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Hashimoto S, Yamazaki M, Uehara H, Yamazaki S, Kobayashi M, Yokoyama T, Yazawa K, Shiomi K. Evaluating bio-physicochemical properties of raw powder prepared from whole larvae containing liquid silk of the domestic silkworm. Front Nutr 2024; 11:1404489. [PMID: 38903626 PMCID: PMC11188413 DOI: 10.3389/fnut.2024.1404489] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2024] [Accepted: 05/08/2024] [Indexed: 06/22/2024] Open
Abstract
The domestic silkworm, Bombyx mori, has been widely used in silk production for centuries. It is also used as a bioreactor by the textile and pharmaceutical industries to mass produce recombinant bioactive proteins containing silk-based materials. Furthermore, silkworms are well-known as a source of food and have also been orally administered to prevent and treat several human disorders. In this study, we aimed to investigate the inherent bio-physicochemical properties of edible silkworms to accurately evaluate their clinical and nutritional potential. We prepared raw powder from whole larvae of silkworm. The yield rate of the powder derived from dried larvae was almost 100% (98.1-99.1% in replicates). As "percentage yield" translates to "Budomari" in Japanese, this raw powder was named "B100rw." We further prepared B100dn that was denatured through autoclaving. Thereafter, we examined whether B100rw sustained the original bio-physicochemical properties by comparing it with B100dn. There was no significant difference in nutritional content between B100rw and B100dn. B100rw contained proteins derived from silkworm larvae and mulberry leaves, whereas the proteins of B100dn were mostly degraded. On measuring the enzymatic activity of both powders using trehalase as an indicator enzyme, B100rw was found to maintain trehalase activity. B100rw also maintained a random coil conformation, similar to that of liquid silk. This suggested that B100rw sustained the unique bio-physicochemical properties of living larvae. These findings may facilitate the development of novel food products or orally administered vaccines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shusuke Hashimoto
- Faculty of Textile Science and Technology, Shinshu University, Ueda, Japan
| | - Maki Yamazaki
- Faculty of Textile Science and Technology, Shinshu University, Ueda, Japan
| | - Hiroshi Uehara
- Faculty of Textile Science and Technology, Shinshu University, Ueda, Japan
- Morus Inc., Tokyo, Japan
| | - Shinya Yamazaki
- Department of Food Technology, Nagano Prefecture General Industrial Technology Center, Nagano, Japan
| | - Masakazu Kobayashi
- Faculty of Textile Science and Technology, Shinshu University, Ueda, Japan
| | - Takeshi Yokoyama
- Department of United Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, Fuchu, Japan
| | - Kenjiro Yazawa
- Faculty of Textile Science and Technology, Shinshu University, Ueda, Japan
| | - Kunihiro Shiomi
- Faculty of Textile Science and Technology, Shinshu University, Ueda, Japan
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Zhang X, Zhang F, Lu X. Diversity and Functional Roles of the Gut Microbiota in Lepidopteran Insects. Microorganisms 2022; 10:microorganisms10061234. [PMID: 35744751 PMCID: PMC9231115 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms10061234] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2022] [Revised: 06/01/2022] [Accepted: 06/15/2022] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Lepidopteran insects are one of the most widespread and speciose lineages on Earth, with many common pests and beneficial insect species. The evolutionary success of their diversification depends on the essential functions of gut microorganisms. This diverse gut microbiota of lepidopteran insects provides benefits in nutrition and reproductive regulation and plays an important role in the defence against pathogens, enhancing host immune homeostasis. In addition, gut symbionts have shown promising applications in the development of novel tools for biological control, biodegradation of waste, and blocking the transmission of insect-borne diseases. Even though most microbial symbionts are unculturable, the rapidly expanding catalogue of microbial genomes and the application of modern genetic techniques offer a viable alternative for studying these microbes. Here, we discuss the gut structure and microbial diversity of lepidopteran insects, as well as advances in the understanding of symbiotic relationships and interactions between hosts and symbionts. Furthermore, we provide an overview of the function of the gut microbiota, including in host nutrition and metabolism, immune defence, and potential mechanisms of detoxification. Due to the relevance of lepidopteran pests in agricultural production, it can be expected that the research on the interactions between lepidopteran insects and their gut microbiota will be used for biological pest control and protection of beneficial insects in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiancui Zhang
- Institute of Sericulture and Apiculture, College of Animal Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310029, China;
| | - Fan Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Animal Resistance Biology of Shandong Province, College of Life Science, Shandong Normal University, Jinan 250014, China
- Correspondence: (F.Z.); (X.L.)
| | - Xingmeng Lu
- Institute of Sericulture and Apiculture, College of Animal Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310029, China;
- Correspondence: (F.Z.); (X.L.)
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Tada H, Takahashi H, Yamada K, Masuda K, Nagata Y, Uchida M, Shino M, Ida S, Mito I, Matsuyama T, Oyama T, Tatematsu KI, Sezutsu H, Takeda S, Chikamatsu K. Dynamic alterations of circulating T lymphocytes and the clinical response in patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma treated with nivolumab. Cancer Immunol Immunother 2021; 71:851-863. [PMID: 34463793 DOI: 10.1007/s00262-021-03042-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2021] [Accepted: 08/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Cancer immunotherapy using immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) has been recognized as a novel therapeutic option for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). However, only approximately 20-30% of patients with recurrent/metastatic (R/M) HNSCC benefit. Moreover, the mechanisms underlying the response to ICIs remain unclear. We investigated the proportion, activation status, and expression level of immune checkpoint molecules in circulating T cell subsets in R/M HNSCC patients treated with nivolumab using flow cytometry and mass cytometry, and then determined whether treatment response was associated with these values. We also assessed the changes in the frequency of tumor-associated antigens, MAGE-A4 and p53, -specific T cells prior to and after nivolumab treatment using the IFN-γ ELISPOT assay. The proportion of activated CD4+ and CD8+ TEMRA cells significantly increased in the disease-controlled patients but not in disease-progressed patients. As expected, the expression of PD-1 in T cells markedly decreased regardless of the therapeutic response. Meanwhile, T cell immunoglobulin mucin-3 expression on CD8+ T cells was significantly higher in patients with disease progression than in disease-controlled patients after treatment. The frequency of the tumor-associated antigens, MAGE-A4- and p53-specific T cells, was not correlated with clinical responses; however, in the disease-controlled patients, the frequency of MAGE-A4-specific T cells was significantly augmented. We concluded that in R/M HNSCC patients treated with nivolumab, circulating T cells show dynamic alterations depending on treatment efficacy. An analysis of the immunokinetics of circulating T cells could thus provide new insights into rational therapeutic strategies in cancer immunotherapy for HNSCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hiroe Tada
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Gunma University Graduate School of Medicine, 3-39-22, Showa-machi, Maebashi, Gunma, 3718511, Japan
| | - Hideyuki Takahashi
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Gunma University Graduate School of Medicine, 3-39-22, Showa-machi, Maebashi, Gunma, 3718511, Japan
| | - Kanae Yamada
- Division of Molecular Science, Faculty of Science and Technology, Gunma University, Kiryu, Gunma, 376-8515, Japan
| | - Kei Masuda
- Department of Pathology, Gunma University Graduate School of Medicine, Maebashi, Gunma, 371-8511, Japan
| | - Yurino Nagata
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Gunma University Graduate School of Medicine, 3-39-22, Showa-machi, Maebashi, Gunma, 3718511, Japan
| | - Miho Uchida
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Gunma University Graduate School of Medicine, 3-39-22, Showa-machi, Maebashi, Gunma, 3718511, Japan
| | - Masato Shino
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Gunma University Graduate School of Medicine, 3-39-22, Showa-machi, Maebashi, Gunma, 3718511, Japan
| | - Shota Ida
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Gunma University Graduate School of Medicine, 3-39-22, Showa-machi, Maebashi, Gunma, 3718511, Japan
| | - Ikko Mito
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Gunma University Graduate School of Medicine, 3-39-22, Showa-machi, Maebashi, Gunma, 3718511, Japan
| | - Toshiyuki Matsuyama
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Gunma University Graduate School of Medicine, 3-39-22, Showa-machi, Maebashi, Gunma, 3718511, Japan
| | - Tetsunari Oyama
- Department of Pathology, Gunma University Graduate School of Medicine, Maebashi, Gunma, 371-8511, Japan
| | - Ken-Ichiro Tatematsu
- Institute of Agrobiological Sciences, National Agriculture and Food Research Organization, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-8634, Japan
| | - Hideki Sezutsu
- Institute of Agrobiological Sciences, National Agriculture and Food Research Organization, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-8634, Japan
| | - Shigeki Takeda
- Division of Molecular Science, Faculty of Science and Technology, Gunma University, Kiryu, Gunma, 376-8515, Japan
| | - Kazuaki Chikamatsu
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Gunma University Graduate School of Medicine, 3-39-22, Showa-machi, Maebashi, Gunma, 3718511, Japan.
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Yamada K, Masuda K, Ida S, Tada H, Bando M, Abe K, Tatematsu KI, Sezutsu H, Oyama T, Chikamatsu K, Takeda S. In vitro assessment of antitumor immune responses using tumor antigen proteins produced by transgenic silkworms. JOURNAL OF MATERIALS SCIENCE. MATERIALS IN MEDICINE 2021; 32:58. [PMID: 33999320 PMCID: PMC8128804 DOI: 10.1007/s10856-021-06526-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2020] [Accepted: 04/09/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
The evaluation of antitumor immune responses is essential for immune monitoring to predict clinical outcomes as well as treatment efficacies in cancer patients. In this study, we produced two tumor antigen (TA) proteins, melanoma antigen family A4 and wild type p53, using TG silkworm systems and evaluated anti-TA-specific immune responses by enzyme-linked immunosorbent spot assays in patients with head and neck cancer. Eleven (61.1%) of 18 patients showed significant IFN-γ production in response to at least one TA; however, the presence of TA-specific immune responses did not significantly contribute to better prognosis (overall survival, p = 0.1768; progression-free survival, p = 0.4507). Further studies will need to be performed on a larger scale to better assess the clinical significance of these systems. The production of multiple TA proteins may provide new avenues for the development of immunotherapeutic strategies to stimulate a potent and specific immune response against tumor cells as well as precise assessment of antitumor immune responses in cancer patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kanae Yamada
- Faculty of Science and Technology, Division of Molecular Science, Gunma University, Kiryu, Gunma, 376-8515, Japan
| | - Kei Masuda
- Department of Pathology, Gunma University Graduate School of Medicine, Maebashi, Gunma, 371-8511, Japan
| | - Shota Ida
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Gunma University Graduate School of Medicine, Maebashi, Gunma, 371-8511, Japan
| | - Hiroe Tada
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Gunma University Graduate School of Medicine, Maebashi, Gunma, 371-8511, Japan
| | - Minori Bando
- Faculty of Science and Technology, Division of Molecular Science, Gunma University, Kiryu, Gunma, 376-8515, Japan
| | - Kanako Abe
- Faculty of Science and Technology, Division of Molecular Science, Gunma University, Kiryu, Gunma, 376-8515, Japan
| | - Ken-Ichiro Tatematsu
- Transgenic Silkworm Research Unit, Institute of Agrobiological Sciences, National Agriculture and Food Research Organization, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-8634, Japan
| | - Hideki Sezutsu
- Transgenic Silkworm Research Unit, Institute of Agrobiological Sciences, National Agriculture and Food Research Organization, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-8634, Japan
| | - Tetsunari Oyama
- Department of Pathology, Gunma University Graduate School of Medicine, Maebashi, Gunma, 371-8511, Japan
| | - Kazuaki Chikamatsu
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Gunma University Graduate School of Medicine, Maebashi, Gunma, 371-8511, Japan.
| | - Shigeki Takeda
- Faculty of Science and Technology, Division of Molecular Science, Gunma University, Kiryu, Gunma, 376-8515, Japan.
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Aramini B, Masciale V, Haider KH. Defining lung cancer stem cells exosomal payload of miRNAs in clinical perspective. World J Stem Cells 2020; 12:406-421. [PMID: 32742559 PMCID: PMC7360993 DOI: 10.4252/wjsc.v12.i6.406] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2020] [Revised: 04/29/2020] [Accepted: 05/27/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Since the first publication regarding the existence of stem cells in cancer [cancer stem cells (CSCs)] in 1994, many studies have been published providing in-depth information about their biology and function. This research has paved the way in terms of appreciating the role of CSCs in tumour aggressiveness, progression, recurrence and resistance to cancer therapy. Targeting CSCs for cancer therapy has still not progressed to a sufficient degree, particularly in terms of exploring the mechanism of dynamic interconversion between CSCs and non-CSCs. Besides the CSC scenario, the problem of cancer dissemination has been analyzed in-depth with the identification and isolation of microRNAs (miRs), which are now considered to be compelling molecular markers in the diagnosis and prognosis of tumours in general and specifically in patients with non-small cell lung cancer. Paracrine release of miRs via “exosomes” (small membrane vesicles (30-100 nm), the derivation of which lies in the luminal membranes of multi-vesicular bodies) released by fusion with the cell membrane is gaining popularity. Whether exosomes play a significant role in maintaining a dynamic equilibrium state between CSCs and non-CSCs and their mechanism of activity is as yet unknown. Future studies on CSC-related exosomes will provide new perspectives for precision-targeted treatment strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Beatrice Aramini
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena 41124, Italy
| | - Valentina Masciale
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena 41124, Italy
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