Identification of a peptide in enzymatic hydrolyzate of cheese that inhibits ovalbumin permeation in Caco-2 cells

Because the first step in the triggering of food allergy is the permeation of the allergen through the intestine, enhancement of the intestinal barrier function is thought to be effective for preventing food allergy. In this study, a peptide that inhibits ovalbumin (OVA) permeation in an in vitro Caco-2 cell model was isolated from enzymatic hydrolyzate of cheese (EHC). Amino acid sequence analysis identified the active peptide as GPIVLNPWDQ, a sequence identical to amino acids 102-111 of alphas2-casein. The decapeptide significantly inhibited OVA permeation at a concentration of 10(-6) M. In addition, it was found that a pentapeptide half, NPWDQ, is essential for the inhibitory activity because NPWDQ but not GPIVL had nearly the same inhibitory activity as GPIVLNPWDQ. The possibility exists that EHC and/or peptides possessing the NPWDQ sequence can be practically applied to the prevention of food allergy.     

A case of canine cutaneous clear cell adnexal carcinoma with prominent expression of smooth muscle actin

Cutaneous clear cell adnexal carcinoma was found in the right lip of a 14-year-old male castrated Shih Tzu. Histologically, the tumor mostly consisted of neoplastic cells with clear or vacuolated cytoplasms and contained frequent tubular structures. Neoplastic cells showed coexpression of pan-cytokeratin (CK) and vimentin by double-labeled immunofluorescence staining. In addition, immunohistochemistry revealed that the tumor cells were positive for pan-CK (AE1/AE3, KL1, CAM 5.2), CK-7, CK-8, CK-14, CK-15, CK-18, vimentin and alpha-smooth muscle actin (SMA) with varied intensity and positivity. Among these marker proteins, SMA was positive in 75% of the tumor cells. On the other hand, CK-15, which is a specific marker of follicular stem cells, was expressed in less than 1% of the tumor cells. Based on these findings, the tumor showed diverse differentiation in apocrine sweat glands and the inner and outer root sheaths of hair follicles, indicating the follicular stem cell to be the origin of this tumor.     

Gene response in rice plants treated with continuous fog influenced by pH,was similar to that treated with biotic stress

Background

Throughout Asia, including Japan, rice plants are cultivated in a wide range of areas from lowlands to highlands and are frequently exposed to fog, including acid fog. Some physiological studies have shown that acid fog can be a stress factor for plants. We analyzed the gene expression profiles of rice plants treated with artificially prepared simulated acid fog (SiAF) or simulated neutral fog (SiNF) for 1 or 7 days.

Results

Microarray analysis results suggested that both the SiAF and the SiNF treatments induced the expression of genes involved in the defense and stress responses in rice plants. Induction of such genes was detected in plants treated with SiAF for 1 day, and the number of induced genes increased in plants treated with SiAF for 7 days. The genes for defense and stress responses were also induced by SiNF for 7 days, although they were not induced by SiNF for 1 day. The gene expression profiles of the SiAF-treated and the SiNF-treated plants were compared to those of plants treated with other stress factors. The comparison revealed that both SiAF and SiNF treatments have similar effects to biotic stresses and ozone stress. The genes encoding NADPH oxidase and germin, which function in apoplasts, were also induced by SiAF, SiNF and biotic stresses.

Conclusions

These findings suggest that both the SiAF and the SiNF treatments may result in oxidative stress through the apoplastic production of reactive oxygen species.     

Congenital cutaneous fibropapillomatosis with no evidence of papillomavirus infection in a piglet

Multiple yellowish-white, cauliflower-like mass lesions on the skin of the head and back in a 4-month-old piglet were pathologically examined. These lesions had developed before the weaning period. Histologically, the cutaneous neoplasms were characterized by papillary outgrowth of connective tissue covered by thick epidermis. Hyperplasia of the epidermis was corresponded with proliferation of capillaries, lympho-plasmacytic infiltration, and proliferation of fibroblasts in the dermal stroma. There were no inclusion bodies and significant degeneration in the keratinocytes. Papillomavirus antigen and DNA were not detected in these lesions by immunohistochemistry and polymerase chain reaction, respectively. Accordingly, the fibropapillomatosis of the present case might be hamartomatous rather than infectious.     

Identification of the strong vasorelaxing substance scirpusin B, a dimer of piceatannol, from passion fruit (Passiflora edulis) seeds

Piceatannol is present in passion fruit (Passiflora edulis) seeds in high amounts. In this study, we isolated the second major polyphenolic compound of passion fruit seeds and identified it as scirpusin B, which is a dimer of piceatannol. We investigated the antioxidant activities and vasorelaxing effects of these polyphenols. Their antioxidant effects were measured using an in vitro 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging assay, and their vasorelaxant effects were determined ex vivo in rat thoracic aorta. Both polyphenolic compounds exhibited potent antioxidant activities and significant vasorelaxant effects in endothelium-intact aortas. More specifically, scirpusin B exerted a greater antioxidant activity and vasorelaxant effect compared with that of piceatannol. Additionally, the vasorelaxation effects of the compounds were induced via the NO derived from the endothelium. This study provides the possibility that polyphenols in passion fruit seeds are effective against cardiovascular diseases (CVDs).     

Effects of oral administration of colostrum whey in peripartum goat on antimicrobial peptides in postpartum milk

The present study was conducted to examine whether colostrum supplementation in peripartum goats increases the antimicrobial peptides in their milk. Goats were orally administered 2 ml of colostrum whey products (colostrum group) or water (control group) daily, from 2 weeks before until 2 weeks after kidding. Body weights of mothers and kids were measured. Blood, milk, and fecal samples were collected from the mothers, and blood samples were collected from the kids. Concentrations of milk antimicrobial peptides (beta‐defensin, cathelicidin, lactoferrin, S100A7, lactoperoxidase, and immunoglobulin A [IgA]) were determined. IgA and nutritional parameters (glucose, total cholesterol, triglyceride, ketone bodies, and non‐esterified fatty acids) were also determined in the blood of mothers and kids. Milk IgA and lactoferrin concentrations were higher in the colostrum group than in the control group. Conversely, lower milk concentrations of S100A7 were observed in the colostrum group than that in the control group. Plasma IgA concentrations were higher for kids from the colostrum group than for those from the control group. These results suggest that oral administration of colostrum in pregnant goats increases IgA concentration in postpartum milk, which can subsequently improve the health of their kids.     

Gene expression profiling in embryonic chicken ovary during asymmetric development

The reproductive system in female birds arises as bilateral asymmetrical anlagen, excluding the birds of prey. Earlier, histological and messenger RNA (mRNA) expression profile studies of several genes related to gonadal sex differentiation in chicken embryos tried to elucidate the query of this asymmetry in a scattered manner. To understand the matter precisely, we have focused on mRNA expression of a cohort of genes (FSHR, CYP19A1, caspase 3, caspase 8) in second half of the embryonic days (E10–E18). The established role of leptin in development of the embryo and its expression in the embryonic ovary also drove us to check leptin receptor (LEPR) expression in the ovary. Increased expression of FSHR and CYP19A1 in the left ovary compared with that in the right ovary was identified (P < 0.05), promoting preferential left ovarian development and functionality. Significant high expression (P < 0.05) of the apoptotic genes in the right ovary were also involved here. Leptin probably has no direct influence on ovarian asymmetry as no significant variation in gonadal mRNA expression of LEPR was observed within the same experimental days. We propose that asymmetric expression of this cohort of genes (FSHR, CYP19A1, caspase 3, caspase 8) leads to the development of dimorphic gonads during embryogenesis.     

Immunohistochemical analysis for G protein in the olfactory organs of soft-shelled turtle, Pelodiscus sinensis

In turtles, the epithelia lining the upper and lower chambers of the nasal cavity project axons to the ventral and dorsal parts of the olfactory bulbs, respectively. In a semi-aquatic soft-shelled turtle, Pelodiscus sinensis, more than 1,000 odorant receptor genes have been found, but it is not known where they are expressed. In this study, we aimed to clarify the distribution of cells expressing these genes in the olfactory organs of soft-shelled turtles. Immunoreactions for the Gαolf, the α subunit of G protein coupled to the odorant receptors, were detected on the surface of epithelia lining both the upper and lower chambers of the nasal cavity. The receptor cells in the epithelium of both chambers possessed cilia on the tip of their dendrites, whereas microvillous, non-ciliated, receptor cells were not found. These data suggest that the odorant receptor genes are expressed by the ciliated receptor cells in the upper and lower chamber epithelia. Precise location of the vomeronasal epithelium is not known at present.     

Lineage classification of canine inheritable disorders using mitochondrial DNA haplotypes

To estimate the maternal effects of dog breeds using mitochondrial DNA(mtDNA) haplotypes in the dogs with several clinical disorders, 600 base pairs of mtDNA D-loop region were amplified from 365 dogs and were determined for mtDNA sequences. The diversity of the 600-bp sequences was classified into 64 haplotypes, including 46 newly discovered haplotypes, and the haplotypes were grouped into four clusters I to IV. Lineage analysis using the mtDNA haplotype indicated that each dog breed genetically comprises one or a few mtDNA haplotypes. When the relationship between genetic background and occurrences of clinical diseases was estimated, canine lineage analysis using mtDNA haplotype revealed that the disorders distributed in the dominant mtDNA haplotypes of each dog breed, but no disorder closely associated with mtDNA haplotypes was detected.