Different expression of macrophages and microglia in rat spinal cord contusion injury model at morphological and regional levels.

Macrophages and microglia are implicated in spinal cord injury, but their precise role is not clear. In the present study, activation of these cells was examined in a spinal cord injury model using 2 different antibodies against ED1 clone and ionized calcium binding adaptor molecule 1 (Iba1). Activation was observed at 1, 4, 8, and 12 weeks after contusion injury and was compared with sham operated controls. Our results indicate that activation could be observed in both the dorsal funiculus and the ventral white matter area in the spinal cord at 5 mm rostral to the epicenter of injury. For both cells, there was a gradual increase in activation from 1-4 weeks, followed by down-regulation for up to 12 weeks. As a result, we could stain macrophages by ED1 and microglia by Iba1. We concluded that macrophages may play a role in the phagocytosis of denatured dendrites after spinal cord injury, while microglia may have some cooperative functions, as they were found scattered near the macrophages.</p

トクシマケン イシカイ トウニョウビョウ タイサクハン ダイ1ジ ダイ2ジ カツドウ ノ セイカ

Objective : The effectiveness of diabetes prevention programs for the general population in Tokushima Prefecture was investigated. The programs were designed by Tokushima Medical Association’ s（TMA’s）Steering Committee for Diabetes Prevention. Research design and methods : The committee promoted diabetes prevention by disseminating educational messages on diabetes to the general public and medical care providers, and establishing a referral system among public health centers and medical institutes throughout Tokushima Prefecture during the period from ２００４ to ２００９. The outcome of these activities were evaluated by analyzing data from the Prefectural Health and Nutrition Survey in Tokushima conducted in１９９７（n＝ ９９８）,２００３ （n＝１００８） and ２０１０ （n＝１１３０）, and then comparing these results with those of the national survey at the corresponding times. Results : The percentage of subjects with glucose intolerance at the time of initiation of the prevention program in Tokushima tended to increase from １９９７ to ２００３, but was slightly decreased in ２０１０, although the differences were not statistically significant. However, the percentage of subjects with glucose intolerance was significantly increased throughout Japan during the same period. Obesity parameters, physical activity evaluated by the number of steps and the average total energy intake changed favorably in parallel with changes in the prevalence of diabetes during the study period in Tokushima. Conclusion : The diabetes prevention programs initiated by the TMA’s committee may be useful in ameliorating the situation of diabetes in Tokushima Prefecture

Effects of carbon ion beam alone or in combination with cisplatin on malignant mesothelioma cells in vitro

Malignant mesothelioma (MM) is extremely aggressive and a typical refractory cancer. In this study we investigated how effective on killing MM cells by carbon ion beam alone or in combination with cisplatin (CDDP) . Carbon ion beam (at the center of SOBP with 50 keV/µm of average LET) dose-independently suppressed MM cells MESO-1 and H226 cell viability and in combination with CDDP (25 μM) significantly enhanced its action. Relative biological effectiveness (RBE) values at 73 keV/μm and 13 keV/μm portion of carbon ion beam was estimated as 2.82-2.93 and 1.19-1.22 at D10 level relative to X-ray, respectively by using colony formation assay. Quantitative real time PCR analysis showed that expression of apoptosis-related BAX and autophagy-related Beclin1 and ATG7 was significantly enhanced by carbon ion beam alone or in combination with CDDP. Apoptosis analysis showed that caspase 3/7 activity and the percentage of apoptotic cells was dose-dependently increased after carbon ion beam and it was further increased when combined with CDDP. Spheroid formation ability of cancer stem like CD44+/CD26+ cells was significantly inhibited by carbon ion beam combined with CDDP. Besides, carbon ion beam combined with cisplatin significantly inhibited cell cycle progression (sub-G1 arrest) and induced more large number of γH2AX foci. In conclusion, carbon ion beam combined with CDDP has superior potential to kill MM cells including CSCs with enhanced apoptosis

TP Atlas: integration and dissemination of advances in Targeted Proteins Research Program (TPRP)—structural biology project phase II in Japan

The Targeted Proteins Research Program (TPRP) promoted by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) of Japan is the phase II of structural biology project (2007–2011) following the Protein 3000 Project (2002–2006) in Japan. While the phase I Protein 3000 Project put partial emphasis on the construction and maintenance of pipelines for structural analyses, the TPRP is dedicated to revealing the structures and functions of the targeted proteins that have great importance in both basic research and industrial applications. To pursue this objective, 35 Targeted Proteins (TP) Projects selected in the three areas of fundamental biology, medicine and pharmacology, and food and environment are tightly collaborated with 10 Advanced Technology (AT) Projects in the four fields of protein production, structural analyses, chemical library and screening, and information platform. Here, the outlines and achievements of the 35 TP Projects are summarized in the system named TP Atlas. Progress in the diversified areas is described in the modules of Graphical Summary, General Summary, Tabular Summary, and Structure Gallery of the TP Atlas in the standard and unified format. Advances in TP Projects owing to novel technologies stemmed from AT Projects and collaborative research among TP Projects are illustrated as a hallmark of the Program. The TP Atlas can be accessed at http://net.genes.nig.ac.jp/tpatlas/index_e.html. ELECTRONIC SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL: The online version of this article (doi:10.1007/s10969-012-9139-1) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users

UVB Stimulates the Expression of Endothelin B Receptor in Human Melanocytes via a Sequential Activation of the p38/MSK1/CREB/MITF Pathway Which Can Be Interrupted by a French Maritime Pine Bark Extract through a Direct Inactivation of MSK1.

Melanogenesis is the physiological process by which melanin is synthesized to protect the skin from UV damage. While paracrine interactions between keratinocytes and melanocytes are crucial for regulating epidermal pigmentation, the endothelin (EDN)-endothelin B-receptor (EDNRB) interaction is one of the key linkages. In this study, we found that a single exposure of normal human melanocytes (NHMs) with UVB stimulates the expression of EDNRB and its upstream transcription factor microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (MITF) at the transcriptional and translational levels. That stimulation can be abrogated by post-irradiation treatment with a French maritime pine bark extract (PBE). UVB stimulated the phosphorylation of p38 and c-jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), but not ERK, followed by the increased phosphorylation of MSK1 and CREB. The post-irradiation treatment with PBE did not affect the increased phosphorylation of p38 and JNK, but distinctly abrogated the phosphorylation of MSK1 and CREB. Post-irradiation treatment with the MSK1 inhibitor H89 significantly down-regulated the increased gene expression of MITF and EDNRB in UVB-exposed NHMs. Our findings indicate for the first time that the increased expression of MITF that leads to the up-regulation of melanocyte-specific proteins in UVB-exposed NHMs is mediated via activation of the p38/MSK1/CREB pathway but not the ERK/RSK/CREB pathway. The mode of action by PBE demonstrates that interrupting MSK1 activation is a new target for antioxidants including PBE which can serve as anti-pigmenting agents in a reactive oxygen species-depletion-independent manner