Low Cell-Matrix Adhesion Reveals Two Subtypes of Human Pluripotent Stem Cells.

We show that a human pluripotent stem cell (hPSC) population cultured on a low-adhesion substrate developed two hPSC subtypes with different colony morphologies: flat and domed. Notably, the dome-like cells showed higher active proliferation capacity and increased several pluripotent genes' expression compared with the flat monolayer cells. We further demonstrated that cell-matrix adhesion mediates the interaction between cell morphology and expression of KLF4 and KLF5 through a serum response factor (SRF)-based regulatory double loop. Our results provide a mechanistic view on the coupling among adhesion, stem cell morphology, and pluripotency, shedding light on the critical role of cell-matrix adhesion in the induction and maintenance of hPSC

Adjustment process of reasonable accommodation for students with disability

本研究の一部はJSPS科研費15K01683の助成を受けた。 本研究の一部は第45回中国四国大学保健管理研究集会（平成27年８月，徳島市），並びに第53回全国大学保健管理研究集会（平成27年９月，盛岡市）で発表した

Role of the RNA-Binding Protein Nrd1 in Stress Granule Formation and Its Implication in the Stress Response in Fission Yeast

We have previously identified the RNA recognition motif (RRM)-type RNA-binding protein Nrd1 as an important regulator of the posttranscriptional expression of myosin in fission yeast. Pmk1 MAPK-dependent phosphorylation negatively regulates the RNA-binding activity of Nrd1. Here, we report the role of Nrd1 in stress-induced RNA granules. Nrd1 can localize to poly(A)-binding protein (Pabp)-positive RNA granules in response to various stress stimuli, including heat shock, arsenite treatment, and oxidative stress. Interestingly, compared with the unphosphorylatable Nrd1, Nrd1DD (phosphorylation-mimic version of Nrd1) translocates more quickly from the cytoplasm to the stress granules in response to various stimuli; this suggests that the phosphorylation of Nrd1 by MAPK enhances its localization to stress-induced cytoplasmic granules. Nrd1 binds to Cpc2 (fission yeast RACK) in a phosphorylation-dependent manner and deletion of Cpc2 affects the formation of Nrd1-positive granules upon arsenite treatment. Moreover, the depletion of Nrd1 leads to a delay in Pabp-positive RNA granule formation, and overexpression of Nrd1 results in an increased size and number of Pabp-positive granules. Interestingly, Nrd1 deletion induced resistance to sustained stresses and enhanced sensitivity to transient stresses. In conclusion, our results indicate that Nrd1 plays a role in stress-induced granule formation, which affects stress resistance in fission yeast

長崎国際大学生における食生活の現状と骨密度の関係

日本人はカルシウムの摂取量が慢性的に不足していることから、骨粗鬆症、骨軟化症、さらにくる病などの骨関連疾患が大きな問題となっている。一方で、その予防には食生活が重要性な要因であると認識されている。そこで今回、大学生の生活状況を調査するため、骨形成に関与する栄養素に注目し、長崎国際大学健康管理学部健康栄養学科で実施されている「健康栄養調査プロジェクト」の結果を解析した。男子学生のカルシウム（Ca）摂取量は、目標量（６５０mg/日）をほぼ満たす量（６４７±７９mg/日）であったが、女子学生の Ca 摂取量（４８０±１１mg/日）は目標量（６００mg/日）の８０％と不足していた。食品群別にみると、女子学生においてミネラル分が豊富な海藻類、小魚の摂取頻度が少なく、このことが女子学生でみられた Ca 摂取不足の主たる原因と考えられた。また、牛乳の摂取頻度が週７回以上の群は、７回未満の群に比べ骨密度の高い傾向がみられ、このことから若年期においても牛乳の摂取頻度が骨密度に影響している可能性が示唆された。Japanese people is chronically low level of calcium ingestion, therefore it is increased disorders related bone, osteoporosis, osteomalacia, rickets and other. On the other hand their prevention is closely related to dietary habit. In this study, to see about dietary habit on young people, we analyzed the result of "The Health and Nutritional Survey Project" conducted in Department of Health and Nutrition, Faculty of Health Management, Nagasaki International University about nutrient factor relative to bone formation. The calcium ingestion on male students (647±79mg/day) was close on tentative dietary goal for preventing life-style related diseases (DG) (650mg/day) by dietary reference intakes for Japanese [2005]. But calcium ingestion on female students (480±11mg/day) was lower, about 80% compared with DG (600mg). From the results of food group frequency, this low level of calcium ingestion on female students is likely to be caused by that frequency of sea vegetable and fingerling was few. And bone density evaluation was significantly high in group over 7 times/week compared with group below 7 times/week about frequency of milk. This result suggests that frequency of milk has an affect on bone density in early life

学生の健康及び食生活意識と血液検査値の関係に対する一考察 - 健康栄養調査ﾌﾟﾛｼﾞｪｸﾄ報告 第２報 -

長崎国際大学健康管理学部健康栄養学科に所属する学生を対象に平成１７年度に実施した「健康栄養プロジェクト」の結果のうち、学生（男子４３名、女子２８５名）の食生活意識、身体状況および血液生化学検査（総コレステロール、トリアシルグリセロール、ヘモグロビン A１c、血清鉄）の関係について検討を加えた。その結果、欠食頻度が高い者ほど疲労愁訴を有する割合が高くなる傾向があった。また、欠食回数及び食生活意識と血液生化学検査値との関係に男女差が見られた。男子学生では欠食がある場合は検査値が低くなる傾向がみられたが、女子学生では欠食が無いにもかかわらず低値を示す者が多かった。このことから、今後食生活指導を行う際には、食事内容を具体的に把握し、適正な食事量を認識させる重要性が示唆された。This study, "The Health and Nutrition Survey Project" for the undergraduates (43 males and 285 females) who belong to the department of health and nutrition in Nagasaki International University, was examined to grasp their life style, physical condition, eating-habits consciousness and blood biochemical levels. We focused on their physical condition, eating-habits, especially skipping-a-meal and some blood biochemical levels (total cholesterol, triacylglycerol, hemoglobin A1c and serum iron). First of all, the complaint of physical fatigue is more on much skipping-a-meal undergraduates. Moreover, the relation the times of skipping a meal and some blood biochemical levels was different between male and female. In male undergraduates, triacylglycerol and hemoglobin A1c levels were lower on skipping a meal. In female undergraduates, although no skipping a meal, much low total cholesterol, triacylglycerol, hemoglobin A1c and serum iron levels had shown on. It was suggested we have to instruct the proper amount of meals in them, grasping not only the habit of skipping-a-meal, but also concretely their meal contents

HTLV-1 bZIP Factor Induces Inflammation through Labile Foxp3 Expression.

Human T-cell leukemia virus type 1 (HTLV-1) causes both a neoplastic disease and inflammatory diseases, including HTLV-1-associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis (HAM/TSP). The HTLV-1 basic leucine zipper factor (HBZ) gene is encoded in the minus strand of the proviral DNA and is constitutively expressed in infected cells and ATL cells. HBZ increases the number of regulatory T (Treg) cells by inducing the Foxp3 gene transcription. Recent studies have revealed that some CD4(+)Foxp3(+) T cells are not terminally differentiated but have a plasticity to convert to other T-cell subsets. Induced Treg (iTreg) cells tend to lose Foxp3 expression, and may acquire an effector phenotype accompanied by the production of inflammatory cytokines, such as interferon-γ (IFN-γ). In this study, we analyzed a pathogenic mechanism of chronic inflammation related with HTLV-1 infection via focusing on HBZ and Foxp3. Infiltration of lymphocytes was observed in the skin, lung and intestine of HBZ-Tg mice. As mechanisms, adhesion and migration of HBZ-expressing CD4(+) T cells were enhanced in these mice. Foxp3(-)CD4(+) T cells produced higher amounts of IFN-γ compared to those from non-Tg mice. Expression of Helios was reduced in Treg cells from HBZ-Tg mice and HAM/TSP patients, indicating that iTreg cells are predominant. Consistent with this finding, the conserved non-coding sequence 2 region of the Foxp3 gene was hypermethylated in Treg cells of HBZ-Tg mice, which is a characteristic of iTreg cells. Furthermore, Treg cells in the spleen of HBZ-transgenic mice tended to lose Foxp3 expression and produced an excessive amount of IFN-γ, while Foxp3 expression was stable in natural Treg cells of the thymus. HBZ enhances the generation of iTreg cells, which likely convert to Foxp3(-)T cells producing IFN-γ. The HBZ-mediated proinflammatory phenotype of CD4(+) T cells is implicated in the pathogenesis of HTLV-1-associated inflammation

In Vitro Evaluation of the Effects of Cadmium on Endocytic Uptakes of Proteins into Cultured Proximal Tubule Epithelial Cells

Cadmium (Cd) is an environmental pollutant known to cause dysfunctions of the tubular reabsorption of biomolecules in the kidney. Elevated levels of urinary excretion of low-molecular-weight proteins such as β2-microglobulin (β2-MG) have been used as an indicator of Cd-induced renal tubular dysfunctions. However, very few studies have examined the direct effects of Cd on the reabsorption efficiency of proteins using cultured renal cells. Here, we developed an in vitro assay system for quantifying the endocytic uptakes of fluorescent-labeled proteins by flow cytometry in S1 and S2 cells derived from mouse kidney proximal tubules. Endocytic uptakes of fluorescent-labeled albumin, transferrin, β2-MG, and metallothionein into S1 cells were confirmed by fluorescence imaging and flow cytometry. The exposure of S1 and S2 cells to Cd at 1 and 3 µM for 3 days resulted in significant decreases in the uptakes of β2-MG and metallothionein but not in those of albumin or transferrin. These results suggest that Cd affects the tubular reabsorption of low-molecular-weight proteins even at nonlethal concentrations. The in vitro assay system developed in this study to evaluate the endocytic uptakes of proteins may serve as a useful tool for detecting toxicants that cause renal tubular dysfunctions

Electronic and magnetic properties of Heusler alloy Co2MnSi epitaxial ultrathin films facing a MgO barrier studied by x-ray magnetic circular dichroism

The electronic and magnetic states of an epitaxially grown full-Heusler alloy Co2MnSi (CMS) 1.1 nm (4 ML) thick ultrathin film and a CMS 50‐nm-thick film both facing an epitaxial MgO(001) tunnel barrier were element-specifically studied by means of x-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) and x-ray magnetic circular dichroism (XMCD). The observed XAS and XMCD spectra revealed that both the CMS films were not oxidized. The Co and Mn spin magnetic moments for the 4 ML thick CMS film obtained by applying the sum rules were close to those for the 50‐nm-thick one and the theoretical values for bulk CMS with the L21 structure. These results indicate that 4 ML thick CMS ultrathin films facing a MgO barrier still retain the electronic and magnetic states for the L21 structure