A proliferation-inducing ligand sustains the proliferation of human naïve (CD27−) B cells and mediates their differentiation into long-lived plasma cells in vitro via transmembrane activator and calcium modulator and cyclophilin ligand interactor and B-cell mature antigen

AbstractLong-lived plasma cells (PCs) contribute to humoral immunity through an undefined mechanism. Memory B cells, but not human naïve B cells, can be induced to differentiate into long-lived PCs in vitro. Because evidence links a proliferation-inducing ligand (APRIL), a tumor necrosis factor family member, to the ability of bone marrow to mediate long-term PC survival, we reasoned that APRIL influences the proliferation and differentiation of naïve B cells. We describe here the development of a simple cell culture system that allowed us to show that APRIL sustained the proliferation of naïve human B cells and induced them to differentiate into long-lived PCs. Blocking the transmembrane activator and calcium modulator and cyclophilin ligand interactor or B-cell mature antigen shows they were required for the differentiation of naïve B cells into long-lived PCs in vitro. Our in vitro culture system will reveal new insights into the biology of long-lived PCs

Relation between kindergarten curriculum and instruction planning

幼稚園教育は、保育者が幼児に活動を一斉に与えてねらいを達成させるものではない。幼児主体の活動と発達過程とをふまえた全体計画が基本である。そこで各園では、幼稚園教育要領に基づいて教育課程が編成される。しかし実際は、教育課程の捉え方が様々であり、形骸化してしまったり、内容が活動そのものになったりなど、誤解されていることが多い。また、教育課程と指導計画の内容が混同されたりして、それらが明確に区別されていないところも多い。ところが教育課程や指導計画は、幼児教育の根幹をなすものである。したがって、それらの混同は実践上の大きな問題を引き起こす。そこで、比較的よく組み立てられていると考えられたA幼稚園の教育目標、主に教育課程や指導計画について検討した。その結果、それらが幼児の発達過程に沿った一貫性のある教育計画になっていないことが分かった

FAM107A (family with sequence similarity 107, member A)

Review on FAM107A (family with sequence similarity 107, member A), with data on DNA, on the protein encoded, and where the gene is implicated

A View of Child-care to Ensure Infant's Learning in Activities

保育実践には、しっかりした子ども観や保育観が保育者に求められる。しかし、実際の保育では、子ども観や保育観に問題のある実践が見られる。最近、幼小連携が推進されている中で、遊びにおける学びを確かなものにすることが求められている。実際の保育では、子どもの活動を重視して、学びの内容を重視しないことが多い。そこで本論文では、学びの内容を追究することによって、社会性、認識力、科学知識などが、体験を通して子どもに学ばれていることを明らかにした。そうすることで、保育者は子どもの遊びにおける学びを的確に見取ることができることを提起した

Midkine antisense oligodeoxyribonucleotide inhibits renal damage induced by ischemic reperfusion

Midkine antisense oligodeoxyribonucleotide inhibits renal damage induced by ischemic reperfusion.BackgroundMidkine, a heparin-binding growth factor, is involved in the migration of inflammatory cells. The inflammatory cell migration to the tubulointerstitium of the kidney after ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury is attenuated in midkine gene–deficient mice, resulting in better preservation of the tubulointerstitium compared with wild-type mice. In the present investigation, we planned to evaluate the usefulness of antisense midkine for the therapy of ischemic renal failure.MethodsMidkine antisense phosphorothioate oligodeoxyribonucleotide (ODN) at a dose of 1 mg/kg in saline was intravenously administered to mice 1 day before or after I/R. The kidneys were removed for examination 1, 2, 3, and 7 days after I/R.ResultsIt was rapidly incorporated into proximal tubular epithelial cells, and inhibited midkine synthesis, leading to reduced migration of inflammatory cells to the injured epithelial layer. Consequently, the midkine antisense ODN-treated animals exhibited less severe renal damage than untreated or midkine sense ODN-treated animals 2 days after I/R as assessed by morphologic criteria and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and serum creatinine levels. Midkine expression, BUN, and serum creatinine levels were not significantly different between injection of midkine antisense ODN before and after ischemic injury.ConclusionThese results indicate that intravenous injection of midkine antisense ODN is a candidate for a novel therapeutic strategy against acute tubulointerstitial injury induced by I/R injury

Expression of midkine in the early stage of carcinogenesis in human colorectal cancer

It has been suggested that a heparin-binding growth factor, midkine (MK), plays an important role incarcinogenesis because of its frequent overexpression in various malignant tumours. To clarify whether or not MK contributes to theearly stage of carcinogenesis, we examined the status of MK mRNA in 20 adenomas with moderate- and severe-grade dysplasia, 28carcinomas and 28 corresponding normal tissues, by means of Northern blotting. The MK expression level was significantly moreelevated in adenomas than in normal tissues P< 0.001, unpaired Student's t -test). A difference wasalso observed between carcinomas and the corresponding normal tissues P< 0.04, paired Student's t-test). Moreover, MK immunostaining was positive in the adenomas with moderate- and severe-grade dysplasia and in the carcinomas,but not in mild-grade dysplasia or in normal tissues. These findings were in line with those on Western blotting. In three patientswith both adenomas with moderate- or severe-grade dysplasia and carcinomas, elevated MK expression was observed in the neoplasticlesions. This is the first report of the association of elevated MK expression with the early stage of carcinogenesis in humans. © 1999 Cancer Research Campaig