Biological Effects of Mammalian Translationally Controlled Tumor Protein (TCTP) on Cell Death, Proliferation, and Tumorigenesis

Translationally controlled tumor protein (TCTP) is a highly conserved protein found in eukaryotes, across animal and plant kingdoms and even in yeast. Mammalian TCTP is ubiquitously expressed in various tissues and cell types. TCTP is a multifunctional protein which plays important roles in a number of cell physiological events, such as immune responses, cell proliferation, tumorigenicity, and cell death, including apoptosis. Recent identification of TCTP as an antiapoptotic protein has attracted interest of many researchers in the field. The mechanism of antiapoptotic activity, however, has not been solved completely, and TCTP might inhibit other types of cell death. Cell death (including apoptosis) is closely linked to proliferation and tumorigenesis. In this context, we review recent findings regarding the role of TCTP in cell death, proliferation, and tumorigenesis and discuss the mechanisms

Cnm of Streptococcus mutans is important for cell surface structure and membrane permeability

Streptococcus mutans, a Gram-positive facultative anaerobic bacterium, is a major pathogen of dental caries. The protein Cnm of S. mutans is involved in collagen binding, but its other biological functions are unknown. In this study, a Cnm-deficient isogenic mutant and a complementation strain were generated from a Cnm-positive S. mutans strain to help determine the properties of Cnm. Initially, comparison of the cell surface structure was performed by electron microscopy, which demonstrated that Cnm appears to be localized on the cell surface and associated with a protruding cell surface structure. Deep RNA sequencing of the strains revealed that the defect in Cnm caused upregulated expression of many genes related to ABC transporters and cell-surface proteins, while a few genes were downregulated. The amount of biofilm formed by the Cnm-defective strain increased compared with the parental and complemented strains, but the biofilm structure was thinner because of elevated expression of genes encoding glucan synthesis enzymes, leading to increased production of extracellular polysaccharides. Particular antibiotics, including bacitracin and chloramphenicol, had a lower minimum inhibitory concentration for the Cnm-defective strain than particular antibiotics, including bacitracin and chloramphenicol, compared with the parental and complemented strains. Our results suggest that S. mutans Cnm is located on the cell surface, gives rise to the observed protruding cell surface, and is associated with several biological properties related to membrane permeability

Clinical Impact of Down-Regulated Plasma miR-92a Levels in Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma

Background: We undertook a study to evaluate the clinical relevance of miR-92a in plasma obtained from non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL) patients, because the miR-17-92 polycistronic miRNA cluster plays a crucial role in lymphomagenesis and affects neo-angiogenesis. Methodology/Principal Findings: Plasma miR-92a values in NHL were extremely low (,5%), compared with healthy subjects (P,.0001), irrespective of lymphoma sub-type. The very low plasma level of miR-92a increased in the complete response (CR) phase but did not reach the normal range, and the plasma level was lower again in the relapse phase. Patients in CR or CR unconfirmed with a plasma miR-92a level of less than the cut-off level showed a significantly high relapse rate compared with patients with normalized plasma miR-92a level. Conclusions/Significance: The current results therefore indicate that the plasma miR-92a value could be a novel biomarke

Gastric mucosal levels of prostaglandins and leukotrienes in patients with gastric ulcer after treatment with rabeprazole in comparison to treatment with ranitidine

AIM : Prostaglandins (PGs) and leukotrienes (LTs) are major factors involved in the defense of the gastric mucosa against ulcer formation. However, little is still known about the gastromucosa-protecting action of proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) and histamine H2 receptor antagonists (H2 blockers) in patients with gastric ulcer. We therefore examined the effectiveness of a PPI in protecting the gastric mucosa. METHODS : We compared the PGE2 and LTB4 levels and the expression levels of cyclooxygenase (COX)-1 and COX-2 mRNA in the gastric mucosa in gastric ulcer patients between the group treated for 8 weeks with a PPI, rabeprazole (PPI group ; n=5), and the group treated for 8 weeks with an H2 blocker, ranitidine (H2 blocker group ; n=6), as well as in nonulcer subjects (control group ; n=5). RESULTS : The mucosal levels of PGE2 and COX-2 mRNA expression were significantly lower in the ulcer patients than those in the nonulcer patients, whereas the LTB4 level was significantly higher in the ulcer patients than that in the nonulcer patients, and it was also significantly lower in the ulcerated mucosa than that in the nonulcerated mucosa. The PPI group had a significantly increased PGE2 and decreased LTB4 levels in comparison to the H2 blocker group during the ulcer-healing stage. The COX-1 mRNA expression showed no difference among the PPI and H2 blocker groups or between before and after the treatment. However, the COX-2 mRNA expression increased in the PPI group more than that in the H2 blocker group during the ulcer-healing stage. CONCLUSION : These findings demonstrated the significant gastric-mucosa-protecting effect of PPI by increasing the PGE2 production and reducing the LTB4 production

PirB regulates asymmetries in hippocampal circuitry

Left-right asymmetry is a fundamental feature of higher-order brain structure; however, the molecular basis of brain asymmetry remains unclear. We recently identified structural and functional asymmetries in mouse hippocampal circuitry that result from the asymmetrical distribution of two distinct populations of pyramidal cell synapses that differ in the density of the NMDA receptor subunit GluRε2 (also known as NR2B, GRIN2B or GluN2B). By examining the synaptic distribution of ε2 subunits, we previously found that β2-microglobulin-deficient mice, which lack cell surface expression of the vast majority of major histocompatibility complex class I (MHCI) proteins, do not exhibit circuit asymmetry. In the present study, we conducted electrophysiological and anatomical analyses on the hippocampal circuitry of mice with a knockout of the paired immunoglobulin-like receptor B (PirB), an MHCI receptor. As in β2-microglobulin-deficient mice, the PirB-deficient hippocampus lacked circuit asymmetries. This finding that MHCI loss-of-function mice and PirB knockout mice have identical phenotypes suggests that MHCI signals that produce hippocampal asymmetries are transduced through PirB. Our results provide evidence for a critical role of the MHCI/PirB signaling system in the generation of asymmetries in hippocampal circuitry

カゾク カイゴシャ カラ ミタ ケアマネジャー ノ シエン

ここ数年， 家族介護者への支援の必要性が多くの場で語られるようになってきた． 支援者の側から家族介護者への支援を論じた研究は数多く見られるが， 家族介護者の側から支援者の支援を論じた研究はほとんどない． 本研究では， 認知症の人の家族介護者 6 名を対象に， ケアマネジャーが行う支援をどう捉えているかを明らかにすることを目的に， インタビュー調査を行った． その結果， 家族介護者のなかにはケアマネジャーの役割や業務範囲を理解できていない者がいること， 病気や制度， サービスに関しては専門職に頼られるほどの知識を有している者もいること， 問題なく安定しているように思えても， 家族介護者はその時々に応じた悩みや不安を抱えており， 支援が必要な状態にあることなどが見出された． 要介護者のみならず， 家族全体を支える支援システムの構築は早急に検討すべき課題である．For the last several years, the need of supports for family carers has been getting discussed on many occasions. While there are many studies arguing supports provided to family carers from supporters\u27 perspective, there are very few studies on the meaning of supporters\u27 involvement and its advantagesobserved by family carers. This study conducted a survey on 7 family carers of dementia patients with an objective to understand their perception of supports provided by care managers. As a result, it was revealed that some of them do not understand the roles and scopes of work of care managers, some of them possess so much knowledge that specialists rely on them for illness, systems and services and even if they appear to have no issues and to be stable, they have worries and concerns at times and can be in need of supports. Not only for those in need of carers, establishing a support system to assist families is an urgent matter to be considered

A patient with adult extrahepatic portal obstruction, of which distinction from intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma was difficult

A 51-year-old Japanese male with chief complaints of slightly high fever and epigastralgia was hospitalized at our facility. The inflammatory response was enhanced, and liver dysfunction was observed. Abdominal ultrasonography demonstrated a hyperechoic lesion occupying the left portal vein, and abdominal plain CT indicated a low density of the lesion with a clear boundary, measuring about 3 cm× 2 cm, between the porta hepatis and segment IV of the liver. Contrast CT showed no enhancement in the arterial and portal phases, but a reduction in the density inside the tumor in the equilibration phase was noted. MRI showed hypointensity by T1-weighted imaging and hyperintensity by T2-weighted imaging. Angiography demonstrated an obstruction of the left portal vein and superior mesenteric vein, and endoscopic retrograde cholangiography revealed a constriction in the left intrahepatic bile duct. Since the possibility of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma could not be excluded, extended left hepatectomy combined with caudate lobectomy was performed. The tumor, measuring 31 mm× 21 mm×20 mm, was pathohistologically diagnosed as an extrahepatic portal obstruction. Extrahepatic portal obstruction is an important disease that is sometimes difficult to rule out oncologic origin

A patient with octopus pot-shaped cardial cancer that metastasized to multiple organs

A 71-year-old male was admitted for abdominal fullness. The condition rapidly deteriorated in a short period (3weeks), and the patient died. Autopsy revealed a protruding lesion measuring about 3 cm with erosion measuring 5mmin diameter immediately below the esophago-gastric conjugation site, suggesting primary cardial undifferentiated adenocarcinoma. In the primary focus, changes on the mucosal surface were almost normal. However, below the mucosa, infiltration of cancer cells was observed in an approximately 3 cm area along the gastric wall. Simultaneously, the site of infiltration was markedly increased in deep areas. Extra serous infiltration was observed. The morphology was special, and resembled an octopus pot, a trap used to catch octopuses in Japan, with a narrow top and a broad base. In our patient, metastatic lesions were detected in multiple organs, including the stomach