Utility of sequenced genomes for microsatellite marker development in non-model organisms : a case study of functionally important genes in nine-spined sticklebacks (Pungitius pungitius)

Peer reviewe

High degree of sex chromosome differentiation in stickleback fishes

Peer reviewe

A literature review of stalking research and future issues

This paper presents an overview of psychological research into stalking and discusses some future issues for Japan. We review research on stalking since the 2000s but exclude review articles and case studies. Previous studies have focused on groups such as college students，genera1 citizens，clinic staff members and police officers. We highlight four aspects of the research literature. First, one can observe confusion over various definitions, such as romantic relationships, fear, stalker intent and repeated behaviors. Second, estimates of stalking prevalence rates vary widely from 2.2 % to 87%. Third, research that focuses on risk factors indicates that stalking is associated with demographics, romantic relationships，personality and victim lifestyle. Finally, few studies have addressed coping strategies and seeking help. There is a lack of research into stalking within Japan. Taking these factors together, future research needs to clarify the definitions of stalking，conduct psychological studies of stalkers and their victims and to explore the risk factors within Japan

Quantitative Genetics of Body Size and Timing of Maturation in Two Nine-Spined Stickleback (Pungitius pungitius) Populations

Peer reviewe

Long-term Remission of Hepatitis-associated Aplastic Anemia Possibly due to Immunosuppressive Therapy after Liver Transplantation

Hepatitis-associated aplastic anemia (HAAA) is an acquired bone marrow failure syndrome that develops after seronegative fulminant hepatitis. Abnormal cytotoxic T-cell activation with cytokine release is a possible pathophysiology. We present the case of a 16-month-old Japanese male who developed HAAA following living-donor liver transplantation for fulminant hepatitis. His aplastic anemia was successfully treated with immunosuppressive therapy. He had been administered tacrolimus for prophylaxis against hepatic allograft rejection. Ten years after the HAAA onset, the patient’s bone marrow was found to be slightly hypoplastic. Tacrolimus may be effective in controlling abnormal immune reactions that can cause recurrent impaired hematopoiesis

Intracrine activity involving NAD-dependent circadian steroidogenic activity governs age-associated meibomian gland dysfunction

新たなイントラクライン機構を用いた加齢性眼疾患治療へ --眼局所のホルモンの加齢変化とサーカディアンリズムが鍵--. 京都大学プレスリリース. 2022-02-14.Canonically, hormones are produced in the endocrine organs and delivered to target tissues. However, for steroids, the concept of tissue intracrinology, whereby hormones are produced in the tissues where they exert their effect without release into circulation, has been proposed, but its role in physiology/disease remains unclear. The meibomian glands in the eyelids produce oil to prevent tear evaporation, which reduces with aging. Here, we demonstrate that (re)activation of local intracrine activity through nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+)-dependent circadian 3β-hydroxyl-steroid dehydrogenase (3β-HSD) activity ameliorates age-associated meibomian gland dysfunction and accompanying evaporative dry eye disease. Genetic ablation of 3β-HSD nullified local steroidogenesis and led to atrophy of the meibomian gland. Conversely, reactivation of 3β-HSD activity by boosting its coenzyme NAD+ availability improved glandular cell proliferation and alleviated the dry eye disease phenotype. Both women and men express 3β-HSD in the meibomian gland. Enhancing local steroidogenesis may help combat age-associated meibomian gland dysfunction

Neighborhood Association as Crime Prevention Mediator : Two-Step Flow of the Crime Communication Model in Case of Special Fraud Prevention

この10年以上，特殊詐欺は日本における重要な犯罪問題であり続けている。広報啓発からさらに踏み込んで，高齢者の防犯行動の促進が求められている。具体的には，ナンバーディスプレイの使用や常時留守電使用など，ハードウェアを用いた対策である。 本稿は，広報啓発による直接効果ではなく，町内会が媒介者として，特殊詐欺対策の促進機能を果たしている間接効果の存在を検証する。すなわち，特殊詐欺に関する知識，意識，対策行動の３水準において，町内会が「コミュニケーションの二段階の流れ」の媒介者となっているかどうかを検証した。日本全国を対象とした調査と，千葉県在住者を対象とした調査の２種類の社会調査データを分析した。 結果として，特殊詐欺に関して，町内会加入群はより多くの知識をもち，対策につながる意識も高かった。ただし対策行動に関しては，65-74歳高齢者との同居世帯における効果はみられたが，75歳以上高齢者同居世帯における効果はみられず，一貫した結果とはならなかった。Since 2010s, special fraud has been a major criminal problem in Japan. In addition to publicity and awareness measures, crime prevention behavior must be promoted among the elderly. Specifically, countermeasures such as using a number display and an answering machine must be a part of the hardware they use. This article examines the indirect effect of neighborhood associations acting as mediators to promote special fraud countermeasures, rather than the direct effect of publicity and awareness campaigns. Analyzing data from two types of social surveys – one covering all of Japan and the other targeting residents of Chiba Prefecture – we examined whether neighborhood associations acted as a mediator in the “two-step flow of communication” at the three levels of knowledge, awareness, and countermeasures against special fraud. The results revealed that members of a neighborhood association had more knowledge about special fraud and a higher awareness about countermeasures. However, countermeasures behaviors were only observed in households where the elderly were aged 65-74, and not where they were aged 75 years or older; further, the results were inconsistent.2論文departmental bulletin pape

Actin-Related Protein Arp6 Influences H2A.Z-Dependent and -Independent Gene Expression and Links Ribosomal Protein Genes to Nuclear Pores

Actin-related proteins are ubiquitous components of chromatin remodelers and are conserved from yeast to man. We have examined the role of the budding yeast actin-related protein Arp6 in gene expression, both as a component of the SWR1 complex (SWR-C) and in its absence. We mapped Arp6 binding sites along four yeast chromosomes using chromatin immunoprecipitation from wild-type and swr1 deleted (swr1Δ) cells. We find that a majority of Arp6 binding sites coincide with binding sites of Swr1, the catalytic subunit of SWR-C, and with the histone H2A variant Htz1 (H2A.Z) deposited by SWR-C. However, Arp6 binding detected at centromeres, the promoters of ribosomal protein (RP) genes, and some telomeres is independent of Swr1 and Htz1 deposition. Given that RP genes and telomeres both show association with the nuclear periphery, we monitored the ability of Arp6 to mediate the localization of chromatin to nuclear pores. Arp6 binding is sufficient to shift a randomly positioned locus to nuclear periphery, even in a swr1Δ strain. Arp6 is also necessary for the pore association of its targeted RP promoters possibly through cell cycle-dependent factors. Loss of Arp6, but not Htz1, leads to an up-regulation of these RP genes. In contrast, the pore-association of GAL1 correlates with Htz1 deposition, and loss of Arp6 reduces both GAL1 activation and peripheral localization. We conclude that Arp6 functions both together with the nucleosome remodeler Swr1 and also without it, to mediate Htz1-dependent and Htz1-independent binding of chromatin domains to nuclear pores. This association is shown to have modulating effects on gene expression

DOCK2 is involved in the host genetics and biology of severe COVID-19

「コロナ制圧タスクフォース」COVID-19疾患感受性遺伝子DOCK2の重症化機序を解明 --アジア最大のバイオレポジトリーでCOVID-19の治療標的を発見--. 京都大学プレスリリース. 2022-08-10.Identifying the host genetic factors underlying severe COVID-19 is an emerging challenge. Here we conducted a genome-wide association study (GWAS) involving 2, 393 cases of COVID-19 in a cohort of Japanese individuals collected during the initial waves of the pandemic, with 3, 289 unaffected controls. We identified a variant on chromosome 5 at 5q35 (rs60200309-A), close to the dedicator of cytokinesis 2 gene (DOCK2), which was associated with severe COVID-19 in patients less than 65 years of age. This risk allele was prevalent in East Asian individuals but rare in Europeans, highlighting the value of genome-wide association studies in non-European populations. RNA-sequencing analysis of 473 bulk peripheral blood samples identified decreased expression of DOCK2 associated with the risk allele in these younger patients. DOCK2 expression was suppressed in patients with severe cases of COVID-19. Single-cell RNA-sequencing analysis (n = 61 individuals) identified cell-type-specific downregulation of DOCK2 and a COVID-19-specific decreasing effect of the risk allele on DOCK2 expression in non-classical monocytes. Immunohistochemistry of lung specimens from patients with severe COVID-19 pneumonia showed suppressed DOCK2 expression. Moreover, inhibition of DOCK2 function with CPYPP increased the severity of pneumonia in a Syrian hamster model of SARS-CoV-2 infection, characterized by weight loss, lung oedema, enhanced viral loads, impaired macrophage recruitment and dysregulated type I interferon responses. We conclude that DOCK2 has an important role in the host immune response to SARS-CoV-2 infection and the development of severe COVID-19, and could be further explored as a potential biomarker and/or therapeutic target