Asymmetric leaves2 and elongator, a histone acetyltransferase complex, mediate the establishment of polarity in leaves of Arabidopsis thaliana

Leaf primordia are generated around the shoot apical meristem. Mutation of the ASYMMETRIC LEAVES2 (AS2) gene of Arabidopsis thaliana results in defects in repression of the meristematic and indeterminate state, establishment of adaxial-abaxial polarity and left-right symmetry in leaves. AS2 represses transcription of meristem-specific class 1 KNOX homeobox genes and of the abaxial-determinant genes ETTIN/ARF3, KANADI2 and YABBY5. To clarify the role of AS2 in the establishment of leaf polarity, we isolated mutations that enhanced the polarity defects associated with as2. We describe here the enhancer-of-asymmetric-leaves-two1 (east1) mutation, which caused the formation of filamentous leaves with abaxialized epidermis on the as2-1 background. Levels of transcripts of class 1 KNOX and abaxial-determinant genes were markedly higher in as2-1 east1-1 mutant plants than in the wild-type and corresponding single-mutant plants. EAST1 encodes the histone acetyltransferase ELONGATA3 (ELO3), a component of the Elongator complex. Genetic analysis, using mutations in genes involved in the biogenesis of a trans-acting small interfering RNA (ta-siRNA), revealed that ELO3 mediated establishment of leaf polarity independently of AS2 and the ta-siRNA-related pathway. Treatment with an inhibitor of histone deacetylases (HDACs) caused additive polarity defects in as2-1 east1-1 mutant plants, suggesting the operation of an ELO3 pathway, independent of the HDAC pathway, in the determination of polarity. We propose that multiple pathways play important roles in repression of the expression of class 1 KNOX and abaxial-determinant genes in the development of the adaxial domain of leaves and, thus, in the establishment of leaf polarity

Fermented Soybean Powder with Rice Mold in the Absence of Salt Stimulates the Cellular Immune System and Suppresses the Humoral Immune Response in Mice

The immunomodulatory effect of fermented non-salty soybean powder (NSBP) was investigated in C3H/HeN mice. The number of splenic CD11b(+), CD49b(+), and interferon (IFN)-gamma(+)CD4(+) cells increased significantly, while that of interleukin (IL)-4(+)CD4(+) and CD19(+) cells decreased significantly in cultures containing NSBP. Similarly, in the spleen and Peyer's patches of mice fed a diet containing NSBP, the number of IL-12(+)CD11b(+), CD49b(+), and IFN-gamma(+)CD4(+) cells increased noticeably, whereas the number of splenic IL-4(+)CD4(+) and CD19b(+) cells was lower compared to mice fed an NSBP-free diet. Superoxide production by peritoneal macrophages was significantly higher in mice fed an NSBP-containing diet. Both intestinal total IgA and serum total IgG levels declined in mice fed the NSBP-containing diet. Microarray analysis of mRNAs extracted from Peyer's patch cells of mice fed the NSBP-containing diet indicated an increase in the expression of several genes related to cellular immune responses, while the expression of genes related to immunoglobulin production decreased. These results indicate that NSBP stimulates the cellular immune response, but suppresses the acquired humoral immune response in C3H/HeN mice.ArticleJOURNAL OF NUTRITIONAL SCIENCE AND VITAMINOLOGY. 59(6):564-569 (2013)journal articl

Prognostic value of RKIP and p-ERK in gastric cancer

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway participates in several steps of tumour development and is considered a prominent therapeutic target for the design of chemotherapeutic agents. We evaluated the expressions of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), mitogen-activated protein kinase (MEK), an upstream regulator of ERK, and Raf kinase inhibitor protein (RKIP), and investigated correlations of these expressions with clinicopathological features and outcomes in gastric cancer.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Tumour samples were obtained from 105 patients with gastric adenocarcinomas who underwent radical gastrectomy. The expressions of phosphorylated ERK (p-ERK), phosphorylated MEK (p-MEK), and RKIP were analysed by immunohistochemical staining.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Expression of RKIP, p-MEK, and p-ERK was found in 69 (66%), 54 (51%), and 64 (61%) of all tumours, respectively. RKIP expression negatively correlated with the depth of invasion (p < 0.001), lymph node involvement (p = 0.028), and Union for International Cancer Control (UICC) stage (p = 0.007). RKIP expression was associated with significantly longer relapse-free survival (RFS) (p = 0.0033), whereas p-MEK was not (p = 0.79). Patients with p-ERK expression had slightly, but not significantly shorter RFS than those without such expression (p = 0.054). Patients with positive p-ERK and negative RKIP expression had significantly shorter RFS than the other patients (p < 0.001). The combination of RKIP and p-ERK expression was an independent prognostic factor (hazard ratio, 2.4; 95% confidence interval, 1.3 - 4.6; p = 0.008).</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Our results demonstrated that loss of RKIP was associated with tumour progression and poor survival. Negative RKIP expression combined with positive p-ERK expression was an independent predictor of poor outcomes in patients with gastric cancer.</p

Clinical perspectives of Treponema pallidum subsp. Endemicum infection in adults, particularly men who have sex with men in the Kansai area, Japan: A case series

Bejel, caused by Treponema pallidum subsp. Endemicum (TEN), is a locally transmitted disease among children and juveniles in hot and dry regions. The number of adult cases of TEN infection outside of endemic areas has recently increased. We clinically examined five cases of TEN infection among adult cases previously reported in Japan. TEN infection mainly developed among young to middle-aged men who have sex with men (MSM). The clinical features of cases of TEN infection were similar to those of primary- and secondary-stage T. pallidum subsp. pallidum (TPA) infection. Genital lesions were common as the primary lesion. The clinical features and laboratory parameters of cases of TEN infection were similar to those of TPA infection. Most of the isolated strains had the A2058G mutation in 23S rDNA, which is responsible for resistance to macrolides. We also performed the systemic literature review of the TEN cases outside the endemic countries. The recent reported cases diagnosed with molecular methods shared the clinical features, occurred in young-to middle-aged sexually active persons in urban areas of developed countries and often accompanied with genital lesions, which were distinct from the classic description of bejel. This case series and the literature review provides important clinical insights and will contribute to the clinical detection of this rarely identified disease in developed countries. The surveillance of treponematoses, including TEN infection, using molecular diagnostic techniques is also warranted in developed countries, for the purpose of grasping the epidemic situation and control the local transmission

Protection of Chickens against Very Virulent Infectious Bursal Disease Virus (IBDV) and Marek's Disease Virus (MDV) with a Recombinant MDV Expressing IBDV VP2

AbstractTo develop a herpes virus vaccine that can induce immunity for an extended period, a recombinant Marek's disease (MD) virus (MDV) CVI-988 strain expressing infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV) host-protective antigen VP2 at theUS2site (rMDV) was developed under the control of an SV40 early promoter. Chickens vaccinated with the rMDV showed no clinical signs and no mortality and 55% of the chickens were considered protected histopathologically after challenge with very virulent IBDV (vvIBDV), whereas all of the chickens vaccinated with the conventional IBDV vaccine showed no clinical signs and were protected. Chickens vaccinated with the CVI-988 or chickens in the challenge control showed severe clinical signs and high mortality (70–75%) and none of them were protected. Also, the rMDV conferred full protection to chickens against vvMDV just as the CVI-988 strain did, whereas 90% of the challenge control chickens died of MD. Antibody levels against IBDV and MDV following the vaccination increased continuously for at least 10 weeks. No histopathological lesions in the rMDV-vaccinated chickens and no contact transmission of the rMDV to their penmates were confirmed. These results demonstrate that an effective and safe recombinant herpesvirus-based IBD vaccine could be constructed by expressing the VP2 antigen at theUS2site of the CVI-988 vaccine strain