Transmembrane 4 superfamily member 5 protein (TM4SF5) is presumed to serve as a molecular target to prevent or treat hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and colon cancer in a mouse model. Previously, we ...reported the efficacy of anti-cancer peptide vaccine targeting TM4SF5. In addition, we reported an anti-proliferative effect of anti-TM4SF5 monoclonal antibody in HCC. Here, we investigated expression of TM4SF5 in 45 primary colon cancer tissues. Almost all of the colon cancer tissues expressed TM4SF5 based on immunohistochemistry using anti-TM4SF5 monoclonal antibody. The treatment of human colon cancer cells with anti-TM4SF5 antibody reduced growth of TM4SF5 expressing cells and enhanced expression of E-cadherin and β-catenin. Using mouse colon cancer models, we then evaluated the in vivo anti-cancer effect of anti-TM4SF5 antibody. Injection of the antibody significantly reduced growth of tumors priorly established by subcutaneous injection of human colon cancer cells HT-29 in a xenograft setting. We obtained similar results with mouse colon cancer cell line CT-26 in an allograft setting. Therefore, we suggest that the TM4SF5-specific monoclonal antibody has a therapeutic effect against colon cancer.
Encapsulated curcumin (ENCC) was prepared from a commercial curcuminoids complex and was evaluated for its intestinal permeability and hepatoprotective effects. Intestinal permeability was evaluated ...using a Caco-2 intestinal cell monolayer system and the non-everted gut sac method. The hepatoprotective effect was evaluated in experimental rats administered alcohol for 4 weeks. The intestinal permeability results suggested that encapsulation is a useful method for enhancing adsorption of curcumin via the intestinal epithelium. ENCC administration resulted in the significant reduction of various serum indicators. Notably, most of the indicators elevated by ethanol decreased below normal levels when rats were administered a high dose of ENCC. Oral administration of ENCC also augmented the activity of glutathione peroxidase in the liver, and both normal curcumin and ENCC significantly alleviated high levels of malondialdehyde. Our results demonstrate a significant hepatoprotective effect of ENCC
owing to its ability to improve bioavailability of curcumin.
► Identification of immunostimulatory phosphodiester bond CT-ODN from
Staphylococcus aureus DNA. ► The PO-CT-ODN induces cytokine production in a TLR9-dependent manner. ► The PO-CT-ODN can act as an ...adjuvant for the induction of Ag-driven IgG production.
The innate immune system recognizes bacterial DNA as a nonself to induce rapid immune activation. TLR9 recognizes synthetic oligodeoxynucleotides (ODNs) and bacterial DNA containing unmethylated CpG dinucleotides in the context of specific base sequences (CpG-DNA). Here, we demonstrate that phosphorothioate backbone CT-ODN (PS-CT-ODN), a derivative of phosphorothioate backbone CpG-DNA (PS-ODN) with CT sequences substituted for the CG sequences, stimulates IL-8 promoter activation and gene expression. Furthermore, we identified an immunostimulatory phosphodiester bond CT-ODN (PO-CT-ODN) from
Staphylococcus aureus chromosomal DNA and found that the PO-CT-ODN induces cytokine production in a TLR9-dependent manner when encapsulated with a proper liposome. Our experimental analyses also demonstrate that the immunostimulatory PO-CT-ODN can act as an adjuvant for the induction of Ag-driven IgG production. Further investigation of the functional role of PO-CT-ODN may support the future application of PO-CT-ODN in immunotherapeutics.
Quantitative estimation of the specific contact resistivity and energy barrier at the interface between transparent conducting oxide (TCO) and hydrogenated p-type amorphous silicon carbide ...(a-Si1−xCx:H(p)) was carried out by inserting an interfacial buffer layer of hydrogenated p-type microcrystalline silicon (μc-Si:H(p)) or hydrogenated p-type amorphous silicon (a-Si:H(p)). In addition, superstrate configuration p–i–n hydrogenated amorphous silicon (a-Si:H) solar cells were fabricated by plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition to investigate the effect of the inserted buffer layer on the solar cell device. Ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopy was employed to measure the work functions of the TCO and a-Si1−xCx:H(p) layers and to allow direct calculations of the energy barriers at the interfaces. Especially interface structures were compared with/without a buffer which is either highly doped μc-Si:H(p) layer or low doped a-Si:H(p) layer, to improve the contact properties of aluminum-doped zinc oxide and a-Si1−xCx:H(p). Out of the two buffers, the superior contact properties of μc-Si:H(p) buffer could be expected due to its higher conductivity and slightly lower specific contact resistivity. However, the overall solar cell conversion efficiencies were almost the same for both of the buffered structures and the resultant similar efficiencies were attributed to the difference between the fill factors of the solar cells. The effects of the energy barrier heights of the two buffered structures and their influence on solar cell device performances were intensively investigated and discussed with comparisons.
► Decrease of fill factor due to high contact resistance of Al:ZnO/a-SiC:H(p) interface. ► Insertion of buffer layer (μc-Si or a-Si) between Al:ZnO and p-layer for comparison. ► μc-Si:H(p) buffer with high conductivity has better fill factor but higher barrier. ► a-Si:H(p) buffer with low conductivity forms lower barrier and better fill factor.
Purpose The purpose of this study was to investigate the blood levels related to the bone mineral density by using the dual energy X-ray absorption for females before menopause and males younger than ...50 years old. Subjects and Methods Between August 1, and September 15, 2013, the Z-score was measured in females before menopause and males younger than 50 years old using a bone mineral density measuring instrument. After the measurement, the subjects were classified into two groups, that is, the below expectations and within expectations groups. Next, we analyzed and compared the differences in age, body mass index, and blood levels between the 2 groups. Results The results showed a correlation of 0.212 for total protein, −0.317 for alanine aminotransferase, −0.199 for gamma-glutamyl transferase, −0.358 for alkaline phosphatase, 0.266 for uric acid, −0.313 for lactate dehydrogenase, 0.244 for creatinine, −0.234 for the red blood cell count, and −0.230 for the red cell distribution width in patients with less than expected level for their age. Conclusion In conclusion, osteoporosis may occur in females before menopause and males younger than 50 years old, and aggressive attention is required for prevention and treatment.
Amylases are important industrial enzymes that have been applied widely in the food, detergent, and pulp industries and fermentation processes. In the present study, a gene encoding an alpha-amylase ...from the genomic DNA library of
Paenibacillus
sp. was identified and characterized. The amylase gene designated
amy1
was shown to consist of 1,980 bp and shared sequence identity towards α-amylase genes from other
Bacillus
sp. The deduced amino acid sequence for Amy1 indicated 80 % sequence identity with other
Bacillus
strains. Heterologous expression of recombinant Amy1 in
Escherichia coli
BL21(DE3) facilitated the recovery of this protein in soluble form. Enzyme kinetic data revealed Amy1 to have a
K
m
of 23.83 mg/mL and
K
cat
of 48.74 min
−1
and
K
cat
/K
m
of 2 min
−1
mg
−1
mL
−1
for starch. The activity of this protein was found to be enhanced by Mn
2+
, and furthermore, Amy1 remained active at a broad pH range (4–10) and temperature (30–90 °C). The ability of Amy1 to act on food waste under broad temperature and pH conditions, together with its ability to produce simple sugars, shows many advantages for further application in the food industry.
We investigated the anti-osteoarthritic effects of deer bone extract on the gene expressions of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and collagen type II (COL2) in interleukin-1β-induced osteoarthritis ...(OA) chondrocytes.
Primary rabbit chondrocytes were treated as follows: CON (PBS treatment), NC (IL-1β treatment), PC (IL-1β + 100 µg/mL glucosamine sulphate/chondroitin sulphate mixture), and DB (IL-1β + 100 µg/mL deer bone extract).
The results of the cell viability assay indicated that deer bone extract at doses ranging from 100 to 500 µg/mL inhibits cell death in chondrocytes induced by IL-1β. Deer bone extract was able to significantly recover the mRNA expression of COL2 that was down-regulated by IL-1β (NC: 0.79 vs. DB: 0.87,
< 0.05) and significantly decrease the mRNA expression of MMP-3 (NC: 2.24 vs. DB: 1.75) and -13 (NC: 1.28 vs. DB: 0.89) in OA chondrocytes (
< 0.05).
We concluded that deer bone extract induces accumulation of COL2 through the down-regulation of MMPs in IL-1β-induced OA chondrocytes. Our results suggest that deer bone extract, which contains various components related to OA, including chondroitin sulphate, may possess anti-osteoarthritic properties and be of value in inhibiting the pathogenesis of OA.
The purpose of this study was to apply probabilistic models to the mapping of the potential polychaeta habitat area in the Hwangdo tidal flat, Korea. Remote sensing techniques were used to construct ...spatial datasets of ecological environments and field observations were carried out to determine the distribution of macrobenthos. Habitat potential mapping was achieved for two polychaeta species,
Prionospio japonica and
Prionospio pulchra, and eight control factors relating to the tidal macrobenthos distribution were selected. These included the intertidal digital elevation model (DEM), slope, aspect, tidal exposure duration, distance from tidal channels, tidal channel density, spectral reflectance of the near infrared (NIR) bands and surface sedimentary facies from satellite imagery. The spatial relationships between the polychaeta species and each control factor were calculated using a frequency ratio and weights-of-evidence combined with geographic information system (GIS) data. The species were randomly divided into a training set (70%) to analyze habitat potential using frequency ratio and weights-of-evidence, and a test set (30%) to verify the predicted habitat potential map. The relationships were overlaid to produce a habitat potential map with a polychaeta habitat potential (PHP) index value. These maps were verified by comparing them to surveyed habitat locations such as the verification data set. For the verification results, the frequency ratio model showed prediction accuracies of 77.71% and 74.87% for
P. japonica and
P. pulchra, respectively, while those for the weights-of-evidence model were 64.05% and 62.95%. Thus, the frequency ratio model provided a more accurate prediction than the weights-of-evidence model. Our data demonstrate that the frequency ratio and weights-of-evidence models based upon GIS analysis are effective for generating habitat potential maps of polychaeta species in a tidal flat. The results of this study can be applied towards conservation and management initiatives for the macrofauna of tidal flats.
► Macrobenthos habitat in coastal region is influenced by various benthic environments. ► Remote sensing combined with in-situ measurement is an effective instrument to get spatial distribution of the benthic environments in tidal flat. ► GIS-based probabilistic models show good applicability to the mapping of macrobenthos habitat vulnerability in coastal region.
Useful biomarkers for metabolic syndrome have been insufficient. We investigated the performance of serum milk fat globule-EGF factor-8 (MFG-E8), the key mediator of inflammatory pathway, in ...diagnosis of metabolic syndrome.
Subjects aged between 30 and 64 years were prospectively enrolled in the Seoul Metabolic Syndrome cohort. Serum MFG-E8 levels were measured at baseline.
A total of 556 subjects were included, comprising 279 women (50.2%) and 277 men (49.8%). Metabolic syndrome was diagnosed in 236 subjects (42.4%), and the mean MFG-E8 level of subjects with metabolic syndrome was significantly higher than that of subjects without metabolic syndrome (P <0.001). MFG-E8 level was significantly correlated with all metabolic syndrome components and pulse wave velocity (all P <0.05). Subjects were categorized into two groups according to the best MFG-E8 cut-off value as follows: group 1, MFG-E8 level <4,745.1 pg/mL (n=401, 72.1%); and group 2, MFG-E8 level ≥4,745.1 (n=155, 27.9%). At baseline, metabolic syndrome in group 2 was significantly more prevalent than in group 1 (63.9% vs. 34.2%, P <0.001). During median follow-up of 17 months, metabolic syndrome developed in 122 (38.1%) subjects among 320 subjects without it at baseline. The incidence of metabolic syndrome in group 2 was significantly higher than that in group 1 (55.4% vs. 34.5%, P=0.003). On multivariate analysis, MFG-E8 level ≥4745.1 pg/mL was an independent predictor for diagnosis and development of metabolic syndrome after adjusting other factors (all P <0.05).
Serum MFG-E8 level is a potent biomarker for the screening and prediction of metabolic syndrome.
PDF
