Allograft inflammatory factor-1 released from the cerebral microglia affect several organs in the body.

Allograft inflammatory factor-1 (AIF-1) is expressed in microglia. Unilateral common carotid artery occlusion (UCCAO) was conducted to elucidate mechanisms that regulate AIF-1 expression in C57BL/6 male mice. Immunohistochemical reactivity of microglia against anti-AIF-1 antibody was increased significantly in the brain of this model. The increased AIF-1 production was further confirmed by ELISA using brain homogenate. Real-time PCR demonstrated that the increased AIF-1 production was regulated at the transcriptional level. Serum AIF-1 levels were further examined by ELISA and marked increase was observed on Day 1 of UCCAO. To examine the influence of AIF-1, immunohistochemical staining was performed and revealed that the immunoreactivity against anti-Iba-1 antibody was significantly increased in various organs. Among them, the accumulation of Iba-1+ cells were observed prominently in the spleen. Intraperitoneal injection of minocycline, a potent microglia inhibitor, reduced the number of Iba-1+ cells suggesting microglia activation-dependent accumulation. Based on these results, AIF-1 expression was further examined in the murine microglia cell line MG6. AIF-1 mRNA expression and secretion were up-regulated when the cells were cultured under hypoxic condition. Importantly, stimulation of the cells with recombinant AIF-1 induced the expression of AIF-1 mRNA. These results may suggest that increased AIF-1 production by microglia in cerebral ischemia regulate the AIF-1 mRNA expression at least in part by an autocrine manner.

Relation between number of teeth, malnutrition, and 3-year mortality in elderly individuals ≥85 years.

OBJECTIVE: The number of teeth has been shown to affect mortality. However, it is unclear why the number of teeth is associated with mortality. We focused on the number of teeth and malnutrition and examined whether these differences affect 3-year all-cause mortality among very elderly individuals. METHODS: This analysis was conducted using data from the Tokyo Oldest Old Survey on Total Health study. Altogether 513 participants ≥85 years were categorized based on remaining teeth (0, 1-7, 8-18, ≥19). All-cause mortality was determined by calculating the cumulative 3-year survival rate according to the remaining number of teeth and the presence/absence of malnutrition. Further, hazard ratios (HRs) were analyzed using Cox regression analyses. RESULTS: No difference was observed according to the number of teeth (p = 0.638), but the presence/absence of malnutrition was significantly associated with mortality (p < 0.001). Malnutrition was independently associated with higher HRs, even after adjusting for confounding factors associated with mortality. (HR: 2.315, 95% CI: 1.431-3.746). Additionally, adjusting for the number of teeth, HR remained significant (HR: 2.365, 95% CI: 1.449-3.853). CONCLUSION: In the very elderly, malnutrition-but not the number of teeth-was independently associated with 3-year all-cause mortality after adjusting for various health issues.

Effectiveness of Acid-electrolyzed Functional Water for Mouth Wash: An In Vitro Study.

BACKGROUND/AIM: Acid-electrolyzed functional water (FW) is an efficient bactericide and gargling with FW might be an effective method of oral care. We investigated the possible use of FW as a mouth wash by an in vitro study. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The bactericidal effect of FW against different species of bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pneumonia, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Candida albicans) was evaluated using the numbers of colony-forming units (CFU). The experiment was conducted using PBS, LISTERINE, and ConCool F (undiluted, and the optimal concentration indicated). To investigate the bactericidal mechanism of FW, the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD), an indicator of oxidative action, was measured in S. aureus. FW was diluted with purified water to concentrations of 10, 30, 50, and 70%. The numbers of CFU were measured for each concentration. XTT assays were performed using HSC-3 and HeLa cells, to examine the viability of the cells following treatment with FW. The same experiment was conducted with PBS, LISTERINE, and undiluted ConCool F. RESULTS: No bacteria treated with FW formed colonies. SOD activity peaked at a 50% concentration of FW and was more than twice that of the control. A significant decrease in the number of CFU was observed following 50% treatment. Since the peaks of the SOD activity and the starting concentrations of the bactericidal effects coincided, the bactericidal effect of FW might be related to its oxidative effects. Bacteria treated with FW had the same survival rate as the other mouth washes. CONCLUSION: FW might be clinically applicable as a mouth wash.

JunB can enhance the transcription of IL-8 in oral squamous cell carcinoma.

Proteasome inhibitor MG132 was shown to enhance the secretion of interleukin 8 (IL-8) by various cells. The enhancement is regulated by the transcription factor activator protein-1 (AP-1) at the transcriptional level. AP-1 is a dimer formed by AP-1 family proteins. The purpose of the present study was to explore the combinations of the AP-1 family proteins that contribute to MG132-driven IL-8 secretion. Oral squamous cell carcinoma-derived cell lines, Ca9-22 and HSC3, were used to demonstrate their response to MG132. IL-8 secretion was augmented by MG132 in both cell lines. c-Jun expression was detected in both the cell lines, whereas c-Fos expression was detected only in the HSC3. The influence of MG132 stimulation on c-Jun and c-Fos expression was further examined by western blot analysis. c-Jun expression was increased by MG132 stimulation, whereas c-Fos expression was not detected even after MG132 stimulation. As JunB is reported to inhibit the transcriptional activity of the AP-1 complex, we speculated that the c-Jun homodimer should contribute to IL-8 enhancement. Expression vectors encoding wild type and c-Jun mutants, M17 and M22-23, respectively, were constructed and transfected into the Ca9-22 cells. In contrast to our expectations, MG132-induced IL-8 secretion was significantly reduced in all the transfectants suggesting that other c-Jun members might form homodimers with c-Jun and contribute to IL-8 enhancement. Transfection of the cells with c-Jun or JunB small hairpin RNA (shRNA) reduced IL-8 secretion up to 50% and 65% of the control shRNA transfectant. Furthermore, cotransfection of both shRNA almost completely inhibited the IL-8 secretion. These results indicate that JunB not only inhibits but also enhances the transcription of c-Jun targets in combination with c-Jun.

A new enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay system against the N-terminal propiece of interleukin-1α.

Interleukin-1α (IL-1α) is produced inside cells in its precursor form (pIL-1α). Enzymatic cleavage yields mature (mIL-1α) and the propiece of IL-1α (ppIL-1α), which are thought to be localized in the nucleus, because of the presence of nuclear localizing signals. Studies of ppIL-1α function have been hampered by the lack of a ppIL-1α-specific antibody (Ab). In the present study, the authors generated anti-ppIL-1α Ab by using recombinant histidine-tagged ppIL-1α (His-ppIL-1α) as an immunogen. Rabbits were immunized with His-ppIL-1α, and affinity-purified Ab was obtained. Ab reactivity and specificity were examined by Western blotting. The antibody successfully recognized transfectant-derived green fluorescence protein (GFP)-tagged ppIL-1α but not GFP. A sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) system established by biotinylating the anti-ppIL-1α Ab successfully detected GFP-ppIL-1α. The Ab and ELISA system allows functional analysis of ppIL-1α and improves understanding of ppIL-1α.