Expressions of tumor necrosis factor-α, its receptor I, II and receptor-associated factor 2 in the porcine corpus luteum during the estrous cycle and early pregnancy

We examined the gene and protein levels of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, its receptors (types I and II, designated TNF-RI and TNF-RII, respectively), TNF receptor-associated factor 2 (TRAF2) and morphological features in the porcine corpus luteum (CL), on Days 13 and 17 (Day 0 = the last day of estrus) of the estrous cycle or of early pregnancy. Gene expression levels of TNF-α, TNF-RI, TNF-RII and TRAF2 were unaffected by the day or reproductive status. TNF-α concentration was significantly higher in the CL on Day 17 of pregnancy than on Day 13 of pregnancy and on day 17 of the estrous cycle. The TNF-RI protein level was significantly higher in the CL on Days 13 and 17 of pregnancy than those of the estrous cycle, significantly increasing on Day 17 compared with those on Day 13 in pregnancy. In relation to TNF-RII protein levels, although there were no change during pregnancy, there was a tendency (P = 0.0524) to up-regulate as pregnancy proceeded. In estrous cycle, TNF-RII protein levels decreased significantly as luteolysis proceeded. TRAF2 protein level was significantly higher in the CL on Days 13 and 17 of pregnancy than during estrous. There were few apoptotic bodies in the CL between Days 13 and 17 of pregnancy than during esrous. There were few apoptotic bodies in the CL between Days 13 and 17 of pregnancy. The number of apoptotic bodies was much greater than the CL on Day 17 of the estrous than those of pregnancy. Thus, the TNF-α and TNF-RI and TNF-RII pathways including the TRAF2 protein, known to control of cell differentiation, tissue renewal and apoptosis, might participate in maintaining the porcine CL during early pregnancy.

Microwave Doppler reflectometer system in LHD

In order to measure the poloidal rotation velocity, a Doppler reflectometer has been developed in Large Helical Device (LHD). A remotely controlled antenna tilting system has been installed in an LHD vacuum vessel. A synthesizer is used as the source, and the operation microwave frequency ranges are ka-band and V-band. In LHD last experimental campaign we obtained the Doppler shifted signal, which was consistent with CXRS measurements.

Commensal symbiosis between a Lactococcus lactis strain and an Enterococcus mundtii strain increases cell yield in constituted broth

To exert their beneficial effects, probiotics need to survive in the stringent conditions of the gastrointestinal tract. Symbiosis between different bacteria is a potential way of enhancing this survival. In developing new probiotic cultures, we investigated the synergic effect between Enterococcus mundtii IFO 13712 and 7 strains of Lactococcus lactis, many of which are widely used as starter bacteria for making dairy products and have probiotic properties. The growth yield of a mixed culture of L. lactis strain Y and IFO 13712 in de Man, Rogosa, and Sharpe broth was greater than that of a single culture. Supernatant from culture of strain IFO 13712 enhanced the growth of strain Y, but that of strain Y did not enhance the growth of strain IFO 13712. This commensalism phenomenon was confirmed by using a simpler tryptone-yeast extract-glucose (TYG) broth. Increased cell yield in mixed culture of the 2 strains compared with single cultures was observed in TYG broth in the presence of both Tween 80 and citrate but not in TYG broth alone or TYG broth containing either Tween 80 or citrate. Thus, the Tween 80 and citrate in the broth contributed to the commensalism. Metabolite analysis revealed that ethanol production in the co-metabolism of glucose and citrate by strain Y was suppressed by mixed culture in TYG broth containing Tween 80 and citrate, compared with that in TYG broth containing citrate alone. The mechanism supporting the observed commensal symbiosis between strains Y and IFO 13712 was the increase in availability of glucose for lactate production by strain Y because, in glycolysis, the pathway from glucose to lactate is energic, whereas the pathway from glucose to ethanol is not. Whether growth stimulation of strain Y by mixing it with IFO 13712 in milk products will enhance the survival of strain Y in the intestine remains to be elucidated.

Glucose and glycine synergistically enhance the in vitro development of porcine blastocysts in a chemically defined medium

In the present study, the effects of glucose and/or glycine on the in vitro development of Day 5 (Day 0=IVF) porcine blastocysts were determined. The addition of 2.5-10 mM glucose to the chemically defined culture medium porcine zygote medium (PZM)-5 significantly increased blastocyst survival rates compared with those of blastocysts cultured in the absence of glucose. The addition of 5 and 10 mM glycine to PZM-5 containing 5 mM glucose significantly enhanced the development to hatching and the number of hatched blastocysts compared with no addition of glycine. However, the addition of glycine to PZM-5 with no glucose did not improve blastocyst development. The ATP content of Day 6 blastocysts cultured with glucose was significantly higher than that of blastocysts cultured in the absence of glucose, regardless of glycine supplementation. The diameter and total cell numbers were significantly greater, and the apoptotic index was significantly lower, in Day 6 blastocysts cultured with both glucose and glycine. These results indicate that glucose is an important energy source for the porcine blastocyst and that glucose and glycine act synergistically to enhance development to the hatching and hatched blastocyst stage in vitro.

A derivative of Lactococcus lactis strain H61 with less interleukin-12 induction has a different cell wall

Lactococcus lactis H61 can increase the cellular immune responses of aged (14-mo-old) senescence-accelerated mice. The aim of this study was to investigate the factors contributing to IL-12 induction by strain H61 by analyzing strains derived from it. Strain H61 derivative no. 13 was obtained by growing the parent strain at 37°C. This derivative induced significantly lower production of IL-12 from J774.1 macrophage cells than did the parent strain H61. The 2 strains differed in the resistance of their whole cells or cell walls to lysozyme, a cell wall-degrading enzyme. Sodium hydroxide treatment to de-O-acetylate muramic acid in the cell walls of the 2 strains reduced the lysozyme resistance, compared with untreated cell walls: at 3h after adding lysozyme, the lysozyme resistance of untreated and NaOH treated cell wall from strain H61 was 55.4% and 11.7%, respectively. The values of untreated and NaOH-treated cell walls from strain no.13 were 73.7 and 42.8%, respectively. The reduction was higher in strain H61, indicating that the cell walls of strain H61 were highly O-acetylated. Trichloroacetic acid treatment to remove wall-associated polymers such as teichoic acids made the lysozyme resistance of the cell walls of both strains similar. The sugar content of cell walls prepared from strain H61 was significantly higher than that of strain no. 13 cell wall. A derivative with less activity for inducing IL-12 by macrophage cells had less O-acetylation and had lower sugar content in the cell wall than did strain H61. Modifying the cell wall of strain H61 may be a useful way to regulate its ability to induce IL-12. Strain H61 has been used as a starter bacterium in the dairy industry. This study could lead to enhancing the value of dairy products made by strain H61 by characterizing the key factor(s) responsible for its stimulation of immunity.

An efficient protocol for inducing pseudopregnancy using estradiol dipropionate and follicular development associated with changes in reproductive hormones after prostaglandin F2alpha treatment in pseudopregnant sows

BACKGROUND

Utilization of estrus synchronization program in livestock industry would provide greater options for reproductive management in herd. To develop a convenient method for estrus synchronization in pigs, we determined the effective protocol using estradiol dipropionate (EDP) for the establishment of pseudopregnancy and investigated follicular development during the estrus synchronization with prostaglandin F2alpha (PGF2alpha) in association with reproductive hormone profiles in pseudopregnant sows.

METHODS

In Experiment 1, the effective dose (0, 10, 20, or 30 mg) and timing (5, 8, 11 or 13 days after ovulation) of a single administration of EDP in cyclic pigs for the induction of pseudopregnancy were investigated. In Experiment 2, four pseudopregnant sows were treated with PGF2alpha twice at a 24-h interval between 24 and 28 days after EDP treatment. The changes in plasma concentrations of reproductive hormones were analyzed by time-resolved fluoroimmunoassay. Follicular development and ovulation following PGF2alpha administration were monitored by transrectal ultrasonography.

RESULTS

High efficiency (greater than 80%) of pseudopregnancy was achieved with a single treatment with 20 mg of EDP at 8 and 11 days after ovulation (equivalent to 9-13 days after the onset of estrus). Plasma estradiol-17beta concentrations in pseudopregnant sows were significantly higher between 12 h and 7 days than before EDP treatment. Total inhibin concentrations significantly decreased following EDP treatment and remained low for 14 days. The number of small follicles was increased from 6.3 +/- 2.6 at PGF2alpha treatment to 22.8 +/- 4.8 at 3 days later; this was associated with increased plasma concentrations of inhibin. Onset of estrus was detectable in all sows on 5.3 +/- 0.3 days after PGF2alpha treatment and the number of ovulated follicles was 15.5 +/- 1.4 detected at 7.6 +/- 0.2 days after the treatment.

CONCLUSIONS

This study has defined the effective dose and timing of EDP treatment for inducing pseudopregnancy in cyclic pigs. Our results also indicated that EDP caused a lowering of inhibin concentrations during pseudopregnancy and small numbers of follicles from 20 to 28 days after EDP. In contrast, EDP-induced pseudopregnancy appears to have no adverse effect on follicular development and subsequent ovulation following PGF2alpha administration.

Sequence analysis of a pea comb locus on chicken chromosome 1

To facilitate gene identification, this study aimed to narrow the scope of the genome region affecting chicken comb type by using two bird populations. First, an F2 resource population was generated by crossing Japanese game fowl (Shamo; pea comb, P/p and P/P) with White Plymouth Rock (single comb, p/p). Comb types of the 240 F2 offspring produced by an F1 intercross between eight males and 57 females were segregated at a ratio of 3:1 (pea:single). The pea comb locus was mapped to a chromosomal region on Gallus gallus chromosome 1 that was flanked by microsatellite markers MCW0112, MCW0019 and ABR521. The second population (five-generation, n=1300 animals) was derived from a cross between Shamo and Rhode Island Red (single comb, p/p) that had been genotyped for additional polymorphic single nucleotide polymorphisms and microsatellite markers within this region through development of chicken draft sequences. To close some gaps in these draft sequences, we constructed a bacterial artificial chromosome contig and sequenced it using the shotgun sequencing technique. Chickens selected from pedigrees in these populations were grouped by inheritance of a P or p haplotype at the locus constructed by the additional markers. Finally, this locus was fine-mapped to roughly 60 kb based on the association of haplotypes and comb types. Chicken genome sequences suggest that the most likely polymorphism responsible for the pea comb locus is a duplicated sequence and that the sex determining region Y-box 5 gene, one predicted gene and one expressed sequence tag in a critical region may be associated with the duplicated sequence.

The initial change in tumor size predicts response and survival in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer treated with combination chemotherapy

BACKGROUND

To determine whether the change in tumor diameters at the first follow-up computed tomography (CT) examination after baseline examination (first change) correlates with outcome in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) treated with combination chemotherapy.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

The first change was analyzed in a multicenter randomized phase III trial (Nordic VI, N = 567) comparing first-line irinotecan with either bolus or infused 5-fluorouracil. Cox proportional hazards multiple regression model and Kaplan-Meier survival analyses after correction for guarantee-time bias were carried out to evaluate correlations between first change, objective response according to RECIST 1.0, progression-free survival (PFS), and overall survival (OS).

RESULTS

The hazard ratios for PFS and OS decreased along with first change. A decrease between 10% and <30%, albeit RECIST does not regard this as a partial response, was a positive prognostic factor for PFS and OS. Patients who had new lesions or unequivocal progression of nonmeasurable lesions had a worse prognosis than those with only an increase in size of >20%.

CONCLUSIONS

The change in tumor size at the first follow-up CT is strongly prognostic for PFS and OS in mCRC.

A novel sphingosine-1-phosphate receptor 1 antagonist prevents the proliferation and relaxation of vascular endothelial cells by sphingosine-1-phosphate

A sphingosine-1-phosphate receptor 1 (S1P1) antagonist is expected to be an anti-angiogenic compound; however, there are few reports that demonstrated that a S1P1 inhibitor improved the disease state in an angiogenic animal model. Since we determined that a prototype S1P1 antagonist was an in vivo angiogenesis inhibitor, we developed the derivatives to acquire more effective compounds. In this report, we show the S1P1 antagonistic activity of some representatives, especially compound 5 {sodium 4-[(4-butoxyphenyl)thio]-2'-[{4-[(heptylthio)methyl]-2-hydroxyphenyl}(hydroxy)methyl]biphenyl-3-sulfonate}. The IC50 values calculated from an intracellular cyclic AMP measurement assay and a [33P]sphingosine-1-phosphate (Sph-1-P)/S1P1 binding assay were 38 and 200 nM, respectively. A subtype specificity test for the other Sph-1-P receptors showed that compound 5 was the S1P1-directional antagonist. It also inhibited the proliferation, migration, and tube formation of human umbilical vein endothelial cells stimulated by Sph-1-P with the IC50 values of 18, 650, and 230 nM, respectively. A cytotoxicity assay concurrently performed with a tube formation assay supported the hypothesis that these biological effects were not due to its cytotoxicity. Furthermore, administration (10 mg/kg, intravenously) to anesthetized Sprague-Dawley rats inhibited Sph-1-P-induced hypotension by 100-90% for 30 min. This is presumably through the inhibition of Sph-1-P-induced vasorelaxation, mainly by the blocking of S1P1 and/or S1P3. Taken together, these results show that compound 5 is an inhibitor of in vitro and in vivo Sph-1-P signaling, and that it will be useful to elucidate the in vivo effect of Sph-1-P on vascular endothelial cells.

Lactococcus strains treated with heat and hen-egg-white lysozyme induce abundant interleukin-12 production by J774.1 macrophages and murine spleen cells

The IL-12-inducing ability of lactic acid bacteria could be a critical index of immunomodulatory activity, especially in promoting T-helper-1 responses and in suppressing T-helper-2-mediated allergic responses. We aimed to develop a simple method for enhancing the IL-12-inducing ability of bacteria. We examined the in vitro effects of strains of lysozyme-modified Lactococcus (ML-LYS), prepared by heat treatment of the Lactococcus strain in the presence of lysozyme, on the ability of mouse macrophage-like J774.1 cells and spleen cells to produce IL-12. An IL-12-inducing ability greater than that of heat-killed bacteria was shown by 41 of 46 ML-LYS strains in J774.1 cells and by all 46 ML-LYS strains in mouse spleen cells. In contrast, bacteria modified by α-lactalbumin, β-lactoglobulin, or ovalbumin did not enhance IL-12 production in J774.1 cells. Microscopically, ML-LYS showed stronger resistance to lysozyme and macrophage digestion than did heat-killed bacteria or the other modified bacteria. Addition of chitotriose, a lysozyme inhibitor, enhanced IL-12 production by J774.1 cells stimulated with heat-killed bacteria. Therefore, enhancement of resistance to lysozyme may be a key factor in the strong IL-12-inducing ability of ML-LYS. These findings have important implications for the design of dairy products that have an immunomodulatory effect using the modified bacteria.

Transmission of cytomegalovirus via breast milk in extremely premature infants

OBJECTIVE

We prospectively evaluated the rate of postnatal cytomegalovirus (CMV) transmission through breast milk in extremely premature infants to address the impact of CMV infection on preterm infants during lactation.

STUDY DESIGN

A total of 25 mothers and 27 infants (two sets of twins) with birth weights <1000 g and/or gestational ages <28 weeks were enrolled in the study. They were mostly fed frozen-thawed breast milk. Breast milk, serum and urine samples were collected every 2 weeks and screened for CMV infection using the real-time polymerase chain reaction.

RESULT

All of the 21 CMV-seropositive mothers had detectable CMV DNA in their breast milk, with a peak at 4 to 6 weeks postpartum. CMV infection was confirmed in only one infant (4.3%) who displayed almost no clinical symptoms.

CONCLUSION

At our institutes, we mainly use frozen-thawed breast milk. We found low CMV transmission rates even in extremely premature infants, and the CMV-positive infant did not develop serious symptoms.

A novel CC chemokine receptor 4 antagonist RS-1269 inhibits ovalbumin-induced ear swelling and lipopolysaccharide-induced endotoxic shock in mice

There is growing evidence that chemokines recruit leukocytes in allergic, inflammatory and immune responses. CC chemokine receptor 4 (CCR4) is implicated as a preferential marker for T helper 2 cells, and the cells selectively respond to CC chemokine ligand 17 (CCL17) and CCL22. We searched for compounds having a profile as a CCR4 antagonist from an in-house library and have previously reported that 3-{2-[(2R)-2-phenyl-4-(4-pyridin-4-ylbenzyl)morpholin-2-yl]ethyl}quinazoline-2,4(1H,3H)-dione (named RS-1154) was capable of significantly inhibiting the binding of [(125) I]CCL17 to human CCR4-expressing CHO cells. From further synthesis of its derivatives, we newly focused on 3-(isobutyrylamino)-N-{2-[(2R)-2-phenyl-4-(4-pyridin-4-ylbenzyl)morpholin-2-yl]ethyl}benzamide (RS-1269), which showed potency comparable to RS-1154 in inhibiting CCL17-induced migration of DO11.10 mice-derived T helper 2 cells with an IC(50) value of 5.5 nM in vitro. We then investigated the pharmacological effects of RS-1269 on ovalbumin-induced ear swelling and lipopolysaccharide-induced endotoxic shock in mice. The ear thickness was significantly decreased by oral administration of RS-1269 at the dose of 30 mg/kg. Treatment with lipopolysaccharide significantly increased the serum level of tumour necrosis factor-α. Compared with an anti-CCL17 antibody, RS-1269 significantly inhibited the production at the dose of 100 mg/kg. These results raise the possibility that RS-1269 or one of its derivatives has potential to serve as a prototype compound to develop therapeutic agents for atopic dermatitis and inflammatory diseases.

Prevention of excessive collagen accumulation by human intravenous immunoglobulin treatment in a murine model of bleomycin-induced scleroderma

Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is an autoimmune disease characterized by fibrotic changes in skin and other organs involving excessive collagen deposition. Here we investigated the effect of intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) on fibrosis in a murine model of bleomycin (BLM)-induced scleroderma. Scleroderma was induced in C3H/He J mice by subcutaneous BLM injections daily for 35 days. The collagen content in skin samples from the BLM-injected group (6·30 ± 0·11 mg/g tissue) was significantly higher than the PBS group (5·80 ± 0·10 mg/g tissue), and corresponded with dermal thickening at the injection site. In contrast, mice treated with IVIG for 5 consecutive days after initiating BLM injection showed lesser collagen content significantly (IVIG group, 5·61 ± 0·09 mg/g tissue; BLM vs. IVIG). In order to investigate the cellular and protein characteristics in the early stage of the model, the skin samples were obtained 7 days after the onset of experiment. Macrophage infiltration to the dermis, monocyte chemoattractant protein (MCP-1)-positive cells, and increased TGF-β1 mRNA expression were also observed in the BLM group. IVIG inhibited these early fibrogenic changes; MCP-1 expression was significantly lesser for the IVIG group (1·52 ± 0·19 pg/mg tissue) than for the BLM group (2·49 ± 0·26 pg/mg tissue). In contrast, TGF-β1 mRNA expression was significantly inhibited by IVIG. These results suggest that IVIG treatment may inhibit macrophage recruitment to fibrotic sites by down regulating MCP-1 and TGF-β production, and thus could be a potential drug for managing fibrotic disorders such as SSc.