Characterization of a Murine Anti-laminin-1 Monoclonal Antibody (AK8) Produced by Immunization with Mouse-derived Laminin-1

Laminin-1 is a structural glycoprotein that forms an integral part of the scaffolding of basement membranes, and plays an important role during embryonic development. We have recently demonstrated a significant association between anti-laminin-1 antibodies (Abs) and reproductive failure, such as recurrent spontaneous abortions and infertility-associated endometriosis in both human and mouse studies. In the present study, we established an IgM (μ,κ) monoclonal anti-laminin-1 Ab (AK8) by immunizing mice with mouse Engelbreth-Holm-Swarm sarcoma (EHS)-derived laminin-α1. The AK8 monoclonal antibody (mAb) reacted with particular peptide sequences from the globular G domain of mouse laminin-α1 chain of using ELISA and Western blot techniques. The peptide tertiary structure of the epitope recognized by AK8 mAb was predicted using eight synthesized domain peptide sequences and three consensus sequences obtained by phage displayed random peptide library. Basement membranes of endometrium of pregnant mice and humans were immunostained with AK8 mAb. Thus, AK8 mAb recognized a common structure present in the G domain of the laminin-1 chain in both mice and humans. The passive immunization of mice with AK8 mAb may represent a suitable animal model for anti-laminin-1 Ab-mediated reproductive failure

Plant viruses and viroids in Japan

An increasing number of plant viruses and viroids have been reported from all over the world due largely to metavirogenomics approaches with technological innovation. Herein, the official changes of virus taxonomy, including the establishment of megataxonomy and amendments of the codes of virus classification and nomenclature, recently made by the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses were summarized. The continued efforts of the plant virology community of Japan to index all plant viruses and viroids occurring in Japan, which represent 407 viruses, including 303 virus species and 104 unclassified viruses, and 25 viroids, including 20 species and 5 unclassified viroids, as of October 2021, were also introduced. These viruses and viroids are collectively classified into 81 genera within 26 families of 3 kingdoms (Shotokuvirae, Orthornavirae, Pararnavirae) across 2 realms (Monodnaviria and Riboviria). This review also overviewed how Japan’s plant virus/viroid studies have contributed to advance virus/viroid taxonomy

Characterization of Fusarium oxysporum β-1,6-Galactanase, an Enzyme That Hydrolyzes Larch Wood Arabinogalactan▿

A type II arabinogalactan-degrading enzyme (FoGal1) was purified from Fusarium oxysporum 12S, and the corresponding cDNA was isolated. FoGal1 had high similarity to enzymes of glycoside hydrolase family 5. Treatment of larch wood arabinogalactan with the recombinant enzyme indicated that FoGal1 is a β-1,6-galactanase that preferentially debranches β-1,6-galactobiose from the substrate

Exercise Therapy for Combined Pulmonary Fibrosis and Emphysema: Protocol for a Scoping Review

Objective: This scoping review aims to explore the exercise therapy topics, identify the research gaps, and assess the needs for future research on exercise therapy for patients with combined pulmonary fibrosis and emphysema (CPFE). Introduction: CPFE, first proposed by Cottin et al. in 2005, combines features of pulmonary emphysema and diffuse pulmonary fibrosis, leading to significant clinical challenges, including severe impairments in pulmonary diffusion capacity and high incidences of complications like pulmonary hypertension and lung cancer. Despite its prevalence and impact, there is a notable lack of clinical guidelines and established treatment protocols for CPFE, particularly in the domain of respiratory rehabilitation. This gap underscores the critical need for a comprehensive review of exercise therapy in rehabilitation interventions to inform clinical management and enhance patient outcomes. Inclusion criteria: The review will include studies involving adults over 18 with CPFE, focusing on rehabilitation interventions primarily composed of exercise therapy. We will consider experimental and observational study designs, reviews, and unpublished data. Exclusions include studies focusing solely on activities of daily living training or self-management education conducted independently, as well as those focused solely on pharmacotherapy or nutritional therapy without a rehabilitation context, and those not reporting intervention outcomes. Methods: Following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Statement Extension for Scoping Reviews and the Joanna Briggs Institute framework, this review will search databases such as MEDLINE, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, and others, including trial registries like World Health Organization International Clinical Trials Registry Platform and ClinicalTrials.gov. The search will be comprehensive, including ongoing trials and relevant guidelines. Study selection will involve independent screening and data extraction by reviewers, using a predefined data extraction form. The review will present findings in a qualitative synthesis, identifying key the rehabilitation topics, the research gaps, and future the needs for patients with CPFE

Mechanisms Involved in Apoptosis of Human Macrophages Induced by Lipopolysaccharide from Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans in the Presence of Cycloheximide

Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans is a major periodontopathic bacterium with multiple virulence factors, including lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Previous reports have demonstrated that LPS induced apoptosis in a murine macrophage-like cell line, J744.1, as well as in peritoneal macrophages from C3H/HeN mice in the presence of cycloheximide (CHX). However, the detailed molecular mechanisms involved in the apoptosis of macrophages induced by LPS and CHX are not well known. To clarify the possible role of LPS in the induction of macrophage apoptosis, we investigated cell death induced by LPS from A. actinomycetemcomitans and CHX in human macrophage-like U937 cells, which were differentiated by 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate (TPA), and also assessed the molecular mechanisms involved in the process. We found that TPA-differentiated U937 cells usually showed resistance to LPS-induced apoptosis. However, in the presence of CHX, LPS induced release of cytochrome c without modifying steady-state levels of Bcl-2, Bcl-xL, Bax, and Bak. Treatment with LPS in the presence of CHX also led to activation of caspase-3 and apoptosis via, in part, the CD14/toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4). The induction of cytochrome c release may have been due to dephosphorylation of Akt and Bad, which were cooperatively induced by CHX and LPS. However, endogenous tumor necrosis factor alpha- and Fas-induced signals, extracellular signal-regulated kinase kinase/mitogen-activated protein kinases and I-κBα/nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) were not required for caspase-3-dependent apoptosis. These results emphasize the possible important role of the mitochondrial apoptotic pathway leading to caspase-3 activation in LPS-induced apoptosis of human macrophages in the presence of CHX