Development of syngeneic monoclonal anti-idiotype antibodies to mouse monoclonal anti-asialoglycoprotein receptor antibody.

Anti-idiotype antibodies (Ab2) play an important role in the homeostasis of immune responses and are related to the development and the disease activity of certain autoimmune diseases. The asialoglycoprotein receptor (ASGPR) is considered one of the target antigens in the pathogenesis of autoimmune chronic active hepatitis (AIH). We previously developed a mouse monoclonal antibody (clone 8D7) which recognizes rat and human ASGPR. In this study, to help investigate the anti-ASGPR antibody-anti-idiotype antibody network in patients with AIH, we developed a syngeneic mouse monoclonal Ab2 to the 8D7 anti-ASGPR antibody (Ab1). One clone, designated as 3C8, tested positive for specific reactivity to 8D7-Ab1 and did not bind to other irrelevant immunoglobulins. By competitive inhibition assays, the binding of 8D7-Ab1 to liver membrane extracts, i.e., the crude antigen preparation, was inhibited by 3C8-Ab2 in a dose-dependent manner, and the binding of 8D7-Ab1 to 3C8-Ab2 was inhibited by the liver membrane extracts. In the immunohistochemical analysis, 3C8-Ab2 blocked the specific staining of sinusoidal margins of rat hepatocytes by 8D7-Ab1. These results suggest that 3C8 anti-idiotype antibody recognizes the specific idiotypic determinants within the antigen-binding site of 8D7-Ab1.</p

DNA markers based on retrotransposon insertion polymorphisms can detect short DNA fragments for strawberry cultivar identification

In this study, DNA markers were developed for discrimination of strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa L.) cultivars based on retrotransposon insertion polymorphisms. We performed a comprehensive genomic search to identify retrotransposon insertion sites and subsequently selected one retrotransposon family, designated CL3, which provided reliable discrimination among strawberry cultivars. Through analyses of 75 strawberry cultivars, we developed eight cultivar-specific markers based on CL3 retrotransposon insertion sites. Used in combination with 10 additional polymorphic markers, we differentiated 35 strawberry cultivars commonly cultivated in Japan. In addition, we demonstrated that the retrotransposon-based markers were effective for PCR detection of DNA extracted from processed food materials, whereas a SSR marker was ineffective. These results indicated that the retrotransposon-based markers are useful for cultivar discrimination for processed food products, such as jams, in which DNA may be fragmented or degraded

Identification of a target antigen recognized by a mouse monoclonal antibody to the bile canalicular surface of rat hepatocytes with a random phage display library.

We developed a monoclonal antibody (MoAb) (clone 5E8) against an antigen on the bile canalicular membrane of rat hepatocyte. By immunoblotting, MoAb 5E8 detected a band of 110 kD. In this study, we used the phage display technique to identify the target antigen recognized by MoAb 5E8. We screened a random phage display library expressing 12-mer peptide sequences and identified a peptide sequence, FHFNPYTGHPLT, as an epitope. We compared this peptide sequence with those of dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DPP IV, E.C.3.4.14.5) and Cell-CAM105, which proteins were located by a database search based on the information of tissue localization and approximate molecular weight of the MoAb 5E8 antigen, and sequence similarity with a region in DPP IV (amino acids 225-233) but not with Cell-CAM105 was found. In addition, we immunohistochemically stained various tissues (liver, small intestine, and kidney) of Japanese Fischer 344 rats, known to be deficient for DPP IV, with MoAb 5E8 and showed that the expression of MoAb 5E8 antigen was negligible or weak. In contrast, tissues sampled from the same organs of Sprague-Dawley rats, known to express DPP IV, were positively stained. These findings suggest that the antigen recognized by MoAb 5E8 is DDPIV and its major epitope is located in amino acids at positions 225-233.</p

〔研究ノート〕ベトナムの伝統的な衣服に関する研究 ―2014年，2015年の調査から―

　　For the purpose of preserving traditional clothing and recording its history of Vietnam, the authors visited Hoi An and Tan Chau Village in 2014 and in 2015. This paper offers a brief history of Hoi An and reports the result of interviews with 25 Hoi An residents including experienced elderly ex-tailors; the paper also details figures and describes traditional clothing such as the ao ba ba（jackets）and the quan（bottoms）and formal traditional clothing for funeral attendants and the dead; the paper also discusses ritual practices found mainly in Hoi An. In addition, the report looks at the process of traditional manufacturing of a silk dye work using mac nua（ebony fruits）and other materials. This includes chemical analysis and explanation of the dying handicrafts

東京とハノイの衣生活 : 女子学生の着装意識と衣服管理

This paper investigates why and how female college students at Showa Women\u27s University and at Vietnam National University wear and care for their clothes. One-hundred-eighty students at Showa Women\u27s University and forty-three female students in Vietnam National University responded to a questionnaire about their clothes. 1. With regard to motivation, the students in both countries are interested in high fashion. However Hanoi students seem to base what they wear on individual notions of what is fashionable, Tokyo students tend to choose their clothes depending on other\u27s preferences. In addition, students in Tokyo are more concerned with appearing slender than students in Hanoi. 2. In Hanoi, fewer students have skirts. There are historical reasons for this. 3. In both countries students purchase ready-made clothes. In Hanoi 80 percent of the students also wore custom-made clothes. 4. More students in Hanoi are bothered by their clothes sticking to their skin due to the high humidity than are students in Tokyo. This contrast is caused by the different climates of the two countries and by the clothing materials prevalent in each country. 5. The rate of washing by hand versus washing with a machine is clearly different between Tokyo and Hanoi. What students wear, and how they care for their clothes in Tokyo or in Hanoi respectively depends on factors, such as climate condition, traditional clothes, culture, economic situation and social background