Markers of Memory CD8

BNT162b2, a nucleoside-modified mRNA vaccine for SARS-CoV-2 spike glycoprotein (S), provides approximately 95% efficacy for preventing COVID-19. However, it remains unclear how effectively memory CD8+ T cells are generated and which genetic and environmental factors affect the generation and function of memory CD8+ T cells elicited by this vaccine. Here, we investigated the frequency and functions of memory CD8+ T cells 3 weeks after the second vaccination in the Japanese population. Using a peptide-MHC pentamer, we detected an increased number of memory CD8+ T cells together with increased serum anti-S protein antibody in females compared with that in males, but the frequency of pentamer-positive cells was not positively correlated with antibody titers. Memory precursor effector cells (KLRG1-CD127+) among both CD8+ cells and pentamer+ cells and effector cells (CD38-HLA-DR+) among pentamer+ cells were more abundant in females than in males. Upon S protein-mediated stimulation of T cells, the intensity of CD107a and granzyme B expression was increased in females compared with that in males, indicating stronger memory CD8+ T cell responses in females than in males. Our studies showed that the BNT162b2 vaccine elicits increased memory CD8+ T cell proliferation and secondary CTL responses in females compared with those in males in the Japanese population. These findings provide an important basis for the distinct sex difference in cellular immune responses to mRNA vaccination and suggest that memory precursor effector cells can be one of markers to evaluate and boost cellular immunity induced by BNT162b2

Glutathione S-transferase pi localizes in mitochondria and protects against oxidative stress.

Glutathione S-transferases (GSTs) are multifunctional enzymes involved in the protection of cellular components against anti-cancer drugs or peroxidative stress. Previously we found that GST pi, an isoform of the GSTs, is transported into the nucleus. In the present study, we found that GST pi is present in mitochondria as well as in the cytosol and nucleus in mammalian cell lines. A construct comprising the 84 amino acid residues in the amino-terminal region of GST pi and green fluorescent protein was detected in the mitochondria. The mutation of arginine to alanine at positions 12, 14, 19, 71, and 75 in full-length GST pi completely abrogated the ability to distribute in the mitochondria, suggesting that arginine, a positively charged residue, is required for the mitochondrial transport of GST pi. Chemicals generating reactive oxygen species, such as rotenone and antimycin A, decreased cell viability and reduced mitochondrial membrane potential. The overexpression of GST pi diminished these changes. GST pi-targeting siRNA abolished the protective effect of GST pi on the mitochondria under oxidative stress. The findings indicate that the peptide signal is conducive to the mitochondrial localization of GST pi under steady-state conditions without alternative splicing or posttranslational modifications such as proteolysis, suggesting that GST pi protects mitochondria against oxidative stress

Field-induced bound-state condensation and spin-nematic phase in SrCu2_2(BO3_3)2_2 revealed by neutron scattering up to 25.9 T

Bose-Einstein condensation (BEC) underpins exotic forms of order ranging from superconductivity to superfluid 4 He. In quantum magnetic materials, ordered phases induced by an applied magnetic field can be described as the BEC of magnon excitations. With sufficiently strong magnetic frustration, exemplified by the system SrCu$_2$(BO$_3$)$_2$ , no clear magnon BEC is observed and the complex spectrum of multi-magnon bound states may allow a different type of condensation, but the high fields required to probe this physics have remained a barrier to detailed investigation. Here we exploit the first purpose-built high-field neutron scattering facility to measure the spin excitations of SrCu$_2$(BO$_3$)$_2$ up to 25.9 T and use cylinder matrix-product-states (MPS) calculations to reproduce the experimental spectra with high accuracy. Multiple unconventional features point to a condensation of $S = 2$ bound states into a spin-nematic phase, including the gradients of the one-magnon branches, the presence of many novel composite two- and three-triplon excitations and the persistence of a one-magnon spin gap. This gap reflects a direct analogy with superconductivity, suggesting that the spin-nematic phase in SrCu$_2$(BO$_3$)$_2$ is best understood as a condensate of bosonic Cooper pairs. Our results underline the wealth of unconventional states yet to be found in frustrated quantum magnetic materials under extreme conditions

A comparison of nephrotoxicity between patients with a solitary-functioning kidney and those with bilateral-functioning kidneys in cisplatin-based chemotherapy for advanced urothelial carcinoma: a Japanese retrospective multi-institutional study

BackgroundTo compare the prevalence of nephrotoxicity between patients with a solitary-functioning kidney versus those with bilateral-functioning kidneys during the administration of cisplatin-based chemotherapy for advanced urothelial carcinoma.MethodsWe retrospectively analyzed 244 advanced urothelial carcinoma patients treated with cisplatin-based chemotherapy between 2004 and 2010 at 17 institutes in Japan. The 24 h creatinine clearance, Cockcroft–Gault formula, and estimated glomerular filtration rate equation (eGFR), were compared before all chemotherapies. The urinary tract function status was determined based on the data of nephroureterectomy, hydronephrosis, and relief of upper urinary tract obstruction. A total of 244 patients were divided into four groups according to their urinary tract functioning status and eGFR results, including bilateral-functioning kidneys with pretreatment eGFR ≥60 mL/min/1.73 m2 group (n = 83, 34.0%); a solitary-functioning kidney with pretreatment eGFR ≥60 mL/min/1.73 m2 group (n = 36, 14.8%); bilateral-functioning kidneys with pretreatment eGFR  10% and 30% from baseline in the post-third-course of chemotherapy was significantly higher in patients with bilateral-functioning kidneys than in those with a solitary-functioning kidney, among patients with pretreatment eGFR  20% from baseline were significantly higher in patients with bilateral-functioning kidneys than those with a solitary-functioning kidney among patients with pretreatment eGFR < 60 mL/min/1.73 m2 (p = 0.034), whereas no significant difference was observed among patients with pretreatment eGFR ≥60 mL/min/1.73 m2.ConclusionsThe results suggest that cisplatin-based chemotherapy may have more nephrotoxicity in patients with bilateral-functioning kidneys than in those with a solitary-functioning kidney

Strain-induced creation and switching of anion vacancy layers in perovskite oxynitrides

Using strain to control oxynitride properties. 京都大学プレスリリース. 2020-12-01.原子空孔の配列を制御する新手法の発見. 京都大学プレスリリース. 2020-12-02.Perovskite oxides can host various anion-vacancy orders, which greatly change their properties, but the order pattern is still difficult to manipulate. Separately, lattice strain between thin film oxides and a substrate induces improved functions and novel states of matter, while little attention has been paid to changes in chemical composition. Here we combine these two aspects to achieve strain-induced creation and switching of anion-vacancy patterns in perovskite films. Epitaxial SrVO3 films are topochemically converted to anion-deficient oxynitrides by ammonia treatment, where the direction or periodicity of defect planes is altered depending on the substrate employed, unlike the known change in crystal orientation. First-principles calculations verified its biaxial strain effect. Like oxide heterostructures, the oxynitride has a superlattice of insulating and metallic blocks. Given the abundance of perovskite families, this study provides new opportunities to design superlattices by chemically modifying simple perovskite oxides with tunable anion-vacancy patterns through epitaxial lattice strain

チュウゴク ガクゼン キョウイク ノ ゲンジョウ ト テンボウ : ヒカク キョウイクガク ノ シザ カラ

In Japan, educational reform is now in the middle of third phase. After a series of discussion in the ad hoc Council of Education, "the Law Concerning the Development of Implementation Systems and Other Measures for the Promotion of Lifelong Learning" was enacted in June, 1990. In 1997, "Programs for Educational Reform" was revised, and the new "Course of Study" was implemented for the sake of enriching "education of mind". Then in April, 2000, new "National Curriculum Standard for Kindergarten" was put into effective. Likewise in China, "the resolution of developing modernization with priority given to economic development" in December, 1978 led educational schemes to expand favorably in spite of some concerns about financial situation. In May, 1985, "Decision on the Reform of Educational System" was announced and the educational reform became full-fledged in order to develop nature and talent of Chinese people. In February 1993, a new guideline for educational reform called "Standard for Educational Reform and Development in China" was issued. In January 1999, "the Plan for the Promotion of Education towards 21^ Century" made by the priority reform project was enacted. Under these circumstances, "nature education" was valued and the new concept of scholastic ability, not merely the amount of knowledge, has been gradually recognized as important. While education in China has been promoted along the general reform and scheme plan, pre-school education is now considered important as one aspect of fundamental education (up to the upper-secondary level). To put it more precisely, pre-school education is regarded as \u27fundamental\u27 in fundamental education, and it is considered that it can not only be the basement for the life-long human growth, but also play a crucial role for developing general growth of nature and for the promotion of social progress. This rapid progress of pre-school education can be realized along with the fast growth of economy, cultural development, and the improvement of people\u27s living in China. Those are the current situation of pre-school and early childhood education both in Japan and China. We spent these 10 years to interchange research and education with Chinese counterpart and updated the information of pre-school education in China. This paper deals with the comparative analysis between current situation of Chinese pre-school education and those of Japanese early childhood education, particularly in cooperation with Ms. Zhu Shiyuan, Professor of Education at Beijing Normal University and President of OMEP Chinese Committee.国立情報学研究所『研究紀要公開支援事業』により電子化