Cultural characteristics of Laetiporus sulphureus, producing an anti-thrombin substance

The clotting time for thrombin of the culture broth from Laetiporus sulphureus was more than 44 times that of the control (2% malt extract medium), whereas the culture broths of all other strains exhibited lower anti-coagulative activity. In experiments on the utilization of carbon sources, the mycelial growth of L. sulphureus was rapid with glucose as the sole carbon source. Casamino acid was the best source for the strain. Thiamine was required for the mycelial growth of L. sulphureus. The optimum temperature for efficient mycelial growth was recorded at 30℃. The initial pH 4 to 5 was the most favorable for L. sulphureus for growth

LECT2 functions as a hepatokine that links obesity to skeletal muscle insulin resistance

Recent articles have reported an association between fatty liver disease and systemic insulin resistance in humans, but the causal relationship remains unclear. The liver may contribute to muscle insulin resistance by releasing secretory proteins called hepatokines. Here we demonstrate that leukocyte cell-derived chemotaxin 2 (LECT2), an energy-sensing hepatokine, is a link between obesity and skeletal muscle insulin resistance. Circulating LECT2 positively correlated with the severity of both obesity and insulin resistance in humans. LECT2 expression was negatively regulated by starvation-sensing kinase adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase in H4IIEC hepatocytes. Genetic deletion of LECT2 in mice increased insulin sensitivity in the skeletal muscle. Treatment with recombinant LECT2 protein impaired insulin signaling via phosphorylation of Jun NH2-terminal kinase in C2C12 myocytes. These results demonstrate the involvement of LECT2 in glucose metabolism and suggest that LECT2 may be a therapeutic target for obesity-associated insulin resistance. © 2014 by the American Diabetes Association