MRL7: Kagawa Toyohiko Papers, 1929-1968

Kagawa Toyohiko 賀川豊彦 (1888-1960) Japanese Evangelist, labor union organizer, poet, and pacifist; workers’ unions; American support group for Kagawa’s tours; letters, articles, speeches, photographs, administrative records, brochures, sound recordings, film and biography by E. O. Bradshaw

Peripheral arterial disease: A high risk – but neglected – disease population

Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) is a common, progressive manifestation of atherothrombotic vascular disease, which should be managed no different to cardiac disease. Indeed, there is growing evidence that PAD patients are a high risk group, although still relatively under-detected and under treated. This is despite the fact that PAD patients are an increased mortality rate comparable to those with pre-existing or established cardiovascular disease [myocardial infarction, stroke]. With a holistic approach to atherothrombotic vascular disease, our management of PAD can only get better

Human G Protein–Coupled Receptor Gpr-9-6/Cc Chemokine Receptor 9 Is Selectively Expressed on Intestinal Homing T Lymphocytes, Mucosal Lymphocytes, and Thymocytes and Is Required for Thymus-Expressed Chemokine–Mediated Chemotaxis

TECK (thymus-expressed chemokine), a recently described CC chemokine expressed in thymus and small intestine, was found to mediate chemotaxis of human G protein–coupled receptor GPR-9-6/L1.2 transfectants. This activity was blocked by anti–GPR-9-6 monoclonal antibody (mAb) 3C3. GPR-9-6 is expressed on a subset of memory α4β7high intestinal trafficking CD4 and CD8 lymphocytes. In addition, all intestinal lamina propria and intraepithelial lymphocytes express GPR-9-6. In contrast, GPR-9-6 is not displayed on cutaneous lymphocyte antigen–positive (CLA+) memory CD4 and CD8 lymphocytes, which traffic to skin inflammatory sites, or on other systemic α4β7−CLA− memory CD4/CD8 lymphocytes. The majority of thymocytes also express GPR-9-6, but natural killer cells, monocytes, eosinophils, basophils, and neutrophils are GPR-9-6 negative. Transcripts of GPR-9-6 and TECK are present in both small intestine and thymus. Importantly, the expression profile of GPR-9-6 correlates with migration to TECK of blood T lymphocytes and thymocytes. As migration of these cells is blocked by anti–GPR-9-6 mAb 3C3, we conclude that GPR-9-6 is the principal chemokine receptor for TECK. In agreement with the nomenclature rules for chemokine receptors, we propose the designation CCR-9 for GPR-9-6. The selective expression of TECK and GPR-9-6 in thymus and small intestine implies a dual role for GPR-9-6/CCR-9, both in T cell development and the mucosal immune response

Plasma Cholesterol-Induced Lesion Networks Activated before Regression of Early, Mature, and Advanced Atherosclerosis

Plasma cholesterol lowering (PCL) slows and sometimes prevents progression of atherosclerosis and may even lead to regression. Little is known about how molecular processes in the atherosclerotic arterial wall respond to PCL and modify responses to atherosclerosis regression. We studied atherosclerosis regression and global gene expression responses to PCL (>= 80%) and to atherosclerosis regression itself in early, mature, and advanced lesions. In atherosclerotic aortic wall from Ldlr(-/-)Apob(100/100)Mttp(flox/flox)Mx1-Cre mice, atherosclerosis regressed after PCL regardless of lesion stage. However, near-complete regression was observed only in mice with early lesions; mice with mature and advanced lesions were left with regression-resistant, relatively unstable plaque remnants. Atherosclerosis genes responding to PCL before regression, unlike those responding to the regression itself, were enriched in inherited risk for coronary artery disease and myocardial infarction, indicating causality. Inference of transcription factor (TF) regulatory networks of these PCL-responsive gene sets revealed largely different networks in early, mature, and advanced lesions. In early lesions, PPARG was identified as a specific master regulator of the PCL-responsive atherosclerosis TF-regulatory network, whereas in mature and advanced lesions, the specific master regulators were MLL5 and SRSF10/XRN2, respectively. In a THP-1 foam cell model of atherosclerosis regression, siRNA targeting of these master regulators activated the time-point-specific TF-regulatory networks and altered the accumulation of cholesterol esters. We conclude that PCL leads to complete atherosclerosis regression only in mice with early lesions. Identified master regulators and related PCL-responsive TF-regulatory networks will be interesting targets to enhance PCL-mediated regression of mature and advanced atherosclerotic lesions. Author Summary The main underlying cause of heart attacks and strokes is atherosclerosis. One strategy to prevent these often deadly clinical events is therefore either to slow atherosclerosis progression or better, induce regression of atherosclerotic plaques making them more stable. Plasma cholesterol lowering (PCL) is the most efficient way to induce atherosclerosis regression but sometimes fails to do so. In our study, we used a mouse model with elevated LDL cholesterol levels, similar to humans who develop early atherosclerosis, and a genetic switch to lower plasma cholesterol at any time during atherosclerosis progression. In this model, we examined atherosclerosis gene expression and regression in response to PCL at three different stages of atherosclerosis progression. PCL led to complete regression in mice with early lesions but was incomplete in mice with mature and advanced lesions, indicating that early prevention with PCL in individuals with increased risk for heart attack or stroke would be particularly useful. In addition, by inferring PCL-responsive gene networks in early, mature and advanced atherosclerotic lesions, we identified key drivers specific for regression of early (PPARG), mature (MLL5) and advanced (SRSF10/XRN2) atherosclerosis. These key drivers should be interesting therapeutic targets to enhance PCL-mediated regression of atherosclerosis

Role of the cholinergic nervous system in rheumatoid arthritis: aggravation of arthritis in nicotinic acetylcholine receptor alpha7 subunit gene knockout mice

BACKGROUND: The alpha7 subunit of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (alpha7nAChR) can negatively regulate the synthesis and release of proinflammatory cytokines by macrophages and fibroblast-like synoviocytes in vitro. In addition, stimulation of the alpha7nAChR can reduce the severity of arthritis in murine collagen-induced arthritis (CIA). OBJECTIVE: To provide more insight into the role of the alpha7nAChR in the pathogenesis of arthritis by investigating the effect of the absence of alpha7nAChR in CIA in alpha7-deficient (alpha7nAChR(-/-)) compared with wild-type (WT) mice. METHODS: CIA was induced in alpha7nAChR(-/-) and WT littermate mice at day 0 by immunisation with chicken collagen type II (cCII) followed by a booster injection with cCII on day 20. Mice were killed on day 44 or day 63 and arthritis activity as well as radiological and histological damage were scored. The effects on the immune response were evaluated by measurement of antigen-specific antibodies and cytokines, and evaluation of the effects on antigen-specific stimulated spleen cells. RESULTS: In alpha7nAChR(-/-) mice a significant increase in the incidence and severity of arthritis as well as increased synovial inflammation and joint destruction were seen. Exacerbation of CIA was associated with elevated systemic proinflammatory cytokines and enhanced T-helper cell 1 (Th1)-cytokine and tumour necrosis factor alpha production by spleen cells. Moreover, a specific decrease in the collagen-specific 'Th1-associated' IgG2a response was seen, whereas IgG1 titres were unaffected. CONCLUSIONS: The results presented here indicate that immune cell function in a model of rheumatoid arthritis is regulated by the cholinergic system and, at least in part, mediated by the alpha7nACh

Local stimulation of alpha 7 cholinergic receptors inhibits LPS-induced TNF-alpha release in the mouse lung

The cholinergic nervous system can inhibit the release of proinflammatory cytokines such as TNF-alpha from LPS-stimulated macrophages. Acetylcholine, the principal neurotransmitter of the vagus nerve, is the key mediator of this so-called cholinergic anti-inflammatory pathway, specifically interacting with alpha 7 cholinergic receptors expressed by macrophages and other cell types to inhibit TNF-alpha production. The aim of the current study was to determine the capacity of the selective alpha 7 cholinergic receptor agonist 3-(2,4-dimethoxybenzylidene) anabaseine (GTS-21), administered locally into the airways, to inhibit LPS-induced inflammatory responses in the mouse lung in vivo. GTS-21 dose-dependently inhibited LPS-induced TNF-alpha release by MH-S mouse alveolar macrophages in vitro. Intranasal inoculation with GTS-21 also dose-dependently inhibited TNF-alpha release into the lung compartment after intrapulmonary delivery of LPS in mice in vivo, whereas IL-6 concentrations were not affected. However, GTS-21 did not influence the influx of neutrophils into bronchoalveolar lavage fluid elicited by LPS and increased the concentrations of the neutrophil-attracting chemokines cytokine-induced neutrophil chemoattractant and macrophage inflammatory protein 2. These data indicate that local administration of GTS-21 inhibits TNF-alpha release in the lung during LPS-induced inflammatio

Stimulation of alpha 7 cholinergic receptors inhibits lipopolysaccharide-induced neutrophil recruitment by a tumor necrosis factor alpha-independent mechanism

The cholinergic nervous system controls inflammation by inhibiting the release of proinflammatory cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor (TNF) alpha from lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated macrophages. The key endogenous mediator of this so-called cholinergic anti-inflammatory pathway is acetylcholine, the principal neurotransmitter of the vagus nerve, which specifically interacts with alpha7 cholinergic receptors expressed by macrophages and other cell types to inhibit TNF-alpha production. We here investigated the capacity of the selective alpha7 cholinergic receptor agonist 3-(2,4-dimethoxybenzylidene) anabaseine (GTS-21) to inhibit LPS-induced inflammatory responses in mice in vivo. To this end, mice received an intraperitoneal injection of LPS (from Escherichia coli, 200 microg) preceded by GTS-21 (4 mg/kg) or vehicle. GTS-21 strongly inhibited LPS-induced TNF-alpha release into the peritoneal cavity and the circulation. In addition, GTS-21 attenuated the influx of neutrophils into peritoneal fluid upon administration of LPS. This inhibitory effect on neutrophil recruitment by GTS-21 was independent of its effect on TNF-alpha release, considering that etanercept, a potent TNF-alpha-blocking protein containing the extracellular domain of the p75 TNF-alpha receptor, did not influence LPS-induced neutrophil influx either in the presence or in the absence of GTS-21 treatment. GTS-21 did not reduce the local secretion of macrophage inflammatory protein 2 and keratinocyte-derived cytokine, suggesting that altered concentrations of these neutrophil-attracting chemokines did not contribute to GTS-21-induced inhibition of neutrophil migration. These data identify a novel anti-inflammatory effect of chemical alpha7 cholinergic receptor stimulation that is independent from its capacity to inhibit TNF-alpha productio