骨代謝に関与する栄養素

Osteoporosis is considered to be one of the life style related disease. Therefore, from the viewpoint of osteoporosis prevention, daily diet and nutrient intake are important. A Japanese cohort study showed that low milk (calcium) intake may increase the risk of hip fracture. However, daily calcium intake was about 579 mg/day on average in 1996, which is lower than the dietary allowance for calcium recommended by Japanese government (600 mg/day). Then, we focused on appropriate nutrient that can be modified calcium absorption. Vitamin D is important because age-related vitamin D deficiency lead to malabsorption of calcium. Vitamin D supplementation has been shown to retard bone loss and reduce hip fracture incidence in elderly women. Furthermore, excessive intake of phosphorus presumably leads to bone impairment, life style particularly on food habit depending on retort foods, containing high phosphorus, must be changed. In conclusion, an adequate intake of calcium together with nutrient balance plays an essential role in maintaining and promoting health and preventing osteoporosis

Sh3bp2 Gain-Of-Function Mutation Ameliorates Lupus Phenotypes in B6.MRL-Faslpr Mice

SH3 domain-binding protein 2 (SH3BP2) is an adaptor protein that is predominantly expressed in immune cells, and it regulates intracellular signaling. We had previously reported that a gain-of-function mutation in SH3BP2 exacerbates inflammation and bone loss in murine arthritis models. Here, we explored the involvement of SH3BP2 in a lupus model. Sh3bp2 gain-of-function (P416R knock-in; Sh3bp2KI/+) mice and lupus-prone B6.MRL-Faslpr mice were crossed to yield double-mutant (Sh3bp2KI/+Faslpr/lpr) mice. We monitored survival rates and proteinuria up to 48 weeks of age and assessed renal damage and serum anti-double-stranded DNA antibody levels. Additionally, we analyzed B and T cell subsets in lymphoid tissues by flow cytometry and determined the expression of apoptosis-related molecules in lymph nodes. Sh3bp2 gain-of-function mutation alleviated the poor survival rate, proteinuria, and glomerulosclerosis and significantly reduced serum anti-dsDNA antibody levels in Sh3bp2KI/+Faslpr/lpr mice. Additionally, B220+CD4-CD8- T cell population in lymph nodes was decreased in Sh3bp2KI/+Faslpr/lpr mice, which is possibly associated with the observed increase in cleaved caspase-3 and tumor necrosis factor levels. Sh3bp2 gain-of-function mutation ameliorated clinical and immunological phenotypes in lupus-prone mice. Our findings offer better insight into the unique immunopathological roles of SH3BP2 in autoimmune diseases

Approach to novel functional foods for stress control : 2. Microarray assessment of exercise in healthy volunteers

DNA microarray was used to measure stress response by exercise inperipheral blood leukocytes. Aerobic exercise did not alter mRNA pattern or urinary secretion of 8-hydroxy-2’-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG). Strenuous exercise increased urinary secretion of 8-OHdG and altered mRNA pattern in microarray. These results suggest that moderate exercise, i. e. aerobic exercise, did not show any change in 8-OHdG, an oxidative stress marker, or mRNA expression in the leukocytes, which might reflect whole body neurohormanal changes. In addition, strenuous exercise produced quite different expression pattern from those of psychological stress

Assessment of human stress and depression by DNA microarray analysis

Precise assessment of stress is an imminent issue to deal with stress-related social, medical and psychological problems. Psychological stress is known to stimulate the neuroendocrine, sympathetic nervous, and immune systems. By analyzing mRNA expression levels in leukocytes, which express receptors for hormones, neurotransmitters, growth factors, cytokines, and other stress related signals, levels of stress may be adequately measured. In a series of studies, our group has developed a cDNA microarray specifically designed to measure the mRNA levels of stress-related genes in peripheral blood leukocytes. This microarray enabled us to sensitively detect the response to psychological stress. In addition, our preliminary study suggests that the array could differentiate patients with depression from sex- and age-matched control subjects

Acetophenone Monomers from Acronychia trifoliolata

Seven new [acronyculatins I-O (1-7)] and four known acetophenone monomers were isolated from a CH 3 OH/CH 2 Cl 2 (1:1) extract (N089419) of Acronychia trifoliolata provided by the U.S. National Cancer Institute (NCI, Frederick, MD, USA). Their structures were characterized by using various NMR and HRMS techniques. Among the known compounds, the structure of acronyculatin B (8) was revised. Some of the isolated compounds were evaluated for antiproliferative activity against human cancer cell lines. While most of the tested compounds were not cytotoxic, acronyculatins I (1) and J (2) showed moderate antiproliferative activity

Rapid and convenient method of autoradiography for DNA cloning using digital imaging analysis

Digital image analysis has been used for various biochemical and molecular biological analyses instead of autoradiography with X-ray film. However, in such cases the data manipulated by an imaging analyzer was generally printed out on normal printing paper. With normal paper, it is difficult to align the signal or its position relative to the original sample. Here in, we demonstrate it to be convenient and accurate to align signal obtained by imaging analyzer with OHP film