Transcriptomic Analysis of Human Keratinocytes Treated with Galactomyces Ferment Filtrate, a Beneficial Cosmetic Ingredient.

Galactomyces ferment filtrate (GFF, Pitera™) is a cosmetic ingredient known to have multiple skin care benefits, such as reducing redness and pore size via the topical application of its moisturizer form. Although GFF is known to act partly as an antioxidative agonist for the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR), its significance in keratinocyte biology is not fully understood. In this study, we conducted a transcriptomic analysis of GFF-treated human keratinocytes. Three different lots of GFF consistently modulated 99 (22 upregulated and 77 downregulated) genes, including upregulating cytochrome P450 1A1 (CYP1A1), a specific downstream gene for AHR activation. GFF also enhanced the expression of epidermal differentiation/barrier-related genes, such as small proline-rich proteins 1A and 1B (SPRR1A and SPRR1B), as well as wound healing-related genes such as serpin B2 (SERPINB2). Genes encoding components of tight junctions claudin-1 (CLDN1) and claudin-4 (CLDN4) were also target genes upregulated in the GFF-treated keratinocytes. In contrast, the three lots of GFF consistently downregulated the expression of inflammation-related genes such as chemokine (C-X-C motif) ligand 14 (CXCL14) and interleukin-6 receptor (IL6R). These results highlight the beneficial properties of GFF in maintaining keratinocyte homeostasis.

Downhill seed dispersal by temperate mammals: a potential threat to plant escape from global warming.

Vertical seed dispersal, i.e. seed dispersal towards a higher or lower altitude, is considered a critical process for plant escape from climate change. However, studies exploring vertical seed dispersal are scarce, and thus, its direction, frequency, and mechanisms are little known. In the temperate zone, evaluating vertical seed dispersal of animal-dispersed plants fruiting in autumn and/or winter is essential considering the dominance of such plants in temperate forests. We hypothesized that their seeds are dispersed towards lower altitudes because of the downhill movement of frugivorous animals following the autumn-to-winter phenology of their food plants which proceeds from the mountain tops to the foot in the temperate zone. We evaluated the vertical seed dispersal of the autumn-fruiting wild kiwi, Actinidia arguta, which is dispersed by temperate mammals. We collected dispersed seeds from mammal faeces in the Kanto Mountains of central Japan and estimated the distance of vertical seed dispersal using the oxygen isotope ratios of the dispersed seeds. We found the intensive downhill seed dispersal of wild kiwi by all seed dispersers, except the raccoon dog (bear: mean -393.1 m; marten: -245.3 m; macaque: -98.5 m; and raccoon dog: +4.5 m). Mammals with larger home ranges dispersed seeds longer towards the foot of the mountains. Furthermore, we found that seeds produced at higher altitudes were dispersed a greater distance towards the foot of the mountains. Altitudinal gradients in autumn-to-winter plant phenology and other mountain characteristics, i.e. larger surface areas and more attractive human crops at lower altitudes compared to higher altitudes, were considered drivers of downhill seed dispersal via animal movement. Strong downhill seed dispersal by mammals suggests that populations of autumn-to-winter fruiting plants dispersed by animals may not be able to sufficiently escape from current global warming in the temperate zone.

[MAKING OF THE DISEASE SEVERITY PREDICTION INDEX FOR ACUTE PYELONEPHRITIS ASSOCIATED WITH URINARY OBSTRUCTION DUE TO URETERAL CALCULI].

(Purpose) Both administration of antibiotics and drainage of urine are necessary for the treatment of acute pyelonephritis associated with urinary obstruction by the ureteral calculi. Though most patients get better after the treatment, some patients deteriorate accompanying with low blood pressure, and need the intensive care. Such patients sometimes visit small hospital, even at night with a few medical staffs. It is sometimes difficult to predict the patient's outcome. The disease severity prediction index for the patients was investigated. (Object and method) We examined 134 patients, who visited our hospital from 2001 to 2013, retrospectively. Ureteral stenting or nephrostomy was undergone within 24 hours in principle. If the blood pressure became under 90 mmHg, or lowered more than 40 mmHg than usual, the case was defined as serious. Blood data and physical findings were compared between serious and non-serious cases. The factors affecting the seriousness were found. Multiple logistic analysis was done to make a disease severity prediction index. (Result) 42 cases were judged as serious and 92 cases as non-serious. Six factors consisting of heart rate, serum creatinine, platelets, ages, PS and CRP affected the consequence significantly (p<0.05), however, white blood cells did not.Multiple logistic analysis was done, four factors consisting of serum creatinine, platelets, PS and CRP affected the consequence significantly (p<0.05), and the standardizing coefficients of each points were found to be 2, 2, 1, 1, respectively.The disease severity prediction index was proposed. If the index was 4 or more, the sensitivity and specificity were found to be 73.8% and 82.6%, respectively. (Conclusion) This index is useful and reliable for the prediction of the outcome of the disease.

Antimicrobial activities of ozenoxacin against isolates of propionibacteria and staphylococci from Japanese patients with acne vulgaris.

Ozenoxacin, a novel non-fluorinated topical quinolone, was assessed for in vitro antimicrobial activity against clinical isolates of propionibacteria and staphylococci according to the broth microdilution method recommended by the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute. The isolates used in this study were collected from Japanese patients with acne vulgaris during a period from 2012 to 2013. The MIC90s of ozenoxacin against Propionibacterium acnes (n=266), Propionibacterium granulosum (n=10), Staphylococcus aureus (n=23), Staphylococcus epidermidis (n=229) and other coagulase-negative staphylococci (n=82) were ≤0.06, ≤0.06, ≤0.06, 0.125 and ≤0.06 µg ml-1, respectively. The antimicrobial activity of ozenoxacin against the clinical isolates of propionibacteria and staphylococci was greater than that of five reference antimicrobial agents which have been used for the treatment of acne vulgaris. The MICs of ozenoxacin were correlated with those of nadifloxacin in P. acnes and S. epidermidis isolates. However, the MICs of ozenoxacin were 0.25-0.5 µg ml-1 and 0.5-8 µg ml-1 against nadifloxacin-resistant P. acnes (MIC: ≥8 µg ml-1; n=8) and S. epidermidis (MIC: ≥64 µg ml-1; n=10), respectively. These results indicated the potent antimicrobial activity against P. acnes and S. epidermidis isolates resistant to nadifloxacin. Topical ozenoxacin could represent an alternative therapeutic drug for acne vulgaris based on its potent antimicrobial activity against the isolates of propionibacteria and staphylococci from acne patients.

Mountain-climbing bears protect cherry species from global warming through vertical seed dispersal.

In a warming climate, temperature-sensitive plants must move toward colder areas, that is, higher latitude or altitude, by seed dispersal [1]. Considering that the temperature drop with increasing altitude (-0.65°C per 100 m altitude) is one hundred to a thousand times larger than that of the equivalent latitudinal distance [2], vertical seed dispersal is probably a key process for plant escape from warming temperatures. In fact, plant geographical distributions are tracking global warming altitudinally rather than latitudinally, and the extent of tracking is considered to be large in plants with better-dispersed traits (e.g., lighter seeds in wind-dispersed plants) [1]. However, no study has evaluated vertical seed dispersal itself due to technical difficulty or high cost. Here, we show using a stable oxygen isotope that black bears disperse seeds of wild cherry over several hundred meters vertically, and that the dispersal direction is heavily biased towards the mountain tops. Mountain climbing by bears following spring-to-summer plant phenology is likely the cause of this biased seed dispersal. These results suggest that spring- and summer-fruiting plants dispersed by animals may have high potential to escape global warming. Our results also indicate that the direction of vertical seed dispersal can be unexpectedly biased, and highlight the importance of considering seed dispersal direction to understand plant responses to past and future climate change.

In vitro antimicrobial activity of ozenoxacin against methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus, methicillin-resistant S. aureus and Streptococcus pyogenes isolated from clinical cutaneous specimens in Japan.

Ozenoxacin, a novel non-fluorinated topical quinolone, was assessed for in vitro antimicrobial activity against each 50 isolates of methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA), methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA), and Streptococcus pyogenes according to the broth microdilution method recommended by the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute. The isolates used in this study were recovered from cutaneous specimens of Japanese adult and pediatric patients who visited hospitals in 2014. The MIC90s of ozenoxacin against MSSA, MRSA and S. pyogenes isolates from adult patients were ≤0.06, 4 and ≤0.06 µg/mL, respectively. The MIC90s of ozenoxacin against MSSA and S. pyogenes isolates from pediatric patients were equal to those against the adult isolates. On the other hand, the MIC90s of ozenoxacin against the pediatric MRSA isolates was 0.12 µg/mL, and was 32 times lower than that against the adult isolates. The antimicrobial activity of ozenoxacin against MSSA, MRSA and S. pyogenes was equal to or greater than those of 7 reference antimicrobial agents had been used for the treatment of skin infections. The MICs of ozenoxacin was highly correlated with those of nadifloxacin and levofloxacin in the 50 MRSA isolates (r(2) = 0.906 and 0.833, respectively). However, ozenoxacin kept the potent antimicrobial activity with the MIC ranging from 1 to 4 µg/mL even against MRSA low susceptible (MIC: >64 µg/mL) to nadifloxacin or levofloxacin. Ozenoxacin could represent the first-in-class non-fluorinated quinolone for the topical treatment of various superficial skin infections caused by MSSA, MRSA and S. pyogenes.

In vitro antimicrobial activity of benzoyl peroxide against Propionibacterium acnes assessed by a novel susceptibility testing method.

Benzoyl peroxide (BPO), a therapeutic agent for acne vulgaris, was assessed for in vitro antimicrobial activity against Propionibacterium acnes using a novel broth microdilution testing that improved BPO solubility. We searched for a suitable culture medium to measure the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of BPO against P. acnes and finally found the Gifu anaerobic medium (GAM) broth supplemented with 0.1(v/v)% glycerol and 2(v/v)% Tween 80, in which BPO dissolved up to 1250 µg/mL and P. acnes grew well. The MICs and minimum bactericidal concentrations (MBCs) of BPO against 44 clinical isolates of P. acnes collected from Japanese patients with acne vulgaris were determined by our testing method using the supplemented GAM broth. The MICs of BPO were 128 or 256 µg/mL against all isolates of P. acnes regardless of susceptibility to nadifloxacin or clindamycin. The MBCs of BPO were also 128 or 256 µg/mL against the same isolates. Moreover, BPO at the MIC showed a rapid bactericidal activity against P. acnes ATCC11827 in time-kill assay. In conclusion, we could develop a novel assay for the MIC and MBC determinations of BPO against P. acnes, which is reliable and reproducible as a broth microdilution testing and the present results suggest that BPO has a potent bactericidal activity against P. acnes.

IL-1 receptor type 2 suppresses collagen-induced arthritis by inhibiting IL-1 signal on macrophages.

IL-1α and IL-1ß (in this article referred to as IL-1) play important roles in host defense against infection and inflammatory diseases. IL-1R1 is the receptor for IL-1, and IL-1R2 is suggested to be a decoy receptor, because it lacks the signal-transducing TIR domain in the cytoplasmic part. However, the roles of IL-1R2 in health and disease remain largely unknown. In this study, we generated EGFP-knock-in Il1r2(-/-) mice and showed that they were highly susceptible to collagen-induced arthritis, an animal model for rheumatoid arthritis in which the expression of IL-1R2 is augmented in inflammatory joints. Il1r2 was highly expressed in neutrophils but had only low expression in other cells, including monocytes and macrophages. Ab production and T cell responses against type II collagen were normal in Il1r2(-/-) mice. Despite the high expression in neutrophils, no effects of Il1r2 deficiency were observed; however, we found that production of inflammatory mediators in response to IL-1 was greatly enhanced in Il1r2(-/-) macrophages. These results suggest that IL-1R2 is an important regulator of arthritis by acting specifically on macrophages as a decoy receptor for IL-1.

Circulating pigment epithelium-derived factor (PEDF) is associated with pathological grade of prostate cancer.

BACKGROUND/AIM: Pigment epithelium-derived factor (PEDF) plays a protective role against oxidative stress. Levels of circulating PEDF have not been examined in patients with prostate cancer. We examined whether PEDF can be used to predict the clinical features of prostate cancer prior to therapy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Two hundred patients with an abnormal serum level of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) who underwent biopsy between 2008 and 2011 were identified for retrospective analysis. We determined the relationship of the PEDF level to clinical parameters of prostate cancer. We measured levels of PEDF and 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) in all 200 patients, 100 of whom had histologically-confirmed prostate cancer at the outset. We also investigated the PEDF expression in prostate cancer tissues by immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: The PEDF level was significantly higher in patients with prostate cancer than in those without. Statistical analysis confirmed that PEDF was significant, positively associated with pathological grading (Gleason score). However, PEDF expression was only detected in few prostate cancer cells by immunohistochemistry. Levels of the oxidative marker, 8-OHdG, in patients with prostate cancer are higher than in those without cancer. CONCLUSION: Preoperative PEDF measurement in patients with prostate cancer may provide clinically relevant information regarding the pathological grade of tumor.

Association of arginine vasopressin surrogate marker urinary copeptin with severity of autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD).

BACKGROUND: Experimental studies suggest a detrimental role for cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) and vasopressin in the pathogenesis of autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD). It is unknown, however, whether urinary cAMP and copeptin concentration are associated with disease severity in patients with ADPKD. METHODS: Urinary cAMP (u-cAMP) and copeptin concentration (u-copeptin) were measured by immunoassay in ADPKD patients with CKD stage ≤4. We compared our measurements with clinical parameters including estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), total kidney volume (TKV), and height-adjusted TKV (htTKV). Logarithmic transformation of all variables was performed to fulfill the requirement of equal distribution of the residuals. RESULTS: We included 50 patients in this study (24 females and 26 males; mean age: 49.3 years). The median eGFR and TKV were 53.2 ml/min/1.73 m(2) (interquartile range: IQR; 29.4-68.45) and 1138.1 ml (IQR; 814.7-2065.0), respectively. The median u-copeptin level was 12.19 (IQR; 6.91-22.32) ng/ml. Although u-cAMP/u-Cr was not significantly correlated with TKV (R = -0.006, p = 0.967) and eGFR (R = 0.077, p = 0.602), urinary copeptin/u-Cr was statistically associated with the various markers of disease severity in ADPKD [positively with TKV (R = 0.351, p = 0.014), htTKV (R = 0.383, p = 0.008) and negatively with eGFR (R = -0.304, p = 0.036)]. CONCLUSIONS: In ADPKD subjects, a higher u-copeptin is associated with disease progression, suggesting that u-copeptin may be a new surrogate marker to predict renal prognosis in ADPKD.

Isomorphic red blood cells using automated urine flow cytometry is a reliable method in diagnosis of bladder cancer.

BACKGROUND: We aimed to identify patients with a chief complaint of hematuria who could safely avoid unnecessary radiation and instrumentation in the diagnosis of bladder cancer (BC), using automated urine flow cytometry to detect isomorphic red blood cells (RBCs) in urine. METHODS: We acquired urine samples from 134 patients over the age of 35 years with a chief complaint of hematuria and a positive urine occult blood test or microhematuria. The data were analyzed using the UF-1000i (®) (Sysmex Co., Ltd., Kobe, Japan) automated urine flow cytometer to determine RBC morphology, which was classified as isomorphic or dysmorphic. The patients were divided into two groups (BC versus non-BC) for statistical analysis. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to determine the predictive value of flow cytometry versus urine cytology, the bladder tumor antigen test, occult blood in urine test, and microhematuria test. RESULTS: BC was confirmed in 26 of 134 patients (19.4 %). The area under the curve for RBC count using the automated urine flow cytometer was 0.94, representing the highest reference value obtained in this study. Isomorphic RBCs were detected in all patients in the BC group. On multivariate logistic regression analysis, only isomorphic RBC morphology was significantly predictive for BC (p < 0.001). Analytical parameters such as sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of isomorphic RBCs in urine were 100.0, 91.7, 74.3, and 100.0 %, respectively. CONCLUSION: Detection of urinary isomorphic RBCs using automated urine flow cytometry is a reliable method in the diagnosis of BC with hematuria.

Serum level of follicle-stimulating hormone is associated with extraprostatic extension of prostate cancer.

PURPOSE: To determine whether serum follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) can be used to predict the aggressiveness of prostate cancer prior to radical prostatectomy. METHODS: Ninety-six patients who underwent radical prostatectomy for biopsy proved cT1c-T2N0M0 prostate cancer between 2003 and 2008 were identified for retrospective analysis. Using univariate regression analysis, potential variables of extraprostatic tumor extension were identified, including prostate-specific antigen (PSA), luteinizing hormone, FSH, testosterone, biopsy findings, and age. These variables of interest were analyzed by logistic and linear regression analysis to determine if serum FSH is predictive of extraprostatic extension. RESULTS: Extraprostatic extension was pathologically confirmed in 18 of 96 patients (18.8%). Statistical analysis confirmed that serum FSH was significantly associated with extraprostatic extension (P=0.04). However, age, PSA level, Gleason score, number of tumors, and serum testosterone level were not found to be independent predictors of extraprostatic extension. CONCLUSIONS: Selective expression of FSH receptor on the surface of blood vessels of prostate cancers has recently been reported. Measuring serum FSH preoperatively in patients with prostate cancer may provide clinically relevant information about extraprostatic spread of tumor.

Maintenance therapy with intravesical bacillus Calmette-Guerin in patients with intermediate- or high-risk non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer.

OBJECTIVE: We investigated the efficacy, safety and an optimal schedule of maintenance therapy with intravesical instillation of Bacillus-Calmette Guérin in patients with non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer. METHODS: We compared the oncological outcome and adverse events of maintenance Bacillus-Calmette Guérin therapy (n = 40) with control subjects (n = 64) of Bacillus-Calmette Guérin induction therapy. Maintenance therapy was scheduled to be administered in 3-week cycles at 6, 12, 18, 24 and 36 months after the induction therapy. RESULTS: There was a significant difference in the 5-year recurrence-free survival rate between the maintenance and induction groups in all patients (72.4 vs. 62.0%; P = 0.019) and in patients with high recurrence risk (100.0 vs. 17.9%; P = 0.009). There was a significant difference in the 5-year progression-free survival rate between the maintenance and induction groups in patients with high progression risk (100.0 vs. 69.3%; P = 0.047). Maintenance Bacillus-Calmette Guérin instillations for a total of four times or more (recurrence-free survival: hazard ratio: 0.2, P = 0.039) or with a total dosage of >243 mg (recurrence-free survival: hazard ratio: 0.2, P = 0.041) after 6 months of induction therapy significantly improve tumor recurrence-free survival and progression-free survival. There were no significant differences between induction therapy and maintenance therapy in the frequency of all adverse drug reactions. CONCLUSIONS: Bacillus-Calmette Guérin maintenance therapy was effective in preventing the recurrence and progression of high-risk non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer. Maintenance Bacillus-Calmette Guérin instillations for a total of four times or more or with a total dosage of >243 mg after 6 months of induction therapy are necessary to obtain the optimal effect as maintenance therapy.

Investigation by in vivo reflectance confocal microscopy: melanocytes at the edges of solar lentigines.

In vivo reflectance confocal microscopy (RCM) provides high-resolution, real-time optical sections of the skin in a non-invasive manner, allowing visualization of the skin in its native state. Highly reflective skin components including melanin, collagen and keratin appear bright (white) in RCM images. RCM examination of solar lentigines is known to show features that correlate well with histologic findings such as supranuclear melanin caps, but there are a limited number of reports on melanocyte dendrites. In this study, we utilized RCM to investigate the melanocyte dendricity and distribution within solar lentigines. Seventeen healthy Japanese females who had fairly large solar lentigines on their faces were recruited to join our clinical study, and we examined them by using RCM on their non-lesional areas, and the inside and the outer rim of the lesional areas. As a result, we discovered that dendritic melanocytes were rarely seen in the center of a solar lentigo (SL), but were seen at a very high frequency in the outer rim of a SL. The results suggest that the melanocytes are more active at the edge of a SL, produce more melanin, and often spread their dendrites widely in a horizontal direction. The findings in this report might shed light on the dynamic pathomechanisms of solar lentigines in vivo.

Reduction of amyloid beta-peptide accumulation in Tg2576 transgenic mice by oral vaccination.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is pathologically characterized by the presence of extracellular senile plaques and intracellular neurofibrillary tangles. Amyloid beta-peptide (Abeta) is the main component of senile plaques, and the pathological load of Abeta in the brain has been shown to be a marker of the severity of AD. Abeta is produced from the amyloid precursor protein by membrane proteases and is known to aggregate. Recently, immune-mediated cerebral clearance of Abeta has been studied extensively as potential therapeutic strategy. In previous studies that used a purified Abeta challenge in a mouse model of AD, symptomatic improvement was reported. However, a clinical Alzheimer's vaccine trial in the United States was stopped because of severe side effects. Immunization with the strong adjuvant used in these trials might have activated an inflammatory Th1 response. In this study, to establish a novel, safer, lower-cost therapy for AD, we tested an oral vaccination in a wild-type and a transgenic mouse model of AD administered via green pepper leaves expressing GFP-Abeta. Anti-Abeta antibodies were effectively induced after oral immunization. We examined the immunological effects in detail and identified no inflammatory reactions. Furthermore, we demonstrated a reduction of Abeta in the immunized AD-model mice. These results suggest this edible vehicle for Abeta vaccination has a potential clinical application in the treatment of AD.

TNF, but not IL-6 and IL-17, is crucial for the development of T cell-independent psoriasis-like dermatitis in Il1rn-/- mice.

IL-1 is a proinflammatory cytokine consisting of two molecular species, IL-1alpha and IL-1beta, and IL-1R antagonist (gene: Il1rn) is the endogenous suppressor. Il1rn(-/-) mice spontaneously develop autoimmune diseases, such as arthritis and aortitis, and a dermatitis that histologically resembles human psoriasis. The pathogenic mechanisms underlying this dermatitis, however, remain to be elucidated. In this study, we demonstrated that the production of inflammatory cytokines and chemokines was enhanced at the site of inflammation. The development of dermatitis was completely suppressed in Tnfsf1a(-/-) but not in Il6(-/-) mice, similar to that observed in arthritis and aortitis. However, IL-17 deficiency did not affect the development of dermatitis at all, in clear contrast to that of arthritis and aortitis. Different from arthritis and aortitis, adoptive transfer of Il1rn(-/-) T cells did not induce dermatitis in the recipient SCID mice and skin lesions developed in Il1rn(-/-) SCID mice, indicating that T cells are not involved in the development of skin lesions. In support for this, bone marrow cell transplantation experiments showed that TNF produced by skin residential cells, but not bone marrow cell-derived cells, was important for the development of dermatitis. Furthermore, we showed that IL-1 directly enhanced TNF and chemokine expression in keratinocytes. These observations suggest that excess IL-1 signaling directly activates keratinocytes to produce TNF and chemokines, resulting in the development of psoriasis-like skin lesions without the involvement of autoimmunity in Il1rn(-/-) mice.

Involvement of tumor necrosis factor-alpha in the development of T cell-dependent aortitis in interleukin-1 receptor antagonist-deficient mice.

BACKGROUND: Interleukin-1 receptor antagonist-deficient (IL-1Ra(-/-)) mice on the BALB/c background spontaneously develop inflammatory arthropathy that resembles rheumatoid arthritis in humans. These mice also frequently develop aortitis at the root of the aorta, but the mechanism underlying the development of this disease has not been completely elucidated. METHODS AND RESULTS: Using IL-1Ra(-/-) mice (backcrossed 8 generations to the BALB/c background) and wild-type mice, we studied the histopathology and examined the immunologic mechanisms involved in the development of aortic inflammation by cell transplantation experiments. Half of the IL-1Ra(-/-) mice developed aortitis at the root of the aorta, with massive infiltration of macrophages and monocytes and loss of elastic lamellae in the aortic media. Left ventricular hypertrophy and mild aortic stenosis were also shown by transthoracic echocardiography. Transplantation of T cells from IL-1Ra(-/-) mice induced aortitis in recipient nu/nu mice. Bone marrow cell transplants from IL-1Ra(-/-) mice also induced aortitis in irradiated wild-type recipient mice. Furthermore, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha deficiency completely suppressed the development of aortitis in IL-1Ra(-/-) mice, whereas IL-6 deficiency did not affect pathology. CONCLUSIONS: These observations suggest that IL-1Ra deficiency in T cells activates them excessively, resulting in the development of aortitis in IL-1Ra(-/-) mice in a TNF-alpha-dependent manner.

TNF-alpha is crucial for the development of autoimmune arthritis in IL-1 receptor antagonist-deficient mice.

IL-1 receptor antagonist-deficient (IL-1Ra(-/-)) mice spontaneously develop autoimmune arthritis. We demonstrate here that T cells are required for the induction of arthritis; T cell-deficient IL-1Ra(-/-) mice did not develop arthritis, and transfer of IL-1Ra(-/-) T cells induced arthritis in nu/nu mice. Development of arthritis was also markedly suppressed by TNF-alpha deficiency. We found that TNF-alpha induced OX40 expression on T cells and blocking the interaction between either CD40 and its ligand or OX40 and its ligand suppressed development of arthritis. These findings suggest that IL-1 receptor antagonist deficiency in T cells disrupts homeostasis of the immune system and that TNF-alpha plays an important role in activating T cells through induction of OX40.

Expression of amyloid-beta 1-40 and 1-42 peptides in Capsicum annum var. angulosum for oral immunization.

Alzheimer's disease (AD), the leading cause of dementia in the elderly population, still remains without an effective treatment. The accumulation and deposition of the amyloid-beta peptide (Abeta) in the brain is thought to be a key event in the pathogenesis of AD. Recently, a novel exciting technology has been investigated to combat AD: new immunotherapeutic approaches have been described that are based on vaccination with the Abeta peptide itself, and this has been shown to induce functionally beneficial anti-Abeta antibody responses in different transgenic animal models of AD. Here we report the high level expression of GFP-Abeta1-40 and 1-42 peptides in Capsicum annum var. angulosum (green pepper) using a new tomato mosaic tobamovirus-based hybrid replication vector. After preinoculation of Nicotiana benthamiana plants with the in vitro transcript of the vector, the isolated virions were used to inoculate green pepper, which accumulated the GFPAbeta1-40 or 1-42 fusion proteins to a level of 100 microg/g of leaves 7 days after inoculation. These results make it possible to test whether oral immunization by feeding plant samples could stimulate antibody production against Abeta peptides.