A Kinetic Pump Integrated Microfluidic Plate (KIM-Plate) with High Usability for Cell Culture-Based Multiorgan Microphysiological Systems

Microphysiological systems (MPSs), including organ-on-a-chip (OoC), have attracted attention as a novel method for estimating the effects and side effects of drugs in drug discovery. To reproduce the dynamic in vivo environment, previous MPSs were connected to pump systems to perfuse culture medium. Therefore, most MPSs are not user-friendly and have poor throughput. We aimed to develop a kinetic pump integrated microfluidic plate (KIM-Plate) by applying the stirrer-based micropump to an open access culture plate to improve the usability of MPSs. The KIM-Plate integrates six multiorgan MPS (MO-MPS) units and meets the ANSI/SBS microplate standards. We evaluated the perfusion function of the kinetic pump and found that the KIM-Plate had sufficient agitation effect. Coculture experiments with PXB cells and hiPS intestinal cells showed that the TEER of hiPS intestinal cells and gene expression levels related to the metabolism of PXB cells were increased. Hence, the KIM-Plate is an innovative tool for the easy coculture of highly conditioned cells that is expected to facilitate cell-based assays in the fields of drug discovery and biology because of its usability and high throughput nature

The Core Fucose on an IgG Antibody is an Endogenous Ligand of Dectin-1

The core fucose, a major modification of N-glycans, is implicated in immune regulation, such as the attenuation of the antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity of antibody drugs and the inhibition of anti-tumor responses via the promotion of PD-1 expression on T cells. Although the core fucose regulates many biological processes, no core fucose recognition molecule has been identified in mammals. Herein, we report that Dectin-1, a known anti-β-glucan lectin, recognizes the core fucose on IgG antibodies. A combination of biophysical experiments further suggested that Dectin-1 recognizes aromatic amino acids adjacent to the N-terminal asparagine at the glycosylation site as well as the core fucose. Thus, Dectin-1 appears to be the first lectin-like molecule involved in the heterovalent and specific recognition of characteristic N-glycans on antibodies

The core fucose on an IgG antibody is an endogenous ligand of Dectin-1

The core fucose, a major modification of  N -glycans, is implicated in immune regulation, such as the attenuation of the antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity of antibody drugs and the inhibition of anti-tumor responses via promotion of PD-1 expression on T cells. Although the core fucose regulates many biological processes, no core fucose recognition molecule has been identified in mammals. In the present study, we discovered that Dectin-1, a known anti- b -glucan lectin, recognizes the core fucose on IgGs. A combination of biophysical experiments further suggested that Dectin-1 recognizes aromatic amino acids adjacent to the  N -terminal asparagine residue at the glycosylation site as well as core fucose residue. Thus, Dectin-1 appears to be the first lectin-like molecule involved in the hetero-valent and specific recognition of characteristic  N -glycans on antibodies

Agricultural quality matrix-based multiomics structural analysis of carrots in soils fertilized with thermophile-fermented compost

Compost is used worldwide as a soil conditioner for crops, but its functions have still been explored. Here, the omics profiles of carrots were investigated, as a root vegetable plant model, in a field amended with compost fermented with thermophilic Bacillaceae for growth and quality indices. Exposure to compost significantly increased the productivity, antioxidant activity, red color, and taste of the carrot root and altered the soil bacterial composition with the levels of characteristic metabolites of the leaf, root, and soil. Based on the data, structural equation modeling (SEM) estimated that L-2-aminoadipate, phenylalanine, flavonoids and / or carotenoids in plants were optimally linked by exposure to compost. The SEM of the soil estimated that the genus Paenibacillus, L-2-aminoadipate and nicotinamide, and S-methyl L-cysteine were optimally involved during exposure. These estimates did not show a contradiction between the whole genomic analysis of compost-derived Paenibacillus isolates and the bioactivity data, inferring the presence of a complex cascade of plant growth-promoting effects and modulation of the nitrogen cycle by compost itself. These observations have provided information on the qualitative indicators of compost in complex soil-plant interactions and offer a new perspective for chemically independent sustainable agriculture through the efficient use of natural nitrogen.Comment: 6 figures, 1 Table, and support informatio