Simultaneous monitoring of independent gene expression patterns in two types of cocultured fibroblasts with different color-emitting luciferases

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Luciferase assay systems enable the real-time monitoring of gene expression in living cells. We have developed a dual-color luciferase assay system in which the expression of multiple genes can be tracked simultaneously using green- and red-emitting beetle luciferases. We have applied the system to monitoring independent gene expressions in two types of cocultured fibroblasts in real time.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Two Rat-1 cell lines were established that stably express either green- or red-emitting luciferases under the control of the <it>mBmal1 </it>promoter, a canonical clock gene. We cocultured these cell lines, and gene expression profiles in both were monitored simultaneously. The circadian rhythms of these cell lines are independent, oscillating following their intrinsic circadian phases, even when cocultured. Furthermore, the independent rhythms were synchronized by medium change as an external stimulus.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Using this system, we successfully monitored independent gene expression patterns in two lines of cocultured fibroblasts.</p

Cyclin D1 activation through ATF-2 in Reg-induced pancreatic β-cell regeneration

AbstractRegenerating gene product (Reg) is induced in pancreatic β-cells and acts as an autocrine/paracrine growth factor for regeneration via a cell surface Reg receptor. However, the manner by which Reg induces β-cell regeneration was unknown. In the present study, we found that Reg increased phospho-ATF-2, which binds to −57 to −52 of the cyclin D1 gene to activate the promoter. The Reg/ATF-2-induced cyclin D1 promoter activation was attenuated by PI(3)K inhibitors such as LY294002 and wortmannin. In Reg knockout mouse islets, the levels of phospho-ATF-2, cyclin D1, and phospho-Rb were greatly decreased. These results indicate that the Reg–Reg receptor system stimulates the PI(3)K/ATF-2/cyclin D1 signaling pathway to induce β-cell regeneration

Androgen’s effects in female

The metabolic effects of androgens and their underlying mechanisms in females have been revealed by recent studies. An excess of androgens can have adverse effects on feeding behavior and metabolic functions and induce metabolic disorders / diseases, such as obesity, insulin resistance, and diabetes, in women and experimental animals of reproductive age. Interestingly, these effects of androgens are not observed in ovariectomized animals, indicating that their effects might be dependent on the estrogen milieu. Central and peripheral mechanisms, such as alterations in the activity of hypothalamic factors, reductions in energy expenditure, skeletal muscle insulin resistance, and β-cell dysfunction, might be related to these androgens’ effects

Biotin levels in blood and follicular fluid

It has been shown that biotin, a water-soluble vitamin (B7), plays roles in reproductive functions, such as oocyte maturation and embryo development, in experimental animals. On the other hand, little is known about the clinical effects of biotin on human reproduction. In this study, serum and follicular fluid biotin levels were measured in patients who underwent in vitro fertilization / intracytoplasmic sperm injection (IVF / ICSI), and their associations with reproductive outcomes were evaluated. As a result, biotin was detected in follicular fluid, as well as serum, and the biotin levels of follicular fluid were found to be positively correlated with those of serum. The biotin levels of serum were higher than those of follicular fluid, suggesting that biotin may be taken up into the follicular fluid from the blood. Although serum and follicular fluid biotin levels tended to be higher in pregnant patients than in non-pregnant patients, these data did not show the significant statistical difference. These findings indicate that biotin does not contribute to the maintenance of oocyte quality, and hence, it does not increase fertilization and pregnancy rates

トクシマシ イシカイ ガ ウンエイ スル トクシマシ チイキ ホウカツ シエン センター ノ トリクミ

The Tokushima City Integrated Community Care Support Center, a public institution responsible for the Long-Term Care Insurance and welfare administration of Tokushima City, has high business operations fair and neutrality. The only support center in Tokushima City has been entrusted to the Tokushima City Medical Association and is a large center unusual in Japan. We are working to cooperation with relevant organizations to support the medical and health, welfare and care of the community. We try to establish an Integrated Community Care system, as elderly can continue to live so long and dignified. We divided a daily living area of Tokushima City into four, and have placed the staff for each area. The current number of staff is ５４ people in total, including public health nurses, social workers, chief care managers, and so on. Number of consultations reaches ３６，０００ per year. Occasionally, we received over １６０ consultations a day. There are a wide variety of consultation contents such as Dementia and long-term care services, elder abuse and consumer damage. Because of Medical Association’s operation, we are able to easily construct cooperation with the healthcare and the long-time care system. Therefore, the all citizens of Tokushima City can receive standard services equally, fair, and neutrally. There is no regional disparity, there is no user of the enclosure. Because we have１４branches of the support center in the city, they can bring a high level convenience to the citizens. It seems necessary to focus on the development of four promotions for the future citizens, ① Enhancement of the center output ② Cooperation of the healthcare and the long-term care ③ Improvement of the area community care conference ④ Increase of measures against Dementia

Finishing the euchromatic sequence of the human genome

The sequence of the human genome encodes the genetic instructions for human physiology, as well as rich information about human evolution. In 2001, the International Human Genome Sequencing Consortium reported a draft sequence of the euchromatic portion of the human genome. Since then, the international collaboration has worked to convert this draft into a genome sequence with high accuracy and nearly complete coverage. Here, we report the result of this finishing process. The current genome sequence (Build 35) contains 2.85 billion nucleotides interrupted by only 341 gaps. It covers ∼99% of the euchromatic genome and is accurate to an error rate of ∼1 event per 100,000 bases. Many of the remaining euchromatic gaps are associated with segmental duplications and will require focused work with new methods. The near-complete sequence, the first for a vertebrate, greatly improves the precision of biological analyses of the human genome including studies of gene number, birth and death. Notably, the human enome seems to encode only 20,000-25,000 protein-coding genes. The genome sequence reported here should serve as a firm foundation for biomedical research in the decades ahead