Health Benefits of Antioxidative Peptides Derived from Legume Proteins with a High Amino Acid Score

This research article published by MDPI, 2021Legumes such as soybean, chickpea, lentil, cowpea, and mung bean, are valuable sources of protein with a high amino acid score and can provide bioactive peptides. This manuscript presents a review on legume-derived peptides, focusing on in vitro and in vivo studies on the potential antioxidative activities of protein hydrolysates and their characterization, amino acid sequences, or purified/novel peptides. The health implications of legume-derived antioxidative peptides in reducing the risks of cancer and cardiovascular diseases are linked with their potent action against oxidation and inflammation. The molecular weight profiles and amino acid sequences of purified and characterized legume-derived antioxidant peptides are not well established. Therefore, further exploration of legume protein hydrolysates is necessary for assessing the potential applications of antioxidant-derived peptides in the functional food industry

Theobromine suppresses adipogenesis through enhancement of CCAAT-enhancer-binding protein beta degradation by adenosine receptor A1

Theobromine, a methylxanthine derived from cacao beans, reportedly has various health-promoting properties but molecular mechanism by which effects of theobromine on adipocyte differentiation and adipogenesis remains unclear. In this study, we aimed to clarify the molecular mechanisms of the anti-adipogenic effect of theobromine in vitro and in vivo. ICR mice (4 week-old) were administered with theobromine (0.1 g/kg) for 7 days. Theobromine administration attenuated gains in body and epididymal adipose tissue weights in mice and suppressed expression of adipogenic-associated genes in mouse adipose tissue. In 3T3-L1 preadipocytes, theobromine caused degradation of C/EBP beta protein by the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway. Pull down assay showed that theobromine selectively interacts with adenosine receptor A1(AR1), and AR1 knockdown inhibited theobromine-induced C/ESPfi degradation. Theobromine increased sumoylation of C/EBP beta' at Lys133. Expression of the small ubiquitin-like modifier (SUMO)-specific protease 2 (SENP2) gene, coding for a desumoylation enzyme, was suppressed by theobromine. In vivo knockdown studies showed that AR1 knockdown in mice attenuated the anti-adipogenic effects of theobromine in younger mice. Theobromine suppresses adipocyte differentiation and induced C/EBPP degradation by increasing its sumoylation. Furthermore, the inhibition of AR1 signaling is important for theobromine-induced C/EBP beta degradation.ArticleBIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-MOLECULAR CELL RESEARCH.1864(12):2438-2448(2017)journal articl

Study on measuring device arrangement of array-type CdTe detector for BNCT-SPECT

AimTo design the measuring device arrangement of array-type CdTe detector for BNCT-SPECT.BackgroundIn a boron neutron capture therapy, a very serious unsolved problem exists, namely that the treatment effect for BNCT cannot be known during irradiation in real time. Therefore, we have been developing a so-called BNCT-SPECT with a CdTe detector, which can obtain a three-dimensional image for the BNCT treatment effect by measuring 478[[ce:hsp sp="0.25"/]]keV gamma-rays emitted from the excited state of 7Li nucleus created by the 10B(n,α) reaction. However, no practical uses were realized at present, because BNCT-SPECT requires very severe conditions for spatial resolution, measuring time, statistical accuracy and energy resolution.Materials and methodsThe design study was performed with numerical simulations carried out by a 3-dimenaional transport code, MCNP5 considering the detector assembly, irradiation room and even arrangement of arrayed CdTe crystals.ResultsThe estimated count rate of 478[[ce:hsp sp="0.25"/]]keV gamma-rays was sufficiently large being more than the target value of over 1000[[ce:hsp sp="0.25"/]]counts/h. However, the S/N ratio did not meet the target of S/N[[ce:hsp sp="0.25"/]]>[[ce:hsp sp="0.25"/]]1. We confirmed that deterioration of the S/N ratio was caused by the influence of Compton scattering especially due to capture gamma-rays of hydrogen. Theoretical calculations were thereafter carried out to find out whether anti-Compton measurement in an array-type CdTe detector could decrease the noise due to Compton scatterings.ConclusionsThe calculation result showed that the anti-coincidence would possibly increase the S/N ratio. In the next phase, an arrayed detector with two CdTe crystals will be produced to test removal possibility of the anti-coincident event

Intracellular cAMP contents regulate NAMPT expression via induction of C/EBPβ in adipocytes

A decline in intracellular nicotinamide adenine mononucleotide (NAD+) causes adipose tissue dysfunction. Nicotinamide phosphoribosyltransferase (NAMPT) catalyzes the rate-limiting step in the NAD+ biosynthesis pathway. However, the molecular mechanism that mediates regulation of NAMPT expression in adipocytes is yet to be elucidated. This study found that intracellular cAMP regulates NAMPT expression and promoter activity in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. cAMP-mediated Nampt promoter activity was suppressed by protein kinase A inhibitor H89, whereas AMP-activated protein kinase inhibitor compound C did not affect cAMP-mediated Nampt promoter activity. Intracellular cAMP induced CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein β (C/EBPβ) expression. Knockdown of C/EBPβ suppressed NAMPT expression and promoter activity. Furthermore, the Nampt promoter was activated by C/EBPβ, while LIP activated the dominant-negative form of C/EBPβ. Promoter sequence analysis revealed that the region from -96 to -76 on Nampt was required for C/EBPβ-mediated promoter activity. Additionally, chromatin immunoprecipitation assay demonstrated that C/EBPβ was bound to the promoter sequences of Nampt. Finally, NAMPT inhibitor FK866 suppressed adipogenesis in 3T3-L1 cells, and this suppressive effect was restored by nicotinamide mononucleotide treatment. These findings showed that intracellular cAMP increased NAMPT levels by induction of C/EBPβ expression and indicated that the induction of NAMPT expression was important for adipogenesis.ArticleBiochemical and Biophysical Research Communications. 522(3): 770-775. (2020)journal articl

Craniomaxillofacial Fibrous Dysplasia Improved Cosmetic and Occlusal Problem by Comprehensive Treatment: A Case Report and Review of Current Treatments

Fibrous dysplasia (FD) is a fibrous lesion of immature bone, with an incidence of 10-20% in the head and neck region. Most cases are monostotic, but when a lesion occurs on the maxillofacial region and spreads to the surrounding bone, it is classified as polyostotic, despite its localized occurrence. In some cases, surgical intervention is required to improve the cosmetic or functional disturbance of a FD in the maxillofacial region, but it is necessary to confirm symmetry of the maxillofacial region in real time, and a surgical support system is required to compensate. Furthermore, prosthetic intervention is considered when postoperative acquired defects occur or further cosmetic or occlusal function improvement is needed. A comprehensive approach by an oral surgeon and a maxillofacial prosthodontist is necessary for the successful treatment and rehabilitation of such patients. In this article, we describe the case of a craniomaxillofacial FD patient with facial asymmetry and denture incompatibility with improved quality of life measures by integrating surgical treatment using a navigation system and postoperative prosthetic rehabilitation. We also discuss recent diagnostic methods and treatment strategies for craniomaxillofacial FD in the literature

Theophylline suppresses interleukin-6 expression by inhibiting glucocorticoid receptor signaling in pre-adipocytes

Adipose tissues in obese individuals are characterized by a state of chronic low-grade inflammation. Pre-adipocytes and adipocytes in this state secrete pro-inflammatory adipokines, such as interleukin 6 (IL-6), which induce insulin resistance and hyperglycemia. Theophylline (1,3-dimethylxanthine) exerts anti-inflammatory effects, but its effects on pro-inflammatory adipokine secretion by pre-adipocytes and adipocytes have not been examined. In this study, we found that theophylline decreased IL-6 secretion by 3T3-L1 pre-adipocytes and mouse-derived primary pre-adipocytes. The synthetic glucocorticoid dexamethasone (DEX) induced IL-6 expression in 3T3-L1 pre-adipocytes, and this effect was suppressed by theophylline at the mRNA level. Knockdown of CCAAT/enhancer binding protein (C/EBP) δ inhibited DEX-induced IL-6 expression, and theophylline suppressed C/EBPδ expression. Furthermore, theophylline suppressed transcriptional activity of the glucocorticoid receptor (GR) through suppression of nuclear localization of GR. In vivo, glucocorticoid corticosterone treatment (100 μg/mL) increased fasting blood glucose and plasma IL-6 levels in C57BL/6 N mice. Theophylline administration (0.1% diet) reduced corticosterone-increased fasting blood glucose, plasma IL-6 levels, and Il6 gene expression in adipose tissues. These results show that theophylline administration attenuated glucocorticoid-induced hyperglycemia and IL-6 production by inhibiting GR activity. The present findings indicate the potential of theophylline as a candidate therapeutic agent to treat insulin resistance and hyperglycemia.ArticleARCHIVES OF BIOCHEMISTRY AND BIOPHYSICS.646:98-106(2018)journal articl