抗腫瘍・感染防御におけるIRF転写因子群の役割

学位の種別: 課程博士審査委員会委員 : (主査)東京大学教授 山本 一彦, 東京大学教授 三宅 健介, 東京大学准教授 中江 進, 東京大学准教授 神野 茂樹, 東京大学講師 紙谷 尚子University of Tokyo(東京大学

Cell-Free mRNA Concentrations of Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor-1 and Tissue-Type Plasminogen Activator Are Increased in the Plasma of Pregnant Women with Preeclampsia

Abstract Background: Detection of placental mRNA in maternal plasma has been reported in high-risk pregnancies. We attempted to investigate the concentrations of plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) and tissue-type plasminogen activator (tPA) mRNA in maternal plasma in preeclampsia. Methods: Peripheral blood samples were obtained from healthy pregnant women before and after delivery and also from women with or without preeclampsia. Plasma was isolated from these samples, and RNA was extracted. Plasma PAI-1 and tPA mRNA concentrations were then measured by use of reverse transcription PCR assays. The concentrations were converted into multiples of the median (MoM) of the controls adjusted for gestational age. Data were stratified and analyzed according to the clinical severity of preeclampsia and quantitative distribution of blood pressure and proteinuria. Results: The median (minimum–maximum) PAI-1 mRNA MoM values for women with preeclampsia and controls were 2.48 (0.82–8.53) and 1.00 (0.41–2.33), respectively, whereas the median (minimum–maximum) tPA mRNA MoM values were 3.33 (1.01–10.58) and 1.00 (0.95–1.20), respectively. The concentrations of both PAI-1 and tPA mRNA were significantly increased in cases of preeclampsia, compared with controls (P <0.0001). The MoM values of both mRNA species were directly correlated with the severity of preeclampsia and were greatest among a subgroup of hemolysis, increased liver enzymes, and low platelets pregnancies. Conclusion: Maternal plasma PAI-1 and tPA mRNAs are significantly increased in patients with preeclampsia and are positively correlated with the severity of preeclampsia

The Cellular DExD/H-Box RNA Helicase UAP56 Co-localizes With the Influenza A Virus NS1 Protein

UAP56, a member of the DExD/H-box RNA helicase family, is essential for pre-mRNA splicing and mRNA export in eukaryotic cells. In influenza A virus-infected cells, UAP56 mediates viral mRNA nuclear export, facilitates viral ribonucleoprotein complex formation through direct interaction with the viral nucleoprotein, and may indirectly affect antiviral host responses by binding to and/or facilitating the activation of the antiviral host factors MxA and PKR. Here, we demonstrate that UAP56 also co-localizes with the influenza A viral NS1 protein, which counteracts host cell innate immune responses stimulated by virus infection. The UAP56–NS1 association relies on the RNA-binding residues R38 and K41 in NS1 and may be mediated by single-stranded RNA. UAP56 association with NS1 does not affect the NS1-mediated downregulation of cellular innate immune pathways in reporter gene assays, leaving in question the exact biological role and relevance of the UAP56–NS1 association

Effect of CYP3A5*3 genetic variant on the metabolism of direct-acting antivirals in vitro : a different effect on asunaprevir versus daclatasvir and beclabuvir

Direct-acting antivirals, asunaprevir (ASV), daclatasvir (DCV), and beclabuvir (BCV) are known to be mainly metabolized by CYP3A enzymes; however, the differences in the detailed metabolic activities of CYP3A4 and CYP3A5 on these drugs are not well clarified. The aim of the present study was to elucidate the relative contributions of CYP3A4 and CYP3A5 to the metabolism of ASV, DCV, and BCV, as well as the effect of CYP3A5*3 genetic variant in vitro. The amount of each drug and their major metabolites were determined using LC-MS/MS. Recombinant CYP3As and CYP3A5*3-genotyped human liver microsomes (CYP3A5 expressers or non-expressers) were used for the determination of their metabolic activities. The contribution of CYP3A5 to ASV metabolism was considerable compared to that of CYP3A4. Consistently, ASV metabolic activity in CYP3A5 expressers was higher than those in CYP3A5 non-expresser. Moreover, CYP3A5 expression level was significantly correlated with ASV metabolism. In contrast, these observations were not found in DCV and BCV metabolism. To our knowledge, this is the first study to directly demonstrate the effect of CYP3A5*3 genetic variants on the metabolism of ASV. The findings of the present study may provide basic information on ASV, DCV, and BCV metabolisms

Christopher Simpson The Division-Viol, or The Art of PLAYING Ex tempore upon a GROUND. EDITIO SECVNDA Part III "The Method of ordering Division to a Ground" (3)

本訳稿はChristopher Simpson (1605頃－1669) 著 The Division-Viol, or, The Art of PLAYING Ex tempore upon a GROUND. DIVIDED INTO THREE PARTS. EDITIO SECVNDA, London, 1665 のPart III "The Method of ordering Division to a Ground" より§13～§16(pp.57-61)の全訳である

Crystal structure of human selenocysteine tRNA

Selenocysteine (Sec) is the 21st amino acid in translation. Sec tRNA (tRNASec) has an anticodon complementary to the UGA codon. We solved the crystal structure of human tRNASec. tRNASec has a 9-bp acceptor stem and a 4-bp T stem, in contrast with the 7-bp acceptor stem and the 5-bp T stem in the canonical tRNAs. The acceptor stem is kinked between the U6:U67 and G7:C66 base pairs, leading to a bent acceptor-T stem helix. tRNASec has a 6-bp D stem and a 4-nt D loop. The long D stem includes unique A14:U21 and G15:C20a pairs. The D-loop:T-loop interactions include the base pairs G18:U55 and U16:U59, and a unique base triple, U20:G19:C56. The extra arm comprises of a 6-bp stem and a 4-nt loop. Remarkably, the D stem and the extra arm do not form tertiary interactions in tRNASec. Instead, tRNASec has an open cavity, in place of the tertiary core of a canonical tRNA. The linker residues, A8 and U9, connecting the acceptor and D stems, are not involved in tertiary base pairing. Instead, U9 is stacked on the first base pair of the extra arm. These features might allow tRNASec to be the target of the Sec synthesis/incorporation machineries

Antibody titers against SARS-CoV-2 decline, but do not disappear for several months

Background: To develop an effective vaccine against a novel viral pathogen, it is important to understand the longitudinal antibody responses against its first infection. Here we performed a longitudinal study of antibody responses against SARS-CoV-2 in symptomatic patients. Methods: Sequential blood samples were collected from 39 individuals at various timepoints between 0 and 154 days after onset. IgG or IgM titers to the receptor binding domain (RBD) of the S protein, the ectodomain of the S protein, and the N protein were determined by using an ELISA. Neutralizing antibody titers were measured by using a plaque reduction assay. Findings: The IgG titers to the RBD of the S protein, the ectodomain of the S protein, and the N protein peaked at about 20 days after onset, gradually decreased thereafter, and were maintained for several months after onset. Extrapolation modeling analysis suggested that the IgG antibodies were maintained for this amount of time because the rate of reduction slowed after 30 days post-onset. IgM titers to the RBD decreased rapidly and disappeared in some individuals after 90 days post-onset. All patients, except one, possessed neutralizing antibodies against authentic SARS-CoV-2, which they retained at 90 days after onset. The highest antibody titers in patients with severe infections were higher than those in patients with mild or moderate infections, but the decrease in antibody titer in the severe infection cohort was more remarkable than that in the mild or moderate infection cohort. Interpretation: Although the number of patients is limited, our results show that the antibody response against the first SARS-CoV-2 infection in symptomatic patients is typical of that observed in an acute viral infection

The Japanese space gravitational wave antenna; DECIGO

DECi-hertz Interferometer Gravitational wave Observatory (DECIGO) is the future Japanese space gravitational wave antenna. DECIGO is expected to open a new window of observation for gravitational wave astronomy especially between 0.1 Hz and 10 Hz, revealing various mysteries of the universe such as dark energy, formation mechanism of supermassive black holes, and inflation of the universe. The pre-conceptual design of DECIGO consists of three drag-free spacecraft, whose relative displacements are measured by a differential Fabry– Perot Michelson interferometer. We plan to launch two missions, DECIGO pathfinder and pre- DECIGO first and finally DECIGO in 2024

DECIGO pathfinder

DECIGO pathfinder (DPF) is a milestone satellite mission for DECIGO (DECi-hertz Interferometer Gravitational wave Observatory) which is a future space gravitational wave antenna. DECIGO is expected to provide us fruitful insights into the universe, in particular about dark energy, a formation mechanism of supermassive black holes, and the inflation of the universe. Since DECIGO will be an extremely large mission which will formed by three drag-free spacecraft with 1000m separation, it is significant to gain the technical feasibility of DECIGO before its planned launch in 2024. Thus, we are planning to launch two milestone missions: DPF and pre-DECIGO. The conceptual design and current status of the first milestone mission, DPF, are reviewed in this article

SARS-CoV-2 D614G variant exhibits efficient replication ex vivo and transmission in vivo

The spike D614G substitution is prevalent in global SARS-CoV-2 strains, but its effects on viral pathogenesis and transmissibility remain unclear. We engineered a SARS-CoV-2 variant containing this substitution. The variant exhibits more efficient infection, replication, and competitive fitness in primary human airway epithelial cells, but maintains similar morphology and in vitro neutralization properties, compared with the ancestral wild-type virus. Infection of human angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) transgenic mice and Syrian hamsters with both viruses resulted in similar viral titers in respiratory tissues and pulmonary disease. However, the D614G variant transmits significantly faster and displayed increased competitive fitness than the wild-type virus in hamsters. These data show that the D614G substitution enhances SARS-CoV-2 infectivity, competitive fitness, and transmission in primary human cells and animal models