Exercise-induced hypercalcemia and vasopressin-mediated bone resorption

Our human observational study showed that elevated arginine vasopressin levels by heavy exercise, not catecholamines, were associated with elevated serum tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase 5b (TRACP-5b). The increase in serum calcium was positively associated with percent changes of TRACP-5b, implying the involvement of bone resorption in the pathogenesis of exercise-induced hypercalcemia.

INTRODUCTION

It remains unclear whether enhanced bone resorption explains exercise-induced hypercalcemia. An experimental study demonstrated that arginine vasopressin (AVP) stimulated osteoclast activity.

METHODS

We conducted a prospective observational study, enrolling 65 trained healthy male officers of the Japan Self-Defense Forces (34 and 31 in waves 1 and 2, respectively). Before and after a 5-h heavy exercise, we collected laboratory data including bone markers, symptoms, and ionized calcium (iCa; wave 2 only). As blood calcium levels change after exercise, we estimated calcium (corrected calcium) levels immediately after the exercise using the correlation between blood calcium and time from the end of exercise in another cohort.

RESULTS

Body weight decreased by 6.9% after the exercise. Corrected post-exercise serum total calcium (tCa) and iCa levels were significantly higher than pre-exercise levels, and 18% of participants showed hypercalcemia defined as corrected tCa >10.4 mg/dL or iCa >1.30 mmol/L. Serum tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase 5b (TRACP-5b), plasma three fractions of catecholamines, and AVP elevated significantly (median 14.3 pg/mL), while procollagen type 1 N-terminal propeptide and whole parathyroid hormone showed significant decreases. Corrected tCa increase showed a non-linear positive association with percent changes of TRACP-5b (%ΔTRACP-5b) even after adjustment for confounders. In addition, %ΔTRACP-5b was not associated with catecholamines, but with post-exercise AVP levels after adjustment for pre-exercise TRACP-5b. Symptoms of nausea or vomiting (observed in 20%) were positively associated with corrected post-exercise iCa after adjustment for post-exercise blood pH.

CONCLUSION

AVP elevation may explain bone resorption and the following hypercalcemia in the setting of heavy exercise.

The 2021 Magnonics Roadmap

Magnonics is a budding research field in nanomagnetism and nanoscience that addresses the use of spin waves (magnons) to transmit, store, and process information. The rapid advancements of this field during last one decade in terms of upsurge in research papers, review articles, citations, proposals of devices as well as introduction of new sub-topics prompted us to present the first roadmap on magnonics. This is a collection of 22 sections written by leading experts in this field who review and discuss the current status besides presenting their vision of future perspectives. Today, the principal challenges in applied magnonics are the excitation of sub-100 nm wavelength magnons, their manipulation on the nanoscale and the creation of sub-micrometre devices using low-Gilbert damping magnetic materials and its interconnections to standard electronics. To this end, magnonics offers lower energy consumption, easier integrability and compatibility with CMOS structure, reprogrammability, shorter wavelength, smaller device features, anisotropic properties, negative group velocity, non-reciprocity and efficient tunability by various external stimuli to name a few. Hence, despite being a young research field, magnonics has come a long way since its early inception. This roadmap asserts a milestone for future emerging research directions in magnonics, and hopefully, it will inspire a series of exciting new articles on the same topic in the coming years.

Peripartum changes in serum activities of three major alkaline phosphatase isoenzymes in Holstein dairy cows

This study investigated changes in serum levels of hepatic, bone, and intestinal alkaline phosphatase (ALP) isoenzymes (ALP2, ALP3, and ALP5, respectively) in Holstein cows around parturition. Tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase 5b (TRAP5b) activity and calcium (Ca) concen-trations were also measured. We analyzed blood samples from 11 late-pregnant heifers (primipa-rous group) and 13 multiparous (2-4 lactations; multiparous group) cows at 3 weeks (18-24 days prepartum; -3 weeks), 2 weeks (17-11 days prepartum; -2 weeks), and 1 week (10-4 days prepar-tum; -1 weeks) before parturition; the day of calving (within 12 h post-calving; day 0); and 5 days postpartum (5 days). ALP3 activity was significantly higher in the primiparous group than in the multiparous group, whereas the activities decreased significantly in both groups after 5 days. ALP2 and ALP5 activities did not change, whereas ALP2 activity was significantly higher in the primiparous group than in the multiparous group. TRAP5b activity was significantly higher in the primiparous group than in the multiparous group and showed a transient significant increase at day 0. Ca concentration significantly decreased at day 0 in both groups; the Ca level at day 0 was significantly higher in the primiparous group than in the multiparous group. These data show that ALP3 activity in serum may indicate a change in osteoblastic bone forma-tion after calving, but further study is needed to determine the clinical application for measuring ALP isoenzymes in bovine medicine.

Agarose gel electrophoresis pattern of serum alkaline phosphatase isoenzymes in Holstein cows during lactation

A recent study found that an agarose gel electrophoresis (AGE) method yielded two distinct major bands corresponding to the hepatic and bone ALP isoenzymes (ALP2 and ALP3, respec-tively) in bovine serum treated with protease and neuraminidase (PN-treatment), although there were concerns that the intestinal ALP isoenzyme (ALP5) often overlapped with ALP3 in human serum treated with neuraminidase. Because ALP5 was separated from ALP3 in bovine serum treated with protease alone (P-treatment), we used a modified method employing both P- and PN-treated bovine sera to measure the activities of the three ALP isoenzymes in 53 lacta-ting Holstein cows: 24 primiparous and 29 multiparous. Upon electrophoresis, 51 of 53 samples (96.2%) subjected to P-treatment yielded a distinct fraction corresponding to ALP5, as did the control serum. All PN-treated sera yielded a definite ALP2 fraction. The ALP3 fraction was calculated as the remainder after excluding ALP2 and ALP5. The activities of total ALP (t-ALP) and ALP3 in primiparous cows were higher than those in multiparous cows (p ⟨ 0.001) at early-to-peak [10-110 days in milk (DIM)] and mid (111-220 DIM) lactation. In the multi-parous cows, the ALP3 activity at late lactation (221-477 DIM) was significantly higher than that at early-to-peak lactation. Thus, the modified AGE method described here is able to discrimi-nate three fractions of ALP isoenzymes in the sera of lactating cows. The AGE pattern of circu-lating ALP isoenzymes will contribute to the understanding of the physiological bone metabolism status in lactating cows.

Insufficient lipid lowering therapy could not bring favorable prognostic effect in high risk patients who were functionally deferred percutaneous coronary intervention

Introduction

Deferral of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) of a functionally insignificant stenosis is associated with favorable long-term prognoses. However, previous reports revealed that patients with fractional flow reserve (FFR) 0.81–0.85 had higher cardiovascular adverse event rates than those with FFR >0.85. Numbers of large clinical trials established the lower, the better strategy for low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) management for patients after PCI. However, in the real clinical practice, the achievement rate of target LDL-C is often insufficient in patients with atherosclerotic risk factors who were functionally deferred PCI.

Purpose

We aimed to examine optimal LDL-C management for patients with intermediate coronary stenosis deferred PCI by FFR measurement.

Methods

This observational study included 293 consecutive patients with coronary stenosis deferred PCI due to greater FFR than 0.80. We separately analyzed 90 patients with 0.81–0.85 of FFR and 203 patients with >0.85. Patients in each group were further classified into 2 groups based on LDL-C level at one year after FFR measurement; the Lower LDL-C group (<100 mg/dL) and the Higher LDL-C group (>100 mg/dL). The primary endpoint was major adverse cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events (MACCE) including death, non-fatal myocardial infarction, ischemic stroke, heart failure hospitalization and unplanned revascularization.

Results

Patients with FFR 0.81–0.85 had a significantly higher MACCE rate than those with FFR >0.85 (hazard ratio (HR): 1.77, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.02–3.07, p=0.043). In patients with FFR 0.81–0.85, the Lower LDL-C group (n-=53) had a significantly lower rate of the primary endpoint than the Higher LDL-C group (HR: 0.41, 95% CI: 0.18–0.97, Log-rank p=0.036, Figure A). Whereas, there was no significant difference in the event rate between 2 groups in patients with FFR >0.85 (Log-rank p=0.42, Figure B).

Conclusion

Uncontrolled LDL-C level was associated with higher MACCE rate in patients who were deferred PCI due to FFR 0.81–0.85. These results suggested that even in patients who were deferred PCI, those with coronary artery stenosis of lower FFR value should receive strict LDL-C lowering therapy with close monitoring.

Figure 1

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding source: None

Transportin-2 plays a critical role in nucleocytoplasmic shuttling of oestrogen receptor-α

Oestrogen receptor-α (ERα) shuttles continuously between the nucleus and the cytoplasm, and functions as an oestrogen-dependent transcription factor in the nucleus and as an active mediator of signalling pathways, such as phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/AKT, in the cytoplasm. However, little is known regarding the mechanism of ERα nucleocytoplasmic shuttling. In this study, we found that ERα is transported into the nucleus by importin-α/β1. Furthermore, we found that Transportin-2 (TNPO2) is involved in 17β-oestradiol (E2)-dependent cytoplasmic localisation of ERα. Interestingly, it was found that TNPO2 does not mediate nuclear export, but rather is involved in the cytoplasmic retention of ERα via the proline/tyrosine (PY) motifs. Moreover, we found that TNPO2 competitively binds to the basic nuclear localisation signal (NLS) of ERα with importin-α to inhibit importin-α/β-dependent ERα nuclear import. Finally, we confirmed that TNPO2 knockdown enhances the nuclear localisation of wild-type ERα and reduces PI3K/AKT phosphorylation in the presence of E2. These results reveal that TNPO2 regulates nucleocytoplasmic shuttling and cytoplasmic retention of ERα, so that ERα has precise functions depending on the stimulation.

P5616Risk stratification of cardiovascular events among patients with functionally non-significant coronary stenosis

Introduction

Deferral of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) of a functionally non-significant stenosis is associated with a favorable long-term clinical prognosis. However, to date, there has been limited evidence to stratify the risk for the development of cardiovascular (CV) adverse events in patients who were deferred of PCI due to a greater fractional flow reserve (FFR) than 0.80 at the target lesion.

Purpose

We aimed to stratify the risk of CV events in patients with functionally significant and non-significant coronary stenosis.

Methods

This observational study included 458 patients who were proven angiographically intermediate coronary stenoses and were measured FFR, of whom 298 deferred patients with FFR>0.80 and 160 intervened patients with FFR<0.80. The primary endpoint was the incidence of major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events (MACCE) including any death, non-fatal myocardial infarction, hospitalization due to heart failure, ischemic stroke and any unplanned revascularization. ROC curve for MACCE indicated the cut-off point of FFR as 0.85 and 0.76 in deferred patients and intervened patients, respectively.

Results

During the observation period, 27 MACCE (9.1%) in the Deferred group, and 33 MACCE (20.6%) in Intervened group were occurred. Kaplan-Meier curves showed a higher MACCE rate in the Intervened group than Deferred group (hazard ratio (HR): 2.19, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.29–3.71, Figure A). However, even among patients in the Deferred group, the population with “intermediate” FFR (0.81–0.85) had a significantly higher MACCE rate than those with higher FFR (>0.85) (HR 2.55, 95% CI 1.14–5.69, Figure B). This rate was comparable to that of the Intervened group at the remote phase (at 4-year: 32.0% vs. 35.8%). Conversely, in the Intervened group, there was no statistically significant difference in MACCE rate between patients with higher FFR (0.76–0.80) and those with lower FFR (<0.76) (Log-rank: p=0.21, Figure C).

Conclusion

The population with relatively low FFR in patients who were deferred PCI by FFR>0.80 had comparable MACCE rate to patients with FFR<0.80. Close observation after the FFR evaluation should be considered in those population.

Observation of a Goos-Hänchen-like Phase Shift for Magnetostatic Spin Waves

In optics, a light beam experiences a spatial shift in the beam plane upon total internal reflection. This shift is usually referred to as the Goos-Hänchen shift. When dealing with plane waves, it manifests itself as a phase shift between an incoming and reflected wave that depends on the wave vector component along the interface. In the experiments presented here, plane spin waves are excited in a 60-nm-thick Permalloy film and propagate towards the edge of the film. By means of time-resolved scanning Kerr microscopy, we are able to directly detect a phase shift between the incoming and reflected wave. With the help of a numerical model, we show that this phase shift naturally occurs for spin waves in the dipolar regime.

Microscopic Investigation into the Electric Field Effect on Proximity-Induced Magnetism in Pt

Electric field effects on magnetism in metals have attracted widespread attention, but the microscopic mechanism is still controversial. We experimentally show the relevancy between the electric field effect on magnetism and on the electronic structure in Pt in a ferromagnetic state using element-specific measurements: x-ray magnetic circular dichroism (XMCD) and x-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS). Electric fields are applied to the surface of ultrathin metallic Pt, in which a magnetic moment is induced by the ferromagnetic proximity effect resulting from a Co underlayer. XMCD and XAS measurements performed under the application of electric fields reveal that both the spin and orbital magnetic moments of Pt atoms are electrically modulated, which can be explained not only by the electric-field-induced shift of the Fermi level but also by the change in the orbital hybridizations.

The effects of nicotine administration on the pathophysiology of rat aortic wall

Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is the progressive dilation of the abdominal aorta. Nicotine is reported to be associated with the development and rupture of AAA, but the pathological effects of nicotine on normal rat aorta have not been determined. We investigated pathological changes in the aortic wall of rats caused by the administration of nicotine. Nicotine administration weakened the vascular wall, increased gelatinolytic activity and promoted the destruction of elastin and collagen in the rat abdominal aorta. There were no differences in the areas positive for matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2 and MMP-9 between the control and nicotine treated groups. The areas positive for MMP-12 in the nicotine group were significantly greater than for the control group. Gelatinolytic activity in the aortic wall was increased significantly in the nicotine group. Our findings suggest that MMP-12 is sensitive to nicotine exposure in rats.

Snell's Law for Spin Waves

We report the experimental observation of Snell's law for magnetostatic spin waves in thin ferromagnetic Permalloy films by imaging incident, refracted, and reflected waves. We use a thickness step as the interface between two media with different dispersion relations. Since the dispersion relation for magnetostatic waves in thin ferromagnetic films is anisotropic, deviations from the isotropic Snell's law known in optics are observed for incidence angles larger than 25° with respect to the interface normal between the two magnetic media. Furthermore, we can show that the thickness step modifies the wavelength and the amplitude of the incident waves. Our findings open up a new way of spin wave steering for magnonic applications.

Cell surface localization of importin α1/KPNA2 affects cancer cell proliferation by regulating FGF1 signalling

Importin α1 is involved in nuclear import as a receptor for proteins with a classical nuclear localization signal (cNLS). Here, we report that importin α1 is localized to the cell surface in several cancer cell lines and detected in their cultured medium. We also found that exogenously added importin α1 is associated with the cell membrane via interaction with heparan sulfate. Furthermore, we revealed that the cell surface importin α1 recognizes cNLS-containing substrates. More particularly, importin α1 bound directly to FGF1 and FGF2, secreted cNLS-containing growth factors, and addition of exogenous importin α1 enhanced the activation of ERK1/2, downstream targets of FGF1 signalling, in FGF1-stimulated cancer cells. Additionally, anti-importin α1 antibody treatment suppressed the importin α1-FGF1 complex formation and ERK1/2 activation, resulting in decreased cell growth. This study provides novel evidence that functional importin α1 is located at the cell surface, where it accelerates the proliferation of cancer cells.

Retinoblastoma-binding Protein 4-regulated Classical Nuclear Transport Is Involved in Cellular Senescence

Nucleocytoplasmic trafficking is a fundamental cellular process in eukaryotic cells. Here, we demonstrated that retinoblastoma-binding protein 4 (RBBP4) functions as a novel regulatory factor to increase the efficiency of importin α/β-mediated nuclear import. RBBP4 accelerates the release of importin β1 from importin α via competitive binding to the importin β-binding domain of importin α in the presence of RanGTP. Therefore, it facilitates importin α/β-mediated nuclear import. We showed that the importin α/β pathway is down-regulated in replicative senescent cells, concomitant with a decrease in RBBP4 level. Knockdown of RBBP4 caused both suppression of nuclear transport and induction of cellular senescence. This is the first report to identify a factor that competes with importin β1 to bind to importin α, and it demonstrates that the loss of this factor can trigger cellular senescence.

Antitumor effects of baculovirus-infected dendritic cells against human pancreatic carcinoma

Recently, we showed that baculovirus (BV)-infected dendritic cells (DCs) (BV-DCs) induced antitumor immunity against established tumors in mice. These antitumor effects were CD8(+) T-cell and natural killer (NK) cell dependent but CD4(+) T-cell independent. In the current study, we examined the antitumor effect of BV-DCs on human pancreatic cancer cells (AsPC-1). After treatment with BV-infected bone marrow-derived dendritic cells (BMDCs), human pancreatic tumors caused by AsPC-1 cells in a nude mouse model were significantly reduced in size, and the survival of the mice was improved compared with that of non-immature BMDC (iDC)- and BV-DC-immunized mice. We also found that wild-type BV could activate human DCs (HDCs) and that NK cells were activated by BV-infected HDCs (BHDCs). Our findings show that BV-DCs can induce antitumor immunity, which paves the way for the use of this technique as an effective tool for DC immunotherapy against malignancies.

Importin alpha subtypes determine differential transcription factor localization in embryonic stem cells maintenance

We recently demonstrated that the expression of the importin α subtype is switched from α2 to α1 during neural differentiation in mouse embryonic stem cells (ESCs) and that this switching has a major impact on cell differentiation. In this study, we report a cell-fate determination mechanism in which importin α2 negatively regulates the nuclear import of certain transcription factors to maintain ESC properties. The nuclear import of Oct6 and Brn2 was inhibited via the formation of a transport-incompetent complex of the cargo bound to a nuclear localization signal binding site in importin α2. Unless this dominant-negative effect was downregulated upon ESC differentiation, inappropriate cell death was induced. We propose that although certain transcription factors are necessary for differentiation in ESCs, these factors are retained in the cytoplasm by importin α2, thereby preventing transcription factor activity in the nucleus until the cells undergo differentiation.

Differential role for transcription factor Oct4 nucleocytoplasmic dynamics in somatic cell reprogramming and self-renewal of embryonic stem cells

Oct4 is a member of the POU family of transcription factors and plays a critical role in both maintenance of the undifferentiated state of embryonic stem (ES) cells and in the reprogramming of somatic cells to induced pluripotent stem cells. Oct4 is imported into the nucleus where it functions as a transcription factor; however, the spatiotemporal dynamic behavior of Oct4 remains largely unknown. In the present study we show that Oct4 is a nucleocytoplasmic shuttling protein. Furthermore, although Oct4 mutants with altered nuclear import/export activity were able to maintain the self-renewal of ES cells, they displayed limited potential for cellular reprogramming. These results indicate that the intracellular localization of Oct4, which is dependent on nucleocytoplasmic shuttling, must be more strictly regulated for cellular reprogramming, suggesting that Oct4 plays differential roles in the self-renewal of ES cells and in somatic cell reprogramming.

Threat bias in attention orienting: evidence of specificity in a large community-based study

BACKGROUND

Preliminary research implicates threat-related attention biases in paediatric anxiety disorders. However, major questions exist concerning diagnostic specificity, effects of symptom-severity levels, and threat-stimulus exposure durations in attention paradigms. This study examines these issues in a large, community school-based sample. Method A total of 2046 children (ages 6-12 years) were assessed using the Development and Well Being Assessment (DAWBA), Childhood Behavior Checklist (CBCL) and dot-probe tasks. Children were classified based on presence or absence of 'fear-related' disorders, 'distress-related' disorders, and behavioural disorders. Two dot-probe tasks, which differed in stimulus exposure, assessed attention biases for happy-face and threat-face cues. The main analysis included 1774 children.

RESULTS

For attention bias scores, a three-way interaction emerged among face-cue emotional valence, diagnostic group, and internalizing symptom severity (F = 2.87, p < 0.05). This interaction reflected different associations between internalizing symptom severity and threat-related attention bias across diagnostic groups. In children with no diagnosis (n = 1411, mean difference = 11.03, s.e. = 3.47, df = 1, p < 0.001) and those with distress-related disorders (n = 66, mean difference = 10.63, s.e. = 5.24, df = 1, p < 0.05), high internalizing symptoms predicted vigilance towards threat. However, in children with fear-related disorders (n = 86, mean difference = -11.90, s.e. = 5.94, df = 1, p < 0.05), high internalizing symptoms predicted an opposite tendency, manifesting as greater bias away from threat. These associations did not emerge in the behaviour-disorder group (n = 211).

CONCLUSIONS

The association between internalizing symptoms and biased orienting varies with the nature of developmental psychopathology. Both the form and severity of psychopathology moderates threat-related attention biases in children.

Behavioral evidence for internal factors affecting duration of conglobation in pill bugs (Armadillidium vulgare, Isopoda, Crustacea). Short communication

Pill bugs individually walked an experimental pathway, then were induced to conglobate with a puff of air. After recovering, they were stimulated again. Sixty of 80 pill bugs conglobated both times, first moving either antennae (A) or legs (L) during recovery. Both AA and LL groups showed a significant positive correlation between first (t1) and second (t2) conglobation times. In the AL group, pathway locomotion time (t0) was significantly positively correlated to both t1 and t2. We conclude that pill bugs determine conglobation time based partly on their previous states.

Blood pressure control in a Japanese population with chronic kidney disease: a baseline survey of a nationwide cohort

BACKGROUND

Hypertension is a key risk factor for adverse renal outcomes in chronic kidney disease (CKD), and strict blood pressure control is recommended to halt its progression. This study assessed blood pressure control in the Japanese CKD population.

METHODS

We used a nationwide database of 250,130 subjects (aged 20-88), including 45,845 CKD subjects (18.3%), participated in an annual health check, "The Specific Health Check and Guidance in Japan," and examined the relationship between CKD status and blood pressure. Blood pressures were measured in sitting position by trained staff, and target blood pressure for CKD subjects was defined as systolic (SBP)/diastolic blood pressure (DBP) <130/80 mm Hg.

RESULTS

In total population, CKD subjects had a higher prevalence of hypertension (58.0% vs. 41.8%, P < 0.001) and a higher proportion with antihypertensive medication (42.4% vs. 26.7%, P < 0.001), compared with non-CKD subjects. The proportion of subjects achieving target blood pressure was significantly lower among total CKD subjects than among total non-CKD subjects (34.6% vs. 43.8%, P ≤ 0.001). Among CKD subjects, these proportions were especially low in those with stage 4-5 (24.3-27.5%), those on antihypertensive medication (21.6%) and those with proteinuria ≥2± (21.3%). Logistic regression analysis showed that independent factors for high-blood pressure in CKD subjects were age, male gender, alcohol consumption, nonsmoking, diabetes, dyslipidemia, obesity, proteinuria, and antihypertensive medication.

CONCLUSIONS

Blood pressure control was inadequate in the majority of Japanese CKD subjects, despite antihypertensive treatment. More aggressive efforts to achieve target blood pressures among CKD subjects are recommended.

Spin-transfer torque in nanoscale magnetic devices

We discuss recent highlights from research at Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, regarding the use of spin-transfer torques to control magnetic moments in nanoscale ferromagnetic devices. We highlight progress on reducing the critical currents necessary to produce spin-torque-driven magnetic switching, quantitative measurements of the magnitude and direction of the spin torque in magnetic tunnel junctions, and single-shot measurements of the magnetic dynamics generated during thermally assisted spin-torque switching.

Generation of rat monoclonal antibody specific for mouse importin α8

The transport of proteins in and out of the nucleus plays important roles in major cellular processes, such as signal transduction and regulation of cell cycle. Proteins that contain a nuclear localization signal (NLS) are recognized by an importin α/β heterodimer and targeted to the nucleus. Here, we report the generation of a rat monoclonal antibody (MAb) that recognizes a novel importin α family member, importin α8, which is expressed during oocyte maturation and early embryonic development. Immunoblot and immunolocalization analyses showed that this MAb was specific for mouse importin α8 and not other importin α family members. These data suggest that this MAb is useful for analyzing molecular functions of importin α8.

Generation and characterization of a monoclonal antibody against importin α7/NPI-2

Many nuclear proteins are transported into the nucleus via the importin α/β-mediated pathway. Importin α comprises a multigene family. In this study, we generated and characterized a rat monoclonal antibody (MAb) 3F8 to importin α7. The antibody was generated by the hybridization of mouse myeloma cells with lymph node cells from an immunized rat. The MAb 3F8 specifically recognized importin α7 among importin α isoforms as evidenced by immunoblotting analysis. Furthermore, MAb 3F8 detected exogenous importin α7 in COS-7 cells by immunofluorescence. This MAb will be useful in the analysis of the isoform-specific function of importin α7.

Targeted disruption of one of the importin α family members leads to female functional incompetence in delivery

Importin α mediates the nuclear import of proteins through nuclear pore complexes in eukaryotic cells, and is common to all eukaryotes. Previous reports identified at least six importin α family genes in mice. Although these isoforms show differential binding to various import cargoes in vitro, the in vivo physiological roles of these mammalian importin α isoforms remain unknown. Here, we generated and examined importin α5 knockout (impα5(-/-)) mice. These mice developed normally, and showed no gross histological abnormalities in most major organs. However, the ovary and uterus of impα5(-/-) female mice exhibited hypoplasia. Furthermore, we found that impα5(-/-) female mice had a 50% decrease in serum progesterone levels and a 57% decrease in progesterone receptor mRNA levels in the ovary. Additionally, impα5(-/-) uteruses that were treated with exogenous gonadotropins displayed hypertrophy, similarly to progesterone receptor-deficient mice. Although these mutant female mice could become pregnant, the total number of pups was significantly decreased, and some of the pups were dead at birth. These results suggest that importin α5 has essential roles in the mammalian female reproductive organs.

Mice lacking Ran binding protein 1 are viable and show male infertility

The small GTPase Ran plays important roles in multiple aspects of cellular function. Maximal RanGAP activity is achieved with the aid of RanBP1 and/or presumably of RanBP2. Here, we show that RanBP1-knockout mice are unexpectedly viable, and exhibit male infertility due to a spermatogenesis arrest, presumably caused by down-regulation of RanBP2 during spermatogenesis. Indeed, siRNA-mediated depletion of RanBP2 caused severe cell death only in RanBP1-deficient MEFs, indicating that simultaneous depletion of RanBP1 and RanBP2 severely affects normal cell viability. Collectively, we conclude that the dramatic decrease in "RanBP" activity impairs germ cell viability and affects spermatogenesis decisively in RanBP1-knockout mice.

Specific monoclonal antibody against the nuclear pore complex protein, Nup96

Nup96 is a component of the Nup107-160 complex, the largest subunit of the nuclear pore complex. Nup96 is generated as a precursor protein with Nup98. However, the mechanism by which Nup96 contributes to cell function is not clear. We report here on the preparation of a monoclonal antibody (MAb) directed against mouse Nup96. The antibody was produced by the hybridization of mouse myeloma cells with lymph node cells from an immunized rat. The antibody, MAb 4H5, specifically recognized Nup96, as evidenced by immunoblotting using the whole cell lysates. In immunostaining using MAb 4H5, a nuclear rim staining pattern was observed. This antibody will be useful in immunoblotting and immunolocalization experiments, as well as further analyses of the biological function and cellular dynamics of this protein.

Autofluorescence imaging colonoscopy for the detection of dysplastic lesions in ulcerative colitis: a pilot study

AIM

Autofluorescence imaging (AFI) is a novel technology for endoscopy, which enhances neoplastic lesions of the gastrointestinal tract. The aim of this investigation was to examine whether AFI colonoscopy can identify dysplasia in ulcerative colitis.

METHOD

We examined 48 patients with ulcerative colitis by AFI colonoscopy. Apparently flat, coarse granular mucosa and visible protruding lesions under conventional colonoscopy were observed by AFI. Those target areas were classified into low AF and high AF according to the colour under AFI colonoscopy. The grade of dysplasia was determined in the specimens obtained from the target areas.

RESULTS

About 126 sites (35 protruding lesions and 91 flat areas) were examined by AFI colonoscopy. AF was determined to be high in 42 areas and to be low in 84 areas. The positive rate of dysplasia was higher in protrusions (31%) than in flat mucosa (3.3%, P < 0.0001). The rate of positive dysplasia was not statistically different between lesions determined to be low AF (14%) and those to be high AF (5%, P = 0.09). The positive rate of dysplasia in protruding lesions was significantly higher in low AF than in high AF (45.0%vs 13.3%, P = 0.043), while the value in flat lesions was not different between low AF and high AF (8.2%vs 0%, P = 0.3).

CONCLUSIONS

Autofluorescence imaging colonoscopy seems to have a role for the detection of dysplaia in ulcerative colitis.

Some Immunochemical Properties of Dextransucrase and Invertase from Streptococcus mutans

Dextransucrase and invertase of some strains of Streptococcus mutans were examined by immunodiffusion with antisera against enzymes purified from strain HS-6 (Bratthall's serotype a). Both antisera cross-reacted with crude enzyme preparations from the other serotype a (strains HS-1 and AHT) and d organisms (strains KIR, OMZ176, and OMZ65) but not with those from serotype b (strains FA-1 and BHT) or c organisms (strains GS-5, Ingbritt, and NCTC 10449). Based upon the antiserum used, the orders of antigenic similarity of the cross-reacting enzymes to the HS-6 enzymes were HS-6 > HS-1 > AHT = KIR = OMZ176 = OMZ65 for dextransucrase and HS-6 = HS-1 > AHT = KIR = OMZ176 = OMZ65 for invertase. It was found that the enzymes from serotype a organisms were not always antigenically homogeneous, as seen between strains HS-6, HS-1, or AHT for dextransucrase, and between the HS group and strain AHT for invertase. Antiserum against the HS-6 dextransucrase markedly inhibited the heterologous dextransucrases of serotype a organisms with the exception of strain HS-1 and d organisms, with or without the addition of dextran.

Clinicopathological study of expression of lymphatic vessels in renal allograft biopsy after treatment for acute rejection

BACKGROUND

Lymph vessel expression is related to inflammatory cell infiltration, around renal tubules in acute rejection episodes (ARE) of transplanted kidneys. However, there is little information on the lymph vessels after treatment of an ARE, particularly in relation to renal function and histological findings.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

We investigated 13 cases of ARE diagnosed by kidney transplant biopsy performed from 1997 to 2005 within 3 years of transplantation. Treatment of the ARE lead to an improved serum creatinine level in all cases. There was neither an ABO-incompatible nor an acute humoral rejection case. Lymphatic vessels in re-biopsies were examined using immunohistochemical staining with D2-40 antibody that detected lymphatic endothelium. Re-biopsy cases in which the baseline creatinine had increased by more than 20% despite treatment were considered the severe group; the others, as the stable group. The relation between lymphatic vessel density (LVD) and renal function was examined using Banff scores.

RESULTS

LVD was significantly higher in the severe than the stable group. The expression of lymph vessels versus the Banff score showed a direct relation: greater Banff scores showed higher expressions of lymph vessels.

CONCLUSIONS

The expression of lymph vessels in renal allograft specimens after treatment of an ARE was related to deterioration of renal function and inflammatory cell invasion. We plan a further examination of the relationship between the expression of lymph vessels and long-term prognosis.

Soybean beta-conglycinin as the main allergen in a patient with food-dependent exercise-induced anaphylaxis by tofu: food processing alters pepsin resistance

BACKGROUND

Food-dependent exercise-induced anaphylaxis (FDEIA) due to soybeans is a rare disorder. The allergen responsible for FDEIA due to soybeans has not yet been determined.

OBJECTIVE

We characterized the clinical features of a patient with FDEIA due to tofu, who was well tolerant to drinking soy milk. We then sought to identify the responsible soybean allergen(s) in that patient. We further studied whether different stabilities of the allergen(s) to pepsin digestion between two soybean products are related to their clinical allergenicity.

METHODS

Skin prick tests and provocation tests using soybean products were performed to detect the responsible food and other factors that induced the allergic symptoms. Specific IgE to various soybean allergens were examined by ImmunoCAP, ELISA and protein microarray assays. Immunoblotting for soybeans and soybean products using the patient's serum was also performed. Soybean products were serially digested by pepsin to disclose the stability of the allergens.

RESULTS

Provocation with ingestion of tofu and exercise induced the allergic symptoms, while ingestion of soy milk and exercise did not. Immunoblot analysis, ELISA and protein microarray assay revealed that beta-conglycinin mainly reacts with IgE antibodies in the patient's serum. By immunoblot analysis, beta-conglycinin in soy milk completely disappeared after pepsin digestion within 20 min, whereas beta-conglycinin in tofu was almost intact after more than 120 min of pepsin digestion.

CONCLUSION

We identified beta-conglycinin as the causative allergen in a patient with FDEIA induced by tofu. The difference in resistance to pepsin digestion between tofu and soy milk suggests that the presence of undigested allergens in the digestive tract is a prerequisite for the development of FDEIA.