Fermented Soybean Powder with Rice Mold in the Absence of Salt Stimulates the Cellular Immune System and Suppresses the Humoral Immune Response in Mice

The immunomodulatory effect of fermented non-salty soybean powder (NSBP) was investigated in C3H/HeN mice. The number of splenic CD11b(+), CD49b(+), and interferon (IFN)-gamma(+)CD4(+) cells increased significantly, while that of interleukin (IL)-4(+)CD4(+) and CD19(+) cells decreased significantly in cultures containing NSBP. Similarly, in the spleen and Peyer's patches of mice fed a diet containing NSBP, the number of IL-12(+)CD11b(+), CD49b(+), and IFN-gamma(+)CD4(+) cells increased noticeably, whereas the number of splenic IL-4(+)CD4(+) and CD19b(+) cells was lower compared to mice fed an NSBP-free diet. Superoxide production by peritoneal macrophages was significantly higher in mice fed an NSBP-containing diet. Both intestinal total IgA and serum total IgG levels declined in mice fed the NSBP-containing diet. Microarray analysis of mRNAs extracted from Peyer's patch cells of mice fed the NSBP-containing diet indicated an increase in the expression of several genes related to cellular immune responses, while the expression of genes related to immunoglobulin production decreased. These results indicate that NSBP stimulates the cellular immune response, but suppresses the acquired humoral immune response in C3H/HeN mice.ArticleJOURNAL OF NUTRITIONAL SCIENCE AND VITAMINOLOGY. 59(6):564-569 (2013)journal articl

Phototoxicity of indocyanine green and brilliant blue G under continuous fluorescent illumination on cultured human retinal pigment epithelial cells,”

PURPOSE. We compared the phototoxicity of indocyanine green (ICG) and Brilliant Blue G (BBG) in cultured RPE cells under fluorescent lamp illumination imitating ambient light. METHODS. Cultured human RPE line cells were stained with ICG or BBG solution at concentrations of clinical use, and cultured in a colorless medium for 24 hours in the dark or under illumination from a fluorescent lamp. After culture, cell morphology and TUNEL-positive apoptotic cells were observed. Cell viability and cell death rate were evaluated. Absorption spectral changes of BBG before and after incubation were measured. RESULTS. ICG-stained cells cultured under illumination changed to an oval morphology with increased number of apoptotic cells, whereas ICG-stained cells cultured in the dark, and BBGstained cells cultured under illumination and dark conditions maintained a flat morphology without increase in apoptotic cells. Cell viability decreased and cell death rate increased only in cells stained by ICG followed by culture under illumination. Staining cells with ICG at one-tenth concentration of clinical usage induced no cytotoxicity after culture under illumination. Approximately 30% of total BBG retained in the stained cells was released into the culture supernatant after incubation for 24 hours. The absorption spectrum of BBG did not change after fluorescent light irradiation. CONCLUSIONS. Illumination with a fluorescent lamp caused cell death via apoptosis in ICG-exposed, but not in BBG-exposed cultured RPE cells. BBG may be a safer dye than ICG because of low light-induced cytotoxicity and rapid elution from stained cells. (Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2012;53:7389-7394) DOI: 10.1167/iovs.12-10754 P eeling of the internal limiting membrane (ILM) is performed in vitrectomy for macular hole, 1-4 epiretinal membrane, 12-20 Moreover, a metaanalysis indicates that treatment of macular hole with ICG results in worse functional outcomes than treatment without ICG. 21-23 Thus, intravitreal ICG injection remains controversial. Use of safer dyes other than ICG for ILM staining and the conditions of clinical ICG administration have been investigated. Recently, Brilliant Blue G (BBG) has been reported to be a useful and safe dye for visualization of ILM. 13 In the present study, we used RPE cells because RPE is in direct contact with the vital dye at a high concentration in macular hole surgery with ILM peeling, and RPE injury is considered to affect visual prognosis. We compared phototoxicity of ICG and BBG retained in cultured RPE cells under ambient light illumination. Under visible light irradiation, we found that illumination equivalent to conventional fluorescence lamp light induced cytotoxicity in ICG-stained RPE cells but not in BBG-stained cells. MATERIALS AND METHODS Cells and Culture Medium The human RPE cell line ARPE-19 (American Type Culture Collection, Manassas, VA) was cultured in 1:1 mixture of Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium and Ham's F12 medium (DMEM/F12; Sigma-Aldrich, Poole, UK) supplemented with 100 U/mL penicillin, 100 lg/mL streptomycin and 10% fetal bovine serum (FBS; JRH Bioscience, Lenexa, KS) at 378C in a humidified atmosphere of 5% CO 2 and 95% air. From th

Analysis of the Particulate Matters Suspended in the Air, at Antarctica

The particulate matters suspended in the air were collected on a glass fiber filter by a slightly modified Hi-volume air sampler at Syowa Station, Antarctica from January 8 to February 4 in 1974. The sampling was also carried out at Yokohama City. Analysis were made at Yokohama City Institute of Health by using a gravimetric method, a scanning electron microscope and a X-ray micro analyser. The observations made by the scanning electron microscope and the X-ray micro analyser revealed the differences in form and component between the particulate matters collected at Syowa Station and at Yokohama City. From the results of the electron micrograph of the particulate matters suspended in the air at Syowa Station, the initial symptoms of air pollution around the station seemed to occur on the days when the work was done actively

ヒガシ オングルトウ カキ ニ オケル タイキ カンキョウ トク ニ アリュウサン ガス ノウド オヨビ コウカ バイジン リョウ ニ ツイテ

第15次日本南極地域観測隊の環境科学系観測の一環として,1974年1月12日から2月3日まで,昭和基地周辺の大気環境調査を行った.調査地点は,昭和基地の発電棟を基点として,島内をほぼ扇形状に300mごとに区切り,15地点設置し,調査は亜硫酸ガスを二酸化鉛法で,降下ばいじんをダストジャー法で行った.その結果,亜硫酸ガスは1～30μg/day/100 cm^2 PbO_2であり,地点別の相対的な比較をすると,高い値が得られた地点は,いずれも基地を中心とした300m区域に集中し,基地の風下方向である西南西から南南西方向の区域で高い傾向にあった.降下ばいじん量は,0.2～3.0 g/m^2/monthの範囲で分布していた.降下ばいじん中の鉛,銅,カドミウム,マンガン,ニッケル,鉄およびバナジウムの量はいずれも低濃度であったが,各物質の最高検出値は,ほぼ基地内の地点で認められた.Sulfur dioxide and fall dust in the air were collected from January 12 to February 3, 1974, at Syowa Station. The analysis showed that concentration of sulfur dioxide was from 1 to 30μg/day/100 cm^2 PbO_2. The concentration of sulfur dioxide depended on wind direction and velocity, and high concentration was observed in the area between the station building and 300 m southwest of the station, but other sampling points showed low concentration nearly equal to the background value. The concentration of fall dust was from 0.2 to 3.0 g/m^2/month, but it was independent of wind direction and wind velocity

Chemical analysis of soil in East Ongul Island, Antarctica

Soil samples were taken at 16 points in East Ongul Island, Antarctica from January 7 to February 4, 1974. The chemical analysis of them obtained the following results: 1) Dissolved cations: 0.10-4.63 me/100 g soil. 2) Cation exchangeable capacity; 1.15-5.87 me/100 g soil. 3) Exchanged cations: Mg 2.81-4.26 me/100 g soil, Ca 0.18-2.16 me/100 g soil, Na 0.01-11.3 me/100 g soil, K 0.01-0.96 me/100 g soil. From the obtained results three areas were distinguished, namely, the area containing much dissolved cations, the area where the degree of base saturation is high, and the area in which the degree of base saturation is adequate for plant growth

Profiles of Cytokines Secreted by ARPE-19 Cells Exposed to Light and Incubated with Anti-VEGF Antibody

The retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) is the major source of cytokines in the retina regulating the intraocular immune environment, and a primary target of photodamage. Here, we examined 27 types of cytokines secreted by ARPE-19 cells exposed to visible light and incubated with aflibercept or ranibizumab, which are two anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) antibodies. The cells were cultured for 24 h in the dark or under 2000 lux irradiation from a daylight-colored fluorescent lamp, and cytokine levels in the culture supernatant were measured. In the light-irradiated culture, the levels of IL-9, IL-17A and bFGF were higher, and the levels of IL-6, IL-7, IL-8 and MCP-1 were lower than those in the dark culture, while there was no significant difference with the VEGF-A level. In subgroup analyses of the light-irradiated culture, the bFGF level under 250 to 2000 lux irradiation was elevated in a light intensity-dependent manner. In culture exposed to blue, green or red light, the bFGF level was elevated by blue light and was high compared to that by green or red light. In culture with aflibercept or ranibizumab in the dark, the levels of IL-6, IL-8, bFGF and MCP-1 were increased, and the IL-12 level decreased synchronously with a reduction in the VEGF-A level. Our findings indicate that continuous irradiation of visible light and VEGF suppression may be an influential factor in expression patterns of inflammatory cytokines secreted by human RPE cells

ヒガシ オングルトウ ノ ドジョウ カンキョウ

1974年1月7日から2月4日まで,東オングル島で採取した16地点の土壌の理化学性に関する分析を試みた.それによれば東オングル島の土壌は,粒径の大きい粗砂あるいは細砂に属し,土壌が置換できる塩基の最大容量を示す塩基置換容量は,1.15～5.87 me/100 g soil と日本国内の畑地の5分の1程度の値であり,養分保持力が小さく,養分欠乏を起しやすい土質といえた.また全置換性塩基は0.67～12.7 me/100 g soil, 塩基飽和度は43～217%であった.島の東部から西南部にかけては,海塩粒子等の影響と思われる水溶性ナトリウムが高濃度で検出された.東オングル島内で作物生育に適する地点は,島の東中央部のごく狭い地域に限られ,コケ類等の生育地点とはかならずしも一致していなかった.Soil samples were taken at 16 points in East Ongul Island, Antarctica from January 7 to February 4, 1974. The chemical analysis of them obtained the following results: 1) Dissolved cations: 0.10-4.63 me/100 g soil. 2) Cation exchangeable capacity; 1.15-5.87 me/100 g soil. 3) Exchanged cations: Mg 2.81-4.26 me/100 g soil, Ca 0.18-2.16 me/100 g soil, Na 0.01-11.3 me/100 g soil, K 0.01-0.96 me/100 g soil. From the obtained results three areas were distinguished, namely, the area containing much dissolved cations, the area where the degree of base saturation is high, and the area in which the degree of base saturation is adequate for plant growth

Fermented Soybean Powder with Rice Mold in the Absence of Salt Stimulates the Cellular Immune System and Suppresses the Humoral Immune Response in Mice

The immunomodulatory effect of fermented non-salty soybean powder (NSBP) was investigated in C3H/HeN mice. The number of splenic CD11b(+), CD49b(+), and interferon (IFN)-gamma(+)CD4(+) cells increased significantly, while that of interleukin (IL)-4(+)CD4(+) and CD19(+) cells decreased significantly in cultures containing NSBP. Similarly, in the spleen and Peyer's patches of mice fed a diet containing NSBP, the number of IL-12(+)CD11b(+), CD49b(+), and IFN-gamma(+)CD4(+) cells increased noticeably, whereas the number of splenic IL-4(+)CD4(+) and CD19b(+) cells was lower compared to mice fed an NSBP-free diet. Superoxide production by peritoneal macrophages was significantly higher in mice fed an NSBP-containing diet. Both intestinal total IgA and serum total IgG levels declined in mice fed the NSBP-containing diet. Microarray analysis of mRNAs extracted from Peyer's patch cells of mice fed the NSBP-containing diet indicated an increase in the expression of several genes related to cellular immune responses, while the expression of genes related to immunoglobulin production decreased. These results indicate that NSBP stimulates the cellular immune response, but suppresses the acquired humoral immune response in C3H/HeN mice.ArticleJOURNAL OF NUTRITIONAL SCIENCE AND VITAMINOLOGY. 59(6):564-569 (2013)journal articl