Forkhead transcription factor FOXO1 (FKHR)-dependent induction of PDK4 gene expression in skeletal muscle during energy deprivation.

A forkhead-type transcription factor, DAF-16, is located in the most downstream part of the insulin signalling pathway via PI3K (phosphoinositide 3-kinase). It is essential for the extension of life-span and is also involved in dauer formation induced by food deprivation in Caenorhabditis elegans. In the present study, we addressed whether or not FOXO members AFX, FKHR (forkhead homologue in rhabdomyosarcoma) and FKHRL1 (FKHR-like protein 1), mammalian counterparts of DAF-16, are involved in starvation stress. We found a remarkable selective induction of FKHR and FKHRL1 transcripts in skeletal muscle of mice during starvation. The induction of FKHR gene expression was observed at 6 h after food deprivation, peaked at 12 h, and returned to the basal level by 24 h of refeeding. The induction was also found in skeletal muscle of mice with glucocorticoid treatment. Moreover, we found that the levels of PDK4 (pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase 4) gene expression were up-regulated through the direct binding of FKHR to the promoter region of the gene in C2C12 cells. These results suggest that FKHR has an important role in the regulation of energy metabolism, at least in part, through the up-regulation of PDK4 gene expression in skeletal muscle during starvation

Relationships between the Slope of the Oxygen Equilibrium Curve and the Cooperativity of Hemoglobin as Analyzed Using a Normalized Oxygen Pressure Scale

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Characterization of human dental pulp cells grown in chemically defined serum‑free medium

Dental pulp cells (DPCs) are promising candidates for use as transplantable cells in regenerative medicine. However, ex vivo expansion of these cells typically requires culture media containing fetal bovine serum, which may cause infection and immunological reaction following transplantation. In addition, the proliferation and differentiation of DPCs markedly depend upon serum batches. Therefore, the present study examined whether DPCs could be expanded under serum-free conditions. DPCs obtained from four donors were identified to proliferate actively in the serum-free medium, STK2, when compared with those cells in control medium (Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium containing 10% serum). The high proliferative potential with STK2 was maintained through multiple successive culture passages. DNA microarray analyses demonstrated that the gene expression profile of DPCs grown in STK2 was similar to that of cells grown in the control medium; however, a number of genes related to cell proliferation, including placental growth factor and inhibin-βE, were upregulated in the STK2 cultures. Following induction of osteogenesis, DPCs grown in STK2 induced alkaline phosphatase activity and calcification at higher levels compared with the control medium cultures, indicating maintenance of differentiation potential in STK2. This serum-free culture system with DPCs may have applications in further experimental studies and as a clinical strategy in regenerative medicine

故紙再生におけるPCB, PCTによる環境汚染 (I) : 故紙再生工場周辺の底質汚染の状況

故紙再生を通してのPCB, PCTによる環境汚染の状況を把握するために, 1つの事例として, 大津市東部に位置する一板紙工場を対象とし, 同工場の排水の影響を受ける琵琶湖の底質, 湖水および工場排水の汚染の実態を調査した。得られた結果は, 1. 底質中のPCB, PCT濃度は新排水路 (1970年以降) およびその周辺で高い値を示し, 排水路口からの距離とともに減少する傾向が認められた。また, PCBは1970年まで使用されていた旧排水口付近ではとくに高い濃度を示したのに対して, PCTは新排水路中で最も高い濃度レベルにあり, 両者の汚染のピークの時期にはずれがあったと思われる。2. 底質中のPCB濃度, PCT濃度, I, L. (強熱減量) の3者の間には, それぞれ明らかな正の相関が認められ, 工場排水中のPCB, PCTは, その大部分が繊維カスなどの浮遊物に吸着されているものと思われる。3. 底質中のPCBは, 高濃度汚染地点のものでは, KC-300 (カネクロール-300) に類似したガスクロマトグラフパターンを示すが, 濃度が低くなるにつれて低塩素数のものの割合が減少する。これは水への溶出, 水中からの蒸発による低塩素部分の選択的消失によるものと考えられる。PCBs and PCTs contaminations of bottom deposits, surface waters and drain waters were investigated at the area in Lake Biwa being influenced by the drain water from a paper board factory on the east area of Ohtsu City, as a case study in order to obtain informations about the environmental pollution by PCBs and PCTs resulting from reclaiming waste paper. Results obtained are as follows: 1. PCBs and PCTs concentrations in bottom deposits were observed to be high in the new drainage canal (after 1970) and around it, and to be lower at the further region from the outlet of the canal. The highest concentration level in bottom deposits for PCBs was found out at the surrounding of outlet of former drain (used until 1970), but for PCTs in the new drainage canal. That seems to indicate that the peak times of the pollution by PCBs differed from that by PCTs. 2. Obvious correlations were observed between PCBs concentration and ignition loss (I. L.), between PCTs concentration and I. L., and between PCBs and PCTs concentration in bottom deposits. Therefore it is thought that most parts of PCBs and PCTs in the drain water from the waste paper reclaiming factory were adsorbed by suspending substances such as fine pulp fibers. 3. PCBs in bottom deposits at the highly contaminated region abound with low chlorinated biphenyls, so thier gass chromatograms show similar pattern to that of Kanechor-300. However, the lower the PCBs concentration in bottom deposits becomes, namely the further from the source of contamination, the lower the ratio of low chlorinated biphenyls to total PCBs in bottom deposits becomes. That seems to result from preferential diminution of low chlorinated biphenyls that is due to thier preferential elution into the water and volatilization into the atmosphere from the water surface

Identification of Mono- and Disulfated N-Acetyl-lactosaminyl Oligosaccharide Structures as Epitopes Specifically Recognized by Humanized Monoclonal Antibody HMOCC-1 Raised against Ovarian Cancer*♦

Background: We produced a humanized monoclonal antibody, designated HMOCC-1, against cell surface carbohydrates presented by malignant ovarian cancer