Activated T Cells Secrete an Alternatively Spliced Form of Common γ-Chain that Inhibits Cytokine Signaling and Exacerbates Inflammation

Hong, C.,Luckey, Megan A.,Ligons, Davinna L.,Waickman, Adam T.,Park, J.Y.,Kim, Grace Y.,Keller, Hilary R.,Etzensperger, R.,Tai, X.,Lazarevic, V.,Feigenbaum, L.,Catalfamo, M.,Walsh, Scott T.R.,Park, J. Cell Press 2014 Immunity Vol.40 No.6

The common γ-chain (γc) plays a central role in signaling by IL-2 and other γc-dependent cytokines. Here we report that activated T cells produce an alternatively spliced form of γc mRNA that results in protein expression and secretion of the γc extracellular domain. The soluble form of γc (sγc) is present in serum and directly binds to IL-2Rβ and IL-7Rα proteins on T cells to inhibit cytokine signaling and promote inflammation. sγc suppressed IL-7 signaling to impair naive T cell survival during homeostasis and exacerbated Th17-cell-mediated inflammation by inhibiting IL-2 signaling upon T cell activation. Reciprocally, the severity of Th17-cell-mediated inflammatory diseases was markedly diminished in mice lacking sγc. Thus, sγc expression is a naturally occurring immunomodulator that regulates γc cytokine signaling and controls T cell activation and differentiation.

Influence of Supplementing Dairy Cows Grazing on Pasture with Feeds Rich in Linoleic Acid on Milk Fat Conjugated Linoleic Acid (CLA) Content

Khanal, R.C.,Dhiman, T.R.,Boman, R.L.,McMahon, D.J. Asian Australasian Association of Animal Productio 2007 Animal Bioscience Vol.20 No.9

Three experiments were conducted to investigate the hypothesis that cows grazing on pasture produce the highest proportion of c-9 t-11 CLA in milk fat and no further increase can be achieved through supplementation of diets rich in linoleic acid, such as full-fat extruded soybeans or soybean oil. In experiment 1, 18 lactating Holstein cows were used in a randomized complete block design with measurements made from wk 4 to 6 of the experiment. In experiment 2, three cannulated lactating Holstein cows were used in a $3{\times}3$ Latin square design. Each period was 4 wk with measurements made in the final wk of each period. Cows in both experiments were assigned at random to treatments: a, conventional total mixed ration (TMR); b, pasture (PS); or c, PS supplemented with 2.5 kg/cow per day of full-fat extruded soybeans (PES). In both experiments, feed intake, milk yield, milk composition, and fatty acid profile of milk and blood serum were measured, along with fatty acid composition of bacteria harvested from rumen digesta in experiment 2. In experiment 3, 10 cows which had continuously grazed a pasture for six weeks were assigned to two groups, with one group (n = 5) on pasture diet alone (PS) and the other group (n = 5) supplemented with 452 g of soy oil/cow per day for 7 d (OIL). In experiment 1, cows in PS treatment produced 350% more c-9, t-11 CLA compared with cows in TMR treatment (1.70 vs. 0.5% of fat), with no further increase for cows in PES treatment (1.50% of fat). Serum c-9, t-11 CLA increased by 233% in PS treatment compared with TMR treatment (0.21 vs. 0.09% of fat) with no further increase for cows in PES treatment (0.18% of fat). In experiment 2, cows in PS treatment produced 300% more c-9 t-11 CLA in their milk fat compared with cows in TMR treatment (1.77 vs. 0.59% of fat), but no further increase for cows in PES treatment (1.84% of fat) was observed. Serum c-9, t-11 CLA increased by 250% for cows in PS treatment compared with cows in TMR treatment (0.27 vs. 0.11% of fat), with no further increase for cows in PES treatment (0.31% of fat). The c-9, t-11 CLA content of ruminal bacteria for cows in PS treatment was 200% or more of TMR treatment, but no further increase in bacterial c-9, t-11 CLA for cows in PES treatment was observed. Supplementation of soy oil in experiment 3 also did not increase the c-9 t-11 CLA content of milk fat compared with cows fed a full pasture diet (1.60 vs. 1.54% of fat). Based on these findings, it was concluded that supplementing with feeds rich in linoleic acid, such as full-fat extruded soybeans or an equivalent amount of soy oil, to cows grazing perennial ryegrass pasture may not increase milk fat c-9 t-11 CLA contents.

Selection for Duration of Fertility and Mule Duck White Plumage Colour in a Synthetic Strain of Ducks (Anas platyrhynchos)

H.C. Liu,J.F. Huang,S.R. Lee,H.L. Liu,C.H. Hsieh,C.W. Huang,M.C. Huang,C. Tai,J.P. Poivey,R. Rouvier,Y.S. Cheng 아세아·태평양축산학회 2015 Animal Bioscience Vol.28 No.5

A synthetic strain of ducks (Anas platyrhynchos) was developed by introducing genes for long duration of fertility to be used as mother of mule ducklings and a seven-generation selection experiment was conducted to increase the number of fertile eggs after a single artificial insemination (AI) with pooled Muscovy semen. Reciprocal crossbreeding between Brown Tsaiya LRI-2 (with long duration of fertility) and Pekin L-201 (with white plumage mule ducklings) ducks produced the G0. Then G1 were intercrossed to produce G2 and so on for the following generations. Each female duck was inseminated 3 times, at 26, 29, and 32 weeks of age. The eggs were collected for 14 days from day 2 after AI. Individual data regarding the number of incubated eggs (Ie), the number of fertile eggs at candling at day 7 of incubation (F), the total number of dead embryos (M), the maximum duration of fertility (Dm) and the number of hatched mule ducklings (H) with plumage colour were recorded. The selection criterion was the breeding values of the best linear unbiased prediction animal model for F. The results show high percentage of exhibited heterosis in G2 for traits to improve (19.1% for F and 12.9% for H); F with a value of 5.92 (vs 3.74 in the Pekin L-201) was improved in the G2. Heritabilities were found to be low for Ie (h2 = 0.07±0.03) and M (h2 = 0.07±0.01), moderately low for Dm (h2 = 0.13±0.02), of medium values for H (h2 = 0.20±0.03) and F (h2 = 0.23±0.03). High and favourable genetic correlations existed between F and Dm (rg = 0.93), between F and H (rg = 0.97) and between Dm and H (rg = 0.90). The selection experiment showed a positive trend for phenotypic values of F (6.38 fertile eggs in G10 of synthetic strain vs 5.59 eggs in G4, and 3.74 eggs in Pekin L-201), with correlated response for increasing H (5.73 ducklings in G10 vs 4.86 in G4, and 3.09 ducklings in Pekin L-201) and maximum duration of the fertile period without increasing the embryo mortality rate. The average predicted genetic response for F was 40% of genetic standard deviation per generation of selection. The mule ducklings’ feather colour also was improved. It was concluded that this study provided results for a better understanding of the genetics of the duration of fertility traits in the common female duck bred for mule and that the selection of a synthetic strain was effective method of improvement.

OH (1720 MHz) MASERS: A MULTIWAVELENGTH STUDY OF THE INTERACTION BETWEEN THE W51C SUPERNOVA REMNANT AND THE W51B STAR FORMING REGION

Brogan, C. L.,Goss, W. M.,Hunter, T. R.,Richards, A. M. S.,Chandler, C. J.,Lazendic, J. S.,Koo, B.-C.,Hoffman, I. M.,Claussen, M. J. IOP Publishing 2013 The Astrophysical journal Vol.771 No.2

<P>We present a comprehensive view of the W51B H II region complex and the W51C supernova remnant (SNR) using new radio observations from the VLA, VLBA, MERLIN, JCMT, and CSO along with archival data from Spitzer, ROSAT, ASCA, and Chandra. Our VLA data include the first lambda = 400 cm (74 MHz) continuum image of W51 at high resolution (88 ''). The 400 cm image shows non-thermal emission surrounding the G49.2-0.3 H II region, and a compact source of non-thermal emission (W51B_NT) coincident with the previously-identified OH (1720 MHz) maser spots, non-thermal 21 and 90 cm emission, and a hard X-ray source. W51B_NT falls within the region of high likelihood for the position of TeV gamma-ray emission. Using the VLBA, three OH (1720 MHz) maser spots are detected in the vicinity of W51B_NT with sizes of 60-300 AU and Zeeman effect magnetic field strengths of 1.5-2.2 mG. The multiwavelength data demonstrate that the northern end of the W51B HII region complex has been partly enveloped by the advancing W51C SNR and this interaction explains the presence of W51B_NT and the OH masers. This interaction also appears in the thermal molecular gas which partially encircles W51B_NT and exhibits narrow pre-shock (Delta v similar to 5 km s(-1)) and broad post-shock (Delta v similar to 20 km s(-1)) velocity components. RADEX radiative transfer modeling of these two components yield physical conditions consistent with the passage of a non-dissociative C-type shock. Confirmation of the W51B/W51C interaction provides additional evidence in favor of this region being one of the best candidates for hadronic particle acceleration known thus far.</P>

Human Microtubule-Associated-Protein Tau Regulates the Number of Protofilaments in Microtubules: A Synchrotron X-Ray Scattering Study

Choi, M.C.,Raviv, U.,Miller, H.P.,Gaylord, M.R.,Kiris, E.,Ventimiglia, D.,Needleman, D.J.,Kim, M.W.,Wilson, L.,Feinstein, S.C.,Safinya, C.R. Biophysical Society ; Published for the Biophysica 2009 Biophysical journal Vol.97 No.2

Microtubules (MTs), a major component of the eukaryotic cytoskeleton, are 25 nm protein nanotubes with walls comprised of assembled protofilaments built from αβ heterodimeric tubulin. In neural cells, different isoforms of the microtubule-associated-protein (MAP) tau regulate tubulin assembly and MT stability. Using synchrotron small angle x-ray scattering (SAXS), we have examined the effects of all six naturally occurring central nervous system tau isoforms on the assembly structure of taxol-stabilized MTs. Most notably, we found that tau regulates the distribution of protofilament numbers in MTs as reflected in the observed increase in the average radius <R<SUP>MT</SUP>> of MTs with increasing Φ, the tau/tubulin-dimer molar ratio. Within experimental scatter, the change in <R<SUP>MT</SUP>> seems to be isoform independent. Significantly, <R<SUP>MT</SUP>> was observed to rapidly increase for 0 < Φ < 0.2 and saturate for Φ between 0.2-0.5. Thus, a local shape distortion of the tubulin dimer on tau binding, at coverages much less than a monolayer, is spread collectively over many dimers on the scale of protofilaments. This implies that tau regulates the shape of protofilaments and thus the spontaneous curvature C<SUB>o</SUB><SUP>MT</SUP> of MTs leading to changes in the curvature C<SUP>MT</SUP> (=1/R<SUP>MT</SUP>). An important biological implication of these findings is a possible allosteric role for tau where the tau-induced shape changes of the MT surface may effect the MT binding activity of other MAPs present in neurons. Furthermore, the results, which provide insight into the regulation of the elastic properties of MTs by tau, may also impact biomaterials applications requiring radial size-controlled nanotubes.

Selection for Duration of Fertility and Mule Duck White Plumage Colour in a Synthetic Strain of Ducks (Anas platyrhynchos)

Liu, H.C.,Huang, J.F.,Lee, S.R.,Liu, H.L.,Hsieh, C.H.,Huang, C.W.,Huang, M.C.,Tai, C.,Poivey, J.P.,Rouvier, R.,Cheng, Y.S. Asian Australasian Association of Animal Productio 2015 Animal Bioscience Vol.28 No.5

A synthetic strain of ducks (Anas platyrhynchos) was developed by introducing genes for long duration of fertility to be used as mother of mule ducklings and a seven-generation selection experiment was conducted to increase the number of fertile eggs after a single artificial insemination (AI) with pooled Muscovy semen. Reciprocal crossbreeding between Brown Tsaiya LRI-2 (with long duration of fertility) and Pekin L-201 (with white plumage mule ducklings) ducks produced the G0. Then G1 were intercrossed to produce G2 and so on for the following generations. Each female duck was inseminated 3 times, at 26, 29, and 32 weeks of age. The eggs were collected for 14 days from day 2 after AI. Individual data regarding the number of incubated eggs (Ie), the number of fertile eggs at candling at day 7 of incubation (F), the total number of dead embryos (M), the maximum duration of fertility (Dm) and the number of hatched mule ducklings (H) with plumage colour were recorded. The selection criterion was the breeding values of the best linear unbiased prediction animal model for F. The results show high percentage of exhibited heterosis in G2 for traits to improve (19.1% for F and 12.9% for H); F with a value of 5.92 (vs 3.74 in the Pekin L-201) was improved in the G2. Heritabilities were found to be low for Ie ($h^2=0.07{\pm}0.03$) and M ($h^2=0.07{\pm}0.01$), moderately low for Dm ($h^2=0.13{\pm}0.02$), of medium values for H ($h^2=0.20{\pm}0.03$) and F ($h^2=0.23{\pm}0.03$). High and favourable genetic correlations existed between F and Dm ($r_g=0.93$), between F and H ($r_g=0.97$) and between Dm and H ($r_g=0.90$). The selection experiment showed a positive trend for phenotypic values of F (6.38 fertile eggs in G10 of synthetic strain vs 5.59 eggs in G4, and 3.74 eggs in Pekin L-201), with correlated response for increasing H (5.73 ducklings in G10 vs 4.86 in G4, and 3.09 ducklings in Pekin L-201) and maximum duration of the fertile period without increasing the embryo mortality rate. The average predicted genetic response for F was 40% of genetic standard deviation per generation of selection. The mule ducklings' feather colour also was improved. It was concluded that this study provided results for a better understanding of the genetics of the duration of fertility traits in the common female duck bred for mule and that the selection of a synthetic strain was effective method of improvement.

Enterococcus faecium Isolated from Honey Synthesized Bacteriocin-Like Substances Active against Different Listeria monocytogenes Strains

Carolina Ibarguren,M. Carina Audisio,Raúl R. Raya,María C. Apella 한국미생물학회 2010 The journal of microbiology Vol.48 No.1

Four Enterococcus faecium strains, isolated from honeycombs (C1 and M2d strains) and feral combs (Mori1and M1b strains) secreted antimicrobial substances active against fourteen different Listeria spp. strains. The antimicrobial compound(s) present in the cell free supernatant were highly thermostable (121°C for 15 min) and inactivated by proteolytic enzymes, but not by α-amylase and lipase, thus suggesting a peptidic nature. Since the structural bacteriocin gene determinants of enterocins A and B were PCR amplified from the four E. faecium isolates, only the bacteriocin produced by strain C1 was further characterized: it showed a broad band of approximately 4.0-7.0 kDa in SDS-PAGE and was bactericidal (4 log decrease) against L. monocytogenes 99/287. L. monocytogenes 99/287R, a clone spontaneously resistant to the enterocin produced by E. avium DSMZ17511 (ex PA1), was not inhibited by the enterocin-like compounds produced by strain C1. However, it was inhibited in mixed culture fermentations by E. faecium C1 and a bacteriostatic effect was observed. The bacteriocin-producer Enterococcus strains were not haemolytic; gelatinase negative and sensitive to vancomycin and other clinically relevant antibiotics.

Effects of the novel angiotensin II receptor type I antagonist, fimasartan on myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury

Han, J.,Park, S.J.,Thu, V.T.,Lee, S.R.,Long, L.T.,Kim, H.K.,Kim, N.,Park, S.W.,Jeon, E.S.,Kim, E.J.,Yoon, C.H.,Cho, G.Y.,Choi, D.J. Elsevier/North-Holland Biomedical Press 2013 INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CARDIOLOGY Vol.168 No.3

Background: The aim of this study was to investigate the cardioprotective effect of fimasartan, a newly developed angiotensin II receptor type I blocker (ARB), against myocardial ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury and to identify the mechanism by which it reduces mitochondrial damage. Methods: Fimasartan was administered intravenously to Sprague-Dawley rats (3mg/kg), cardiomyocytes (50μM), and H9c2 cells (50μM) before ischemia or hypoxia. Myocardial infarction (MI), echocardiograms, DNA fragmentation, terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP in situ nick-end labeling, immunoblotting, oxygen consumption, confocal microscopic appearance, and L-type Ca<SUP>2+</SUP> current (I<SUB>Ca,L</SUB>) were then assessed. Results: Fimasartan pretreatment remarkably reduced the rate of MI and improved cardiac performance well after I/R (n=9/group). Fimasartan also reduced apoptotic cell death both in vivo and in hypoxia/reoxygenation (H/R)-treated H9c2 cells (n=5~8/group). H/R-induced mitochondrial O<SUB>2</SUB><SUP>-</SUP> production and collapse of membrane potential were markedly attenuated in fimasartan-treated cardiomyocytes (n=4~6/group). Additionally, mitochondrial Ca<SUP>2+</SUP> overload during reoxygenation was suppressed by fimasartan (n=4~6/group), and this was found to be possibly related to the inhibition of I<SUB>Ca,L</SUB> and mitochondrial Ca<SUP>2+</SUP> uniporter. Furthermore, fimasartan pretreatment increased phosphorylations of Akt and glycogen synthase kinase-3β (n=5~7/group), decreased pro-apoptotic p53 levels, and increased anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 levels (n=4) during reperfusion. Conclusions: Fimasartan preconditioning has the potential to modulate Bcl-2 and suppress I/R-induced Ca<SUP>2+</SUP> overload by inhibiting I<SUB>Ca,L</SUB> and MCU. These beneficial effects could prevent the mitochondrial dysfunction and apoptosis accompanied by I/R.

Electrochromic performance of the mixed V2O5eWO3 thin films synthesized by pulsed spray pyrolysis technique

C.E. Patil,N.L. Tarwal,P.R. Jadhav,P.S. Shinde,H.P. Deshmukh,J.D. Song,A.V. Moholkar,M.G. Gang,김진혁,P.S. Patil 한국물리학회 2014 Current Applied Physics Vol.14 No.3

Vanadium pentoxide (V2O5) mixed tungsten trioxide (WO3) thin films have been synthesized by a novel pulsed spray pyrolysis technique (PSPT) on glass and fluorine doped tin oxide (FTO) coated glass substrates at 400 C. Aqueous solutions of equimolar vanadium chloride and ammonium tungstate were mixed in volume proportions (5%, 10% and 15%) for the deposition of V2O5eWO3 thin films. The structural, morphological, optical and electrochemical properties of V2O5eWO3 thin films were investigated by FT-IR, XRD, SEM, cyclic voltammetry, chronoamperometry and chronocoulometry techniques. The results showed that the electrochemical properties of V2O5 were altered by mixing WO3. All the films exhibited cathodic electrochromism in lithium containing electrolyte (0.5 M LiClO4 þ propylene carbonate (PC)). Maximum coloration efficiency (CE) of about 49 cm2 C1 was observed for the V2O5 film mixed with 15% WO3. The electrochemical stability of the sample was examined and it was found to be stable up to 1000 cycles.

Phyllosticta musarum Infection-Induced Defences Suppress Anthracnose Disease Caused by Colletotrichum musae in Banana Fruits cv ‘Embul’

C. L. Abayasekara,N. K. B. Adikaram,U. W. N. P. Wanigasekara,B. M. R. Bandara 한국식물병리학회 2013 Plant Pathology Journal Vol.29 No.1

Anthracnose development by Colletotrichum musae was observed to be significantly less in the fruits of the banana cultivar ‘Embul’ (Mysore, AAB) infected with Phyllosticta musarum than in fruits without such infections. Anthracnose disease originates from quiescent C. musae infections in the immature fruit. P. musarum incites minute, scattered spots, referred to as freckles, in the superficial tissues of immature banana peel which do not expand during maturation or ripening. P. musarum does not appear to have a direct suppressive effect on C. musae as conidia of C. musae germinate on both freckled and non-freckled fruit forming quiescent infections. Our investigations have shown that P. musarum infection induced several defence responses in fruit including the accumulation of five phytoalexins, upregulation of chitinase and β-1,3-glucanase, phenylalanine ammonia lyase (PAL) activity and cell wall lignification. 1H and 13C NMR spectral data of one purified phytoalexin compared closely with 4'-hydroxyanigorufone. Some of the P. musarum-induced defences that retained during ripening,restrict C. musae development at the ripe stage. This paper examines the potential of P. musarum-induced defences, in the control of anthracnose, the most destructive postharvest disease in banana