Development of a Handheld Line Information Reader and Generator for Efficient Management of Optical Communication Lines

A handheld line information reader and a line information generator were developed for the efficient management of optical communication lines. The line information reader consists of a photo diode, trans-impedance amplifier, voltage amplifier, microcontroller unit, display panel, and communication modules. The line information generator consists of a laser diode, laser driving circuits, microcontroller unit, and communication modules. The line information reader can detect the optical radiation field of the test line by bending the optical fiber. To enhance the sensitivity of the line information reader, an additional lens was used with a focal length of 4.51 mm. Moreover, the simulation results obtained through BeamPROP® software from Synopsys, Inc. demonstrated a stronger optical radiation field of the fiber due to a longer transmission wavelength and larger bending angle of the fiber. Therefore, the developed devices can be considered as useful tools for the efficient management of optical communication lines

The nonphagocytic NADPH oxidase Duox1 mediates a positive feedback loop during T cell receptor signaling.

Production of reactive oxygen species, often by NADPH (reduced form of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate) oxidases, plays a role in the signaling responses of cells to many receptor stimuli. Here, we describe the function of the calcium-dependent, nonphagocytic NADPH oxidase Duox1 in primary human CD4(+) T cells and cultured T cell lines. Duox1 bound to inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptor 1 and was required for early T cell receptor (TCR)-stimulated production of hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)) through a pathway that was dependent on TCR-proximal kinases. Transient or stable knockdown of Duox1 inhibited TCR signaling, especially phosphorylation of tyrosine-319 of zeta chain-associated protein kinase of 70 kilodaltons (ZAP-70), store-operated entry of calcium ions (Ca(2+)), and activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase. The production of cytokines was also inhibited by knockdown of Duox1. Duox1-mediated inactivation of Src homology 2 domain-containing protein tyrosine phosphatase 2 promoted the phosphorylation of ZAP-70 and its association with the Src family tyrosine kinase Lck and the CD3zeta chain of the TCR complex. Thus, we suggest that activation of Duox1, downstream of proximal TCR signals, generates H(2)O(2) that acts in a positive feedback loop to enhance and sustain further TCR signaling.Journal ArticleResearch Support, N.I.H. ExtramuralResearch Support, N.I.H. IntramuralResearch Support, Non-U.S. Gov'tSCOPUS: ar.jinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishe

Peripheral Blood from Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients Shows Decreased Treg CD25 Expression and Reduced Frequency of Effector Treg Subpopulation

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a common autoimmune disease characterized by immune cell infiltration of the synovium, leading to the loss of cartilage, bone, and joint function. Although regulatory T (Treg) cells are thought to modulate the initiation and progression of RA, a consensus has yet to be reached regarding the function and composition of Treg cells in RA patients. To address these discrepancies, we analyzed not only the total Treg frequency but also that of Treg subpopulations in the peripheral blood of RA patients and healthy controls by flow cytometry. We found that the total Treg population was not significantly different between RA and control subjects. However, the effector Treg cell subgroup, defined as CD45RA−CD25hi, showed markedly decreased frequency in RA patients. In addition, the total Treg population from RA patients showed a significant decline in the expression of CD25. Both the naïve and effector Treg subgroups also showed marked reduction of CD25 expression in RA patients compared to controls. These data suggest that the decreased frequency of effector Treg cells and overall reduction of CD25 expression in Treg cells in the peripheral blood may be evidence of altered Treg homeostasis associated with RA pathogenesis

Adherence of Trichomonas vaginalis to SiHa Cells is Inhibited by Diphenyleneiodonium

Microbial adhesion is critical for parasitic infection and colonization of host cells. To study the host–parasite interaction in vitro, we established a flow cytometry-based assay to measure the adherence of Trichomonas vaginalis to epithelial cell line SiHa. SiHa cells and T. vaginalis were detected as clearly separated, quantifiable populations by flow cytometry. We found that T. vaginalis attached to SiHa cells as early as 30 min after infection and the binding remained stable up to several hours, allowing for analysis of drug treatment efficacy. Importantly, NADPH oxidase inhibitor DPI treatment induced the detachment of T. vaginalis from SiHa cells in a dose-dependent manner without affecting host cell viability. Thus, this study may provide an understanding for the potential development of therapies against T. vaginalis and other parasite infections

Gene Set Enrichment Analysis Reveals That Fucoidan Induces Type I IFN Pathways in BMDC

Fucoidan, a sulfated polysaccharide extracted from brown seaweed, has been proposed to effectively treat and prevent various viral infections. However, the mechanisms behind its antiviral activity are not completely understood. We investigate here the global transcriptional changes in bone marrow-derived dendritic cells (BMDCs) using RNA-Seq technology. Through both analysis of differentially expressed genes (DEG) and gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA), we found that fucoidan-treated BMDCs were enriched in virus-specific response pathways, including that of SARS-CoV-2, as well as pathways associated with nucleic acid-sensing receptors (RLR, TLR, NLR, STING), and type I interferon (IFN) production. We show that these transcriptome changes are driven by well-known regulators of the inflammatory response against viruses, including IRF, NF-κB, and STAT family transcription factors. Furthermore, 435 of the 950 upregulated DEGs are classified as type I IFN-stimulated genes (ISGs). Flow cytometric analysis additionally showed that fucoidan increased MHCII, CD80, and CD40 surface markers in BMDCs, indicative of greater antigen presentation and co-stimulation functionality. Our current study suggests that fucoidan transcriptionally activates PRR signaling, type I IFN production and signaling, ISGs production, and DC maturation, highlighting a potential mechanism of fucoidan-induced antiviral activity