Sphingosine-1-phosphate receptor-2 attenuates lipopolysaccharide-induced acute lung injury

AIM: To investigate the effects and mechanisms of sphingosine-1-phosphate receptor-2 (S1P2R)on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced acute lung injury (ALI). METHODS: ALI model was induced by intratracheal administration of LPS in both wild-type mice and S1P2R -deficient mice. The pathological changes in the lung tissues were observed, and the protein concentration, total cell number, neutrophil ratio, TNF-α level and IL-6 level were determined in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) 24 h after LPS injection. In order to investigate the mechanisms of S1P2R in LPS-induced ALI, 10 min before LPS injection, both wild-type mice and S1P2R -deficient mice were injected with nitric oxide synthase inhibitor by tail vein injection, the pathological changes of the lung tissues were observed, and the protein concentration and total cell number in BALF were determined 12 h after LPS injection. RESULTS: Compared with wild-type mice, S1P2R -deficient mice showed more severe LPS-induced ALI, and the protein concentration, neutrophils and inflammatory cytokines in BALF were significantly increased in S1P2R -deficient mice. Administration of nitric oxide synthase inhibitor N^ω-L-nitro-arginine methyl ester protected S1P2R -deficient mice from aggravation of ALI. CONCLUSION: S1P2R mediates the protection from LPS-induced ALI possibly through inhibiting nitric oxide synthase.     

Atmospheric deposition and leaching of nitrogen in Chinese forest ecosystems

Data have been compiled from published sources on nitrogen (N) fluxes in precipitation, throughfall, and leaching from 69 forest ecosystems at 50 sites throughout China, to examine at a national level: (1) N input in precipitation and throughfall, (2) how precipitation N changes after the interaction with canopy, and (3) whether N leaching increases with increasing N deposition and, if so, to what extent. The deposition of dissolved inorganic N (DIN) in precipitation ranged from 2.6 to 48.2 kg N ha⁻¹ year⁻¹, with an average of 16.6 kg N ha⁻¹ year⁻¹. Ammonium was the dominant form of N at most sites, accounting for, on average, 63% of total inorganic N deposition. Nitrate accounted for the remaining 37%. On average, DIN fluxes increased through forest canopies, by 40% and 34% in broad-leaved and coniferous forests, respectively. No significant difference in throughfall DIN inputs was found between the two forest types. Overall, 22% of the throughfall DIN input was leached from forest ecosystems in China, which is lower than the 50–59% observed for European forests. Simple calculations indicate that Chinese forests have great potential to absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, because of the large forest area and high N deposition.     

Winter monsoon promotes the transport of Japanese temperate bass Lateolabrax japonicus eggs and larvae toward the innermost part of Tango Bay,the Sea of Japan

Northwesterly cold winds characteristic of the East Asian Winter Monsoon (EAWM) dictate winter climatic conditions over the Japanese Archipelago. Japanese temperate bass Lateolabrax japonicus is a commercially important coastal fish that spawns offshore in winter and uses shallow waters as nursery habitats. To investigate the effects of EAWM on the planktonic period of L. japonicus, eggs, larvae, and juveniles were quantitatively collected in Tango Bay on the Sea of Japan side in winter and spring from 2007 to 2017. Although eggs occurred close to the mouth of the bay, planktonic larvae occurred further inside as they developed. The horizontal distribution of planktonic larvae, combined with water velocity data obtained from mooring observations, indicated that planktonic larvae are transported south‐ to westward through Ekman current and an anticyclonic circulation, which are driven by northwesterly winds. To evaluate survival during the planktonic period in each year class, the abundance of benthic larvae/juveniles was divided by winter total landings of Lateolabrax spp. (proxy of the spawning stock size). This survival index exhibited a positive correlation with the northwesterly component of winter winds, and a negative correlation with winter air temperature (average from December to February, Spearman's correlation, p < .05). There was, however, no significant correlation with winter water temperature or winter freshwater discharge in the bay. We conclude that northwesterly cold winds of EAWM play a critical role in transporting L. japonicus eggs and larvae toward nursery habitats, specifically beaches and estuaries fringing the innermost part of Tango Bay.     

Isolation and characterization of aminopeptidase (Jc-peptidase) from Japanese cedar pollen (Cryptomeria japonica)

An aminopeptidase, Jc-peptidase, was purified from Japanese cedar pollen by seven steps, including precipitation with ammonium sulfate, ion-exchange chromatography, gel filtration, hydrophobic interaction chromatography on phenyl-agarose, and high-performance liquid chromatography. Purified Jc-peptidease has a molecular weight of 42 kDa and hydrolyzes the synthetic substrates of L-phenylalanyl-4-methylcoumaryl-7-amide (Phe-MCA) with Km = 5 x 10(-5) M, Tyr-MCA with Km = 7 x 10(-4) M, Leu-MCA with Km = 1 x 10(-3) M, and Met-MCA with Km = 1 x 10(-3) M. Other MCA analogues such as Arg-MCA or Glu-MCA failed to serve as its substrates. The activity was inhibited in the presence of phebestin, [(2S,3R)-3-amino-2-hydroxy-4-phenylbutanoyl-L-valyl]-L-phenylalanine, with Ki = 4.7 x 10(-5) M, or bestatin, [(2S,3R)-3-amino-2-hydroxy-4-phenylbutanoyl]-L-leucine, with Ki = 1.1 x 10(-4) M. According to amino acid sequence analysis, the N-terminal amino group seems to be blocked. The physiological function of the aminopeptidase (Jc-peptidase) has not been clarified in vivo.     

Relative contributions from exposed inshore and estuarine nursery grounds to the recruitment of stone flounder, Platichthys bicoloratus, estimated using otolith Sr:Ca ratios

In Sendai Bay, stone flounder larvae settle and spend their juvenile period in either shallow exposed inshore nursery grounds or estuarine nursery grounds. The purpose of this study is to examine the relative contributions of these two kinds of nursery grounds to the flounder population using otolith strontium:calcium ratios. Stone flounder juveniles were collected from both nursery grounds, and one- and two-year-old flounder were caught deeper in Sendai Bay. Sr and Ca content in the otoliths were measured by electron probe micro analysis. The Sr:Ca ratios in the otolith section corresponding to the early postsettlement period ranged from 3.06 to 3.85 for the exposed inshore areas with stable low temperature and high salinity conditions, and from 3.81 to 5.32 in brackish estuaries with high temperature and low salinity conditions but with large diel and tidal cyclical fluctuations. Values from an estuarine site with stable salinity ranged from 3.58 to 4.15 overlapping with both the above ranges. Rearing experiments supported our inference that the high otolith Sr:Ca ratios of juveniles inhabiting estuarine nursery grounds are attributable to higher temperature and physiological stress caused by the large diel temperature and salinity fluctuations within the estuaries. Estimation of the Sr:Ca ratio of recruited fish using the otolith section formed while in the nursery area showed that at least 20 out of 42 individuals examined originated from estuarine nursery grounds. The present study indicates that estuaries play an important role as nursery grounds for stone flounder, producing about half of the stock in spite of the small and restricted area compared with the wide expanse of the exposed inshore area.     

Amphidinolide C2, New Macrolide from Marine Dinoflagellate Amphidinium Species

A new cytotoxic 25-membered macrolide, amphidinolide C2 (1), has been isolated from marine dinoflagellate Amphidinium sp. (Y-71 strain), and the structure 1 was elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic data and chemical means.     

Immunogenic properties of Landrace pigs selected for resistance to mycoplasma pneumonia of swine

Mycoplasma pneumonia of swine (MPS) lung lesions and immunogenic properties were compared between a Landrace line that was genetically selected for reduced incidence of pulmonary MPS lesions, and a non‐selected Landrace line. The MPS‐selected Landrace line showed significantly lower degrees of pulmonary MPS lesions compared with the non‐selected Landrace line. When changes in immunity before and after vaccination were compared, the percentage of B cells in the peripheral blood of the MPS‐selected Landrace line was significantly lower than that of the non‐selected line. Furthermore, the concentration of growth hormone and the mitogen activity of peripheral blood mononuclear cells in the MPS‐selected Landrace line showed significantly (P < 0.05) lower increases after vaccination than the non‐selected line. Conversely, the concentration of peripheral blood interferon (IFN)‐γ and salivary immunoglobulin A (IgA) after Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae vaccination was significantly higher in the MPS‐selected Landrace line than in the non‐selected line. Gene expression of toll‐like receptor (TLR)2 and TLR4 was significantly higher in the MPS‐selected Landrace line in immune tissues, with the exception of the hilar lymph nodes. The present results suggest that peripheral blood IFN‐γ, salivary IgA TLR2, and TLR4 are important immunological factors influencing the development of MPS lesions.     

Mycoplasma pneumonia of swine (MPS) resistance and immune characteristics of pig lines generated by crossing an MPS pulmonary lesion selected Landrace line and a highly immune capacity selected Large White line

To understand the influence of crossbreeding on Mycoplasma pneumonia of swine (MPS) resistance and immune characteristics, two crossbred lines were characterized. One crossbred line, LaWa, was generated by crossing the MPS pulmonary lesion selected Landrace line (La) and the highly immune‐selected Large White line (Wa). The second crossbred line, LaWb, was generated by crossing the La line and the nonselected Large White line (Wb). The crossbred LbWb line (nonselected Landrace line × nonselected Large White line) and the La line were used as controls. The LaWa and LaWb lines had an intermediate level of MPS lung lesions between La and LbWb lines, although the difference was not statistically significant. After stimulation with sheep red blood cells (SRBCs), the LaWb and LaWa lines showed immune characteristics similar to that of the La line; the number of monocytes in peripheral blood increased, while B cells, T cells, secretion of SRBC‐specific immunoglobulin G, and interleukin (IL)‐13 decreased. Additionally, the number of natural killer (NK) cells and the expression of IL‐4 and IL‐17 were significantly higher in the LaWb and LaWa lines, respectively. These data suggested that crossbreeding of La and Wa lines resulted in the inheritance of some of the selected immune responses.