Polymorphisms and the antiviral property of porcine Mx1 protein

We determined the cDNA sequences of the type I interferon-inducible proteins, pig Mx1 from PK(15) and LLC-PK1 cells, and compared the antiviral activities of both Mx proteins, including Mx1 polymorphisms against vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV). Mx1 cDNA derived from PK(15) cells had an 11 bp-deletion in the 3' end of the coding region, and was estimated to encode 8 amino acid substitutions and a 23 amino acid extension compared to that from LLC-PK1 cells. VSV replication was inhibited in the 3T3 cells expressing Mx1 mRNA after the cDNA was transfected. However, the efficiency of this inhibition was not different between the cells expressing Mx1 mRNA from both PK and LLC. These results indicate that pig Mx1 protein confers resistance to VSV.     

Distributive and phagocytic characteristics of hepatic macrophages in five cetaceans belonging to Delphinidae and Ziphiidae

Details of morphology and distribution of hepatic macrophages in cetaceans were investigated using the immunohistochemistry with an antibody (SRA-E5) generated against human macrophage scavenger receptor antigen. Liver samples were obtained from five species of cetaceans (Baird's beaked whales, short-finned pilot whales, Risso's dolphins, bottlenose dolphins, and pantropical spotted dolphins). Except for two species of whales, the number of SRA-E5-positive Kupffer cells was greatest in the perivenous zone (zone 3), followed by the mid-zonal (zone 2) and periportal (zone 1) zones; this distribution pattern was different from that in cattle examined here and previously reported rodents with the highest number in zone 1. The frequency of Kupffer cell in each of zones was significantly different among species, and interestingly, the total mean of the Kupffer cell number in three zones increased as the body-length of species was small. In cetaceans, Kupffer cells in zone 1 appeared larger and more stellate in shape, whereas those in zone 3 were smaller and rounder. All cetaceans but Baird's beaked whales had the black pigment-containing Kupffer cells, with the greatest number in zone 3, and macrophages with the similar pigments were also seen in the hepatic intermediate septa, indicating an active phagocytosis. Most of the black pigments were considered to be lipofuscin and such pigments were not seen in the bovine livers. These results indicate that cetacean hepatic macrophages show differences in the distribution and phagocytosis among hepatic lobular zones, or between cetacean species and terrestrial animals.     

PKA implicated in the phosphorylation of Cx43 induced by stimulation with FSH in rat granulosa cells

Connexin 43 (Cx43)-mediated gap junctional communication in granulosa cells is crucial for germ line development and postnatal folliculogenesis. We previously showed that follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) promoted phosphorylation of Cx43 in rat primary granulosa cells. We further identified Ser365, Ser368, Ser369, and Ser373 in the carboxy-terminal tail as the major sites of phosphorylation by FSH, and found that the phosphorylation of these residues was essential for channel activity. In this study, we investigated the protein kinase(s) responsible for FSH-induced phosphorylation. H89, a cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA) inhibitor, inhibited FSH-induced phosphorylation both in vivo and in vitro, whereas PD98059, a mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase (MEK) inhibitor, had little effect on the phosphorylation level. Ca2+-dependent protein kinase (PKC) appeared to negatively regulate phosphorylation. Phosphopeptide mapping with or without H89 treatment indicated that PKA could be responsible for phosphorylation of the four serine residues. In addition, the purified catalytic subunit of PKA could phosphorylate the recombinant C-terminal region of Cx43, but not the variant in which all four serine residues were substituted with alanine. These results suggest that FSH positively regulates Cx43-mediated channel formation and activity through phosphorylation of specific sites by PKA.     

Adenosine and ATP affect LPS-induced cytokine production in canine macrophage cell line DH82 cells

Macrophages are essential for controlling the majority of infections, and are mediators of natural immunity. During infection, lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulates macrophages to produce pro-inflammatory cytokines. Adenosine and ATP released into the extracellular space by immunological stimuli have been shown to regulate various immune functions. More recently, it has been shown adenosine and ATP have a critical role on the physiological negative feedback mechanism for limitation and termination of tissue-specific and systemic inflammatory responses. It was useful and meaningful to gain information about interaction between LPS, which generates the inflammation, and adenosine and ATP, which terminate the inflammation. We evaluate effects of adenosine and ATP on the production of cytokines related to inflammation in canine macrophage cell line DH82 cells. Adenosine and ATP respectively increased the production of IL-10 without affecting the production of IL-6, TNF-α and IL-12 in DH82 cells. In addition, adenosine and ATP prevented the production of LPS-induced IL-6, TNF-α and IL-12 in DH82 cells. In contrast, adenosine and ATP potentiated LPS-induced IL-10 production in DH82 cells. Moreover, adenosine, but not ATP inhibited LPS-induced expression of TLR4 in DH82 cells. These results suggest that conditions related to increased adenosine and/or ATP may play an important role in the inflammatory reactions.     

Triterpenoids isolated from Zizyphus jujuba inhibit foam cell formation in macrophages

Because foam cell formation in macrophages is believed to play an essential role in the progression of early atherosclerotic lesions in vivo, prevention of foam cell formation is considered to be one of the major targets for the treatment of atherosclerosis. The present study examined the inhibitory effect of 50 crude plant extracts on foam cell formation. Among those crude extracts, Zizyphi Fructus (ZF) and Zizyphi Semen (ZS) extracts significantly inhibited the foam cell formation induced by acetylated LDL. Furthermore, triterpenoids such as oleanonic acid, pomolic acid, and pomonic acid were the major active compounds, and triterpenoids containing a carboxylic acid at C-28 play an important role in the inhibitory effect on foam cell formation in human macrophages. These data suggest that triterpenoids in Zizyphus jujuba , the plant source of ZF and ZS, may therefore be useful for the prevention of atherosclerosis.     

Quantitative structure-activity study of insecticidal 2-methoxy-5-(substituted-phenyl)-1, 3, 2-oxazaphospholidine 2-sulfides against Musca domestica L. by topical application

The quantitative relationship between the structure of 2-methoxy-5-(substituted-phenyl)-1, 3, 2-oxazaphospholidine 2-sulfides (5-PMOS) and their insecticidal activity against the house fly. Musca domestica L., was analyzed using reported physicochemical parameters and regression analysis. The electronic nature of the substituent on the phenyl group of 5-PMOS has the most significant effect on the activity, followed by hydrophobic and steric effects; the optimum value of Σρ is zero and the more hydrophobic the substituents on the phenyl group, the higher the insecticidal activity. The plots of observed pLD₅₀, values against calculated pLD₅₀ values for compounds having substituents in the ortho-position deviated downwards from those of compounds having substituents at the meta and/or para positions. This ortho-effect, which reduces the insecticidal activity of compounds having substituents at the ortho-position, was expressed by a dummy parameter D, which has the value 2 for di-ortho-substituted derivatives, 1 for mono-ortho-substituted derivatives and zero for others. Thus, the highest activity was obtained for 2-methoxy-5-phenyl-1, 3, 2-oxazaphospholidine 2-sulfide, and the activity was decreased by the introduction of any substituents on the phenyl group.     

Distribution of cells immunopositive for AM-3K, a novel monoclonal antibody recognizing human macrophages, in normal and diseased tissues of dogs, cats, horses, cattle, pigs, and rabbits

The monoclonal antibody AM-3K, which was developed using human pulmonary macrophages as the immunogen, immunocytochemically labels most human macrophages except for blood monocytes and dendritic cell populations. AM-3K also shows cross-reactivity in some animal species. To evaluate the usefulness of AM-3K, the present study investigated the detailed distribution of AM-3K-immunopositive macrophages in normal and diseased tissues of dogs, cats, horses, cattle, pigs, and rabbits. Zamboni's solution-fixed, paraffin-embedded sections were the most available for the immunocytochemistry with AM-3K. In all animal species examined, AM-3K labeled most macrophages in splenic red pulp, lymph node sinuses and thymus, and tissue macrophages in the interstitium of various organs and sites such as the kidneys, lungs, heart, pancreas, intestines, and skin. Alveolar macrophages and perivascular microglial cells were also immunoreactive for AM-3K. Interestingly, Kupffer cells of dogs, cats, and horses were labeled for AM-3K, but those of cattle, pigs, and rabbits were not. Furthermore, in tumor tissues and inflammatory lesions such as liver fibrosis and encephalomalacia that were obtained from dogs, infiltrating macrophages were stained with AM-3K, but not all infiltrating macrophages reacted to AM-3K. In addition, only 30-50% of pulmonary and peritoneal macrophages obtained from cats and dogs were reactive for AM-3K. AM-3K did not react with blood monocytes, dendritic cell populations, and osteoclasts. These observations indicate that AM-3K specifically labels most exudate and tissue macrophages in the animal species examined. However, the expression of antigens recognized by AM-3K on macrophages may be dependent on differential maturation stages or different functions evoked by some conditions. AM-3K immunoreaction products were seen on the cytoplasmic membrane of macrophages by immunoelectron microscopy. AM-3K would be useful for detection of macrophage populations in the animal species examined here.     

Correction to: Below‑zero storage of fish to suppress loss of freshness

Fisheries Science - As long as you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons licence, and indicate if changes were made.     

The phenotypic characteristics and relational database for Vietnamese native pig populations

Although there are a number of Vietnamese native pig (VnP) populations, some are on the verge of extinction, and therefore adequate management and conservation are necessary. In this study, we conducted a field survey of VnP populations and analyzed interrelationships among their characteristics. We also established a relational database for management of field data on these populations. For data collection, we conducted interviews with farmers and visual inspection of 32 VnP populations in 22 provinces of Vietnam, as well as taking photographs of individual animals. Data on the characteristics of VnP populations were subjected to multiple correspondence analysis (MCA). For establishment of the database, normalization and table partitioning were performed to eliminate redundancy and ensure consistency of the collected data items. Passport data, characteristics data, and image data were collected from a total of 1,918 VnPs and entered as a normalized table. Upon MCA, most of the populations were not separated from each other, but the Mong Cai, O Lam, and Chu Prong populations were separated from the other populations. Thus, we have constructed a relational database from comprehensive information on the characteristics of VnP populations.     

Systems for making NIAS Core Collections, single-seed-derived germplasm, and plant photo images available to the research community

The National Institute of Agrobiological Sciences (NIAS) Genebank coordinates the conservation of plant, microorganism, and animal genetic resources related to food and agriculture in Japan. It also coordinates the distribution of genetic resources in the public domain for research, breeding, and educational purposes. To operate the NIAS Genebank efficiently, we have developed a genetic resources database, data management software, and web-based data retrieval systems to make the data available worldwide. This article describes the NIAS Genebank’s Core Collections of global and Japanese soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.), Japanese azuki bean (Vigna angularis (Willd.) Ohwi et Ohashi), and Japanese wheat (Triticum aestivum L. s. l.), all of which are available through the Genebank website. This article also describes new features of the NIAS Genebank database, such as the ability to select single-seed-derived germplasm of soybean in the plant search system and to download photographic data on accessions. By using the downloaded plant image PDF files, users can obtain detailed passport and agronomic information by clicking on the image of an accession of interest.