Molecular characterization of the β chain of the murine interleukin 5 receptor

Interleukin 5 (IL-5) is a multifunctional cytokine that regulates the proliferation and differentiation of hematopoietlc cells Including B cells and eosinophlls. The murine IL-5 acts on target cells via an IL-5 specific high-affinity receptor (Kd ≃ 150 pM) that has been proposed to be composed of at least two membrane polypeptide chains. The p60 component recognized by anti-murine IL-5 receptor mAbs H7 and T21 binds IL-5 with low affinity (Kd ≃ 10 nM). The other component is p130, detectable by following cross-linking experiments with IL-5. Using H7, T21, and R52.120 mAbs specific to murine IL-5 receptor, we characterized the molecular nature of the p130 of the high affinity receptor for murine IL-5. R52.120 mAb did not recognize the IL-5 binding recombinant p60 expressed on COS7 cells, but reacted with p130/140 on IL-5-dependent cell lines. R52.120 mAb showed partial inhibition of the IL-5-induced proliferation of the IL-5-dependent early B cell line Y16 at high IL-5 concentrations. Addition of R52.120 mAb together with H7 or T21 mAb caused more striking inhibition of the IL-5-dependent proliferation than that caused by either of them alone. R52.120 mAb down-regulated the number and dissociation constant of IL-5 binding sites with high affinity without affecting the levels of these with low-affinity. It also preferentially inhibited the formation of the cross-linked complex of p130 with radlolabeledIL-5. These results Indicate that p130/p140, recognized by R52.120 mAb, Is indispensable, together with p60, for the formation of high affinity IL-5 receptor. We propose to designate p60 and p130/p140 as the α and β chain of IL-5 receptor, respectivel

Long-term Observation of Osteomalacia Caused by Adefovir-Induced Fanconi’s Syndrome

A 64-year-old man suffering polyarthralgia and bone pain was referred to our hospital. Renal dysfunction, hypophosphatemia and increased levels of bone alkaline phosphatase were found. The patientʼs serum creatinine level had gradually increased after the initiation of adefovir dipivoxil administration for hepatitis B. In agreement with multifocal uptakes of bone scintigraphy, iliac bone biopsy revealed an abnormal increase in osteoid tissues. Reducing the dose of adefovir and initiating the administration of eldecalcitol were effective for reducing proteinuria and glucosuria, and for ameliorating bone pain with an increase in serum phosphate level. This case first showed a clinical course of hypophosphatemic osteomalacia caused by secondary Fanconiʼs syndrome for 8 years after adefovir administration. Early diagnosis is important for the reversibility of bone damage and for a better renal prognosis

Spontaneous Fibrosarcoma with Pleomorphic Appearance in an Aged Brown Norway Rat

An 18-month-old male Brown Norway (BN) rat showed a grayish-white subcutaneous mass in the right cheek. Histologically, the mass was composed of highly pleomorphic cells producing collagen. Immunohistochemical analysis showed that the tumor cells were strongly positive for vimentin and partially positive for Ki-67; however, they were negative for ED-1, ED-2, S-100, cytokeratin, desmin and myoglobin. Ultrastructurally, the cytoplasms of the tumor cells contained well-developed rough endoplasmic reticulum. Thus, the tumor had no characteristic feature other than collagen production and was diagnosed as a fibrosarcoma

Immunohistochemical and Ultrastructural Analyses of Cytoplasmic Blood Plasma Inclusions of Rat Hepatocytes

In the present study, we investigated the histological, immunohistochemical and ultrastructural characteristics of cytoplasmic blood plasma inclusions that spontaneously occurred in a rat liver. Histologically, a number of cytoplasmic inclusions were observed in the liver of an 8-week-old female SD rat. These inclusions were strongly positive for PAS staining and resistant to diastase digestion. Immunohistochemical analyses revealed that these inclusions were positive for albumin and IgG; however, most of them were negative for LAMP-1 and LAMP-2. Ultrastructurally, the inclusions were surrounded by limiting membranes and composed of moderately electron dense, homogenous materials. These characteristics described here represent valuable information for pathological examination in toxicity studies

Report on RN97 Cruise by T/S Nagasaki Maru in the Southern Okinawa Trough

As a part of the educational cruise (RN97 Cruise) for students of College of Science, University of the Ryukyus, by T/S Nagasaki Maru, the scientific survey is carried out during November 15 to 24, 1997. We dredge seafloor samples at several seaknolls which locate in the southern Okinawa Trough. Pumices and dacitic lava fragments are dredged. The rocks are quite fresh, and thus appear to be Quaternary eruptives, confirming the presence of continuous volcanic front from the northern Ryukyu Arc to the southern Ryukyu Arc. Surface sediment type varies depending on depositional settings. Sediments recovered by a grab sampler are composed of quartz sand in the continental shelf, biogenic calcareous sand in the Hokuto-Sekibi Bank and the Ryukyu Ridge, and mud in the Okinawa Trough. The radiolarian assemblage from the surface sediment sample in the Okinawa Trough is characterized by warm water species in accord with the oceanographic setting.紀要論文http://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_650

Report on RN98 cruise by T/S Nagasaki Maru in the area around the southern Ryukyu Islands

Investigation of subbottom seismicity, grab sampling of surface sediments, and net sampling of planktonic organisms were carried out in the southern Okinawa Trough and off Miyako Island in November 1998. Four pop-up type ocean bottom seismographs (OBS) were settled on the seafloor of the southern Okinawa Trough to investigate subbottom seismicity of this area. All OBS' s were successfully retrieved after 4 days observation and numerous number of micro-earthquakes were recorded by them. Surface sediments collected from the island shelf and the adjacent slopes off the west coast of Miyako Island are composed mainly of bioclastic carbonate sand. Foraminifers occur dominantly in some samples and alive benthic organisms such as larger foraminifers, sponges, corals and molluscs were obtained from some samples. Neogene mudstone gravels were taken from the station on the fore-arc slope south of the island. Ten phyllosoma larvae of Palinurid lobster and Scyllarid lobster are collected by the large larval net (mouth diameter: 2.0 m) from the surface layer north of Iriomote Island. Each phyllosoma larva was kept in the 1 liter bottle, and they were transported to the laboratory to study the larval development.紀要論文http://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_650

Optically induced mode splitting in self-assembled high quality-factor conjugated polymer microcavities

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Pressure-induced superconductivity in AgxBi2-xSe3

We investigated the pressure dependence of electric transport and crystal structure of Ag-doped Bi2Se3. In the sample prepared by Ag doping of Bi2Se3, the Bi atom was partially replaced by Ag, i.e., Ag0.05Bi1.95Se3. X-ray diffraction patterns of Ag0.05Bi1.95Se3 measured at 0–30 GPa showed three different structural phases, with rhombohedral, monoclinic, and tetragonal structures forming in turn as pressure increased, and structural phase transitions at 8.8 and 24 GPa. Ag0.05Bi1.95Se3 showed no superconductivity down to 2.0 K at 0 GPa, but under pressure, superconductivity suddenly appeared at 11 GPa. The magnetic field (H) dependence of the superconducting transition temperature Tc was measured at 11 and 20.5 GPa, in order to investigate whether the pressure-induced superconducting phase is explained by either p-wave polar model or s-wave model