Ginsenoside Rh1 inhibits the invasion and migration of THP-1 acute monocytic leukemia cells via inactivation of the MAPK signaling pathway

Ginsenoside Rh1 has been reported to possess antiallergic and anti-inflammatory activities, but its effects on monocytes remain to be determined. Herein, we investigated the effects of Rh1 on the expression of MCP-1 and CCR2, activation of MAPK signaling, and chemotaxis of monocytes. Treatment of Rh1 decreased the levels of MCP-1 and CCR2 and the expression of VLA5 and activated β1 integrin on the cell surface, and attenuated the phosphorylation of MAPKs. Based on these results, the inhibitory effects of Rh1 on monocyte function should be regarded as a promising new anti-inflammatory response with a potential therapeutic role against inflammation-dependent diseases.     

Genetic relationships among cultivated and wild <Emphasis Type="Italic">Vigna angularis</Emphasis> (Willd.) Ohwi et Ohashi and relatives from Korea based on AFLP markers

Genetic variation and relationships among members of the azuki bean complex (Vigna angularis) including wild (V. angularis var. nipponensis), weedy, and cultivated types (V. angularis var. angularis), V. nakashimae, and rice bean (V. umbellata) from Korea were examined using the Amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) method. AFLP analysis of 50 accessions revealed 333 (72.1%) polymorphic fragments out of 462 fragments amplified using seven primer combinations. The number of polymorphic fragments within each species was 70 in the azuki bean complex and 41 in V. nakashimae, but there was no polymorphism in rice bean. The number of shared fragments among species ranges from 142 between the azuki bean complex and V. nakashimae to 166 between the azuki bean complex and rice bean. Within the azuki bean complex, the range of shared bands was from 231 between cultivated and weedy types to 238 between cultivated and wild types. A dendrogram generated from Jaccard’s similarity matrix was divided into three groups, which correspond to V. nakashimae, azuki bean complex, and rice bean. The relationship between azuki bean and rice bean is closer than between azuki bean and V. nakashimae. Phenetic distances averaged 0.502 between the azuki bean complex and V. nakashimae and 0.467 between the azuki bean complex and rice bean. Within the azuki bean complex, the weedy type was more closely related to wild than cultivated types. But UPGMA dendrogram of the azuki bean complex reveals that each type is not clearly isolated. These results will help to understand genetic diversity and evolutionary dynamics of Vigna in Korea.     

Development of simple PCR-based markers linked to the <Emphasis Type="Italic">Ms</Emphasis> locus,a restorer-of-fertility gene in onion (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Allium cepa</Emphasis> L.)

In order to implement reliable marker-assisted selection systems for the restorer-of-fertility locus (Ms) in onions (Allium cepa L.), simple PCR-based codominant markers linked to the Ms locus were developed. Based on the EST probe sequences of previously reported RFLP markers, full-length genomic sequences of the gene encoding putative oligopeptide transporter (OPT) was obtained by RACE. The first intron contained two 108 and 439-bp indel polymorphisms between the two Ms allele-linked OPT alleles. A simple PCR marker for OPT was developed by designing a primer pair on the flanking regions of the 108-bp indel which is created by two tandem repeats. The second simple PCR marker was developed from the EST probe encoding photosystem I subunit O (PsaO). Two 14 and 39-bp tandem repeats were identified from the 5′ upstream sequences of the PsaO-coding gene, which were isolated by genome walking. Three different compositions of these tandem repeats were identified from diverse onion germplasm. A primer set binding to the flanking sequence of these polymorphic repeats was used to amplify three different marker haplotypes. The OPT marker was tightly linked to the Ms locus at a distance of 1.5 cM, but the analysis of the linkage relationship showed little linkage disequilibrium between the marker and the Ms locus. Even so, these simple PCR markers are valuable tools for the marker-assisted selection of segregating individuals in onion F₁ hybrid breeding programs.     

Prevention of organ allograft rejection by a specific Janus kinase 3 inhibitor

Because of its requirement for signaling by multiple cytokines, Janus kinase 3 (JAK3) is an excellent target for clinical immunosuppression. We report the development of a specific, orally active inhibitor of JAK3, CP-690,550, that significantly prolonged survival in a murine model of heart transplantation and in cynomolgus monkeys receiving kidney transplants. CP-690,550 treatment was not associated with hypertension, hyperlipidemia, or lymphoproliferative disease. On the basis of these preclinical results, we believe JAK3 blockade by CP-690,550 has potential for therapeutically desirable immunosuppression in human organ transplantation and in other clinical settings.     

Simultaneous Observation of Columnar Defects and Magnetic Flux Lines in High-Temperature Bi2Sr2CaCu2O8 Superconductors

Columnar defects generated by heavy-ion irradiation are promising structures for pinning magnetic flux lines and enhancing critical currents in superconductors with high transition temperatures. An approach that combines chemical etching and magnetic decoration was used to highlight simultaneously the distributions of columnar defects and magnetic flux lines in Bi(2)Sr(2)CaCu(2)O(8) superconductors. Analyses of images of the columnar defects and flux-line positions provide insight into flux-line pinning by elucidating (i) the occupancy of columnar defects by flux lines, (ii) the nature of topological defects in the flux-line lattice, and (iii) the translational and orientational order in this lattice.     

Synthesis of zeolite as ordered multicrystal arrays

Zeolites are crystalline nanoporous aluminosilicates widely used in industry. In order for zeolites to find applications as innovative materials, they need to be organized into large two- and three-dimensional (2D and 3D) arrays. We report that uniformly aligned polyurethane films can serve as templates for the synthesis of uniformly aligned 2D and possibly 3D arrays of silicalite-1 crystals, in which the orientations of the crystals are controlled by the nature of the polymers. We propose that the supramolecularly organized organic-inorganic composites that consist of the hydrolyzed organic products and the seed crystals are responsible for this phenomenon.     

Computed tomographic evaluation of abdominal fat in minipigs

Computed tomography (CT) exams were conducted to determine the distribution of abdominal fat identified based on the CT number measured in Hounsfield Units (HU) and to measure the volume of the abdominal visceral and subcutaneous fat in minipigs. The relationship between the CT-based fat volumes of several vertebral levels and the entire abdomen and anthropometric data including the sagittal abdominal diameter and waist circumference were evaluated. Moreover, the total fat volumes at the T11, T13, L3, and L5 levels were compared with the total fat volume of the entire abdomen to define the landmark of abdominal fat distribution. Using a single-detector CT, six 6-month-old male minipigs were scanned under general anesthesia. Three radiologists then assessed the HU value of visceral and subcutaneous abdominal fat by drawing the region of interest manually at the T11, T13, L1, L3, and L5 levels. The CT number and abdominal fat determined in this way by the three radiologists was found to be correlated (intra-class coefficient = 0.9). The overall HU ranges for the visceral and subcutaneous fat depots were -147.47 to -83.46 and -131.62 to -90.97, respectively. The total fat volume of the entire abdomen was highly correlated with the volume of abdominal fat at the T13 level (r = 0.97, p < 0.0001). These findings demonstrate that the volume of abdominal adipose tissue measured at the T13 level using CT is a strong and reliable predictor of total abdominal adipose volume.