Interleukin-3-dependent potentiation of IgE responsiveness in mouse basophils

Basophils produce interleukins (IL)-4 in response to various stimuli and may contribute to type 2 immune responses to various infections and allergens. We found that resting basophils freshly isolated from mice produce IL-4 in response to IL-3 but not to high-affinity Fc receptor (FcεRI) cross-linking (CL), yet both required the immunoreceptor tyrosine-based activation motif (ITAM) containing adaptor Fc receptor γ-chain (FcRγ), while basophils activated in vitro by IL-3 become responsive to FcεRI CL. Acquisition of responsiveness to FcεRI CL occurred upon infection with Trichinella spiralis or administration of superantigen. Because cultured basophils return to a quiescent state upon starvation with IL-3 with surface FcεRI levels unchanged, this acquisition is reversible and probably reflects intracellular events requiring protein synthesis. Interestingly, similar activation-associated acquisition was observed for responsiveness to other stimuli, including CD200R3 CL, which is known to signal via DAP-12, and the allergen protease papain. This acquisition of responsiveness to FcεRI CL was inhibited by Jak inhibitor. Thus, the IL-3 signal bifurcates downstream of Jak, into two distinct pathway, one leading to IL-4 production and the other to render basophils competent to respond to stimuli dependent on ITAM-containing adaptors DAP12 and FcRγ for IL-4 production.     

Surgery of basilar aneurysms associated with unexpected rupture of an internal carotid artery aneurysm

During a surgery of basilar aneurysms via the trans-sylvian approach, we encountered an arterial bleeding caused by rupture of an internal carotid artery aneurysm that had been difficult to diagnose before surgery, as it was a small and brood-neck aneurysm and mimicked arteriosclerosis. In spite of several surgical procedures, the surgical path at the basilar aneurysms became narrow, and we had to abandon the clipping of the aneurysms. Consideration of radiological and intraoperative findings was made for this case, demonstrating a pitfall that neurosurgeons may encounter during surgery. Received: 16 December 1998 / Accepted: 26 May 1999     

Early colon cancers detected by FDG-pet: a report of two cases with immunohistochemical investigation

Increased glucose uptake is one of the metabolic characteristics of tumor cells. 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG)-positron emission tomography (FDG-PET), a technique that is used widely to study this altered glucose metabolism in tumors, allows the detection of various types of malignancy. We present herein two cases of early colon cancers detected incidentally by FDG-PET. The technique was used as part of the screening examinations for preoperative staging, and for postoperative follow-up. In both cases, the lesions were removed by colonoscopic polypectomy, with no complications. Moreover, we confirmed the existence of altered glucose metabolism in the resected specimen by immunohistochemical staining using an antibody raised against Glut1. Immunohistochemically, Glut1 was expressed in vitro in both of the lesions, supporting the positive FDG-PET result obtained in vivo. To our knowledge, this is the first report to describe in vitro Glut1 expression and in vivo tumor detection using FDG-PET in colorectal carcinoma.     

Bosutinib-induced osteonecrosis of the jaw in a patient with chronic myeloid leukemia: a case report

Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery - Medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (MRONJ) is an uncommon adverse drug reaction that can be induced by certain therapeutic drugs, including antiresorptive...     

Retraction: A reduction state potentiates the glucocorticoid response through receptor protein stabilization

Retraction: The above article in Genes to Cells (doi: 10.1111/j.1365‐2443.2007.01131.x ), published online on 2 November 2007 in Wiley Online Library ( http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/ ), has been retracted by agreement between the authors, the journal Editor in Chief, Mitsuhiro Yanagida, and Wiley Publishing Asia Pty Ltd. The retraction has been agreed to due to lack of the gel images for the lanes 1, 2, 5, 6, 9 and 10 of ‘GR’ and lanes 1, 2, 9 and 10 of ‘Brg‐1’ in Figure 3(D) and the multiple usage of the gel images in Figure 3(B) and (C).     

A mitochondrial superoxide theory for oxidative stress diseases and aging

Fridovich identified CuZnSOD in 1969 and manganese superoxide dismutase (MnSOD) in 1973, and proposed ”the Superoxide Theory,” which postulates that superoxide (O₂^•−) is the origin of most reactive oxygen species (ROS) and that it undergoes a chain reaction in a cell, playing a central role in the ROS producing system. Increased oxidative stress on an organism causes damage to cells, the smallest constituent unit of an organism, which can lead to the onset of a variety of chronic diseases, such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and other neurological diseases caused by abnormalities in biological defenses or increased intracellular reactive oxygen levels. Oxidative stress also plays a role in aging. Antioxidant systems, including non-enzyme low-molecular-weight antioxidants (such as, vitamins A, C and E, polyphenols, glutathione, and coenzyme Q₁₀) and antioxidant enzymes, fight against oxidants in cells. Superoxide is considered to be a major factor in oxidant toxicity, and mitochondrial MnSOD enzymes constitute an essential defense against superoxide. Mitochondria are the major source of superoxide. The reaction of superoxide generated from mitochondria with nitric oxide is faster than SOD catalyzed reaction, and produces peroxynitrite. Thus, based on research conducted after Fridovich’s seminal studies, we now propose a modified superoxide theory; i.e., superoxide is the origin of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (RONS) and, as such, causes various redox related diseases and aging.     

Ischemic preconditioning-mediated cardioprotection is disrupted in heterozygous Flt-1 (VEGFR-1) knockout mice

This study attempts to address an important clinical issue by identifying potential candidates of VEGF signaling through Flt-1 receptor that trigger angiogenic signal under ischemic stress. To determine the significance of VEGF-Flt-1 (VEGFR1) signaling in ischemic preconditioned (PC) myocardium, we used heterozygous Flt-1 knockout (KO) mice to dissect the pathway and identify candidate genes involved in VEGF signaling. DNA microarrays were employed to detect, characterize and distinguish altered myocardial gene expression by comparing between wild type (WT) CD-1 and heterozygous Flt-1 KO mice when exposed to ischemia (30 min) and reperfusion (2 h). Moreover, KO mice demonstrated reduced beneficial effects of PC when compared to the WT with PC. In the KO and WT mice, the % recovery of the left ventricular developed pressure and the maximum first derivative of the developed pressure after ischemia/reperfusion without PC were similar. However, when animals were subjected to PC, the left ventricular functional recovery throughout the reperfusion period was significantly lower in KO mice than in WT mice. These results indicate for the first time that in the heterozygous Flt-1 KO mice, PC is not as effective as that found in WT. This observation may be due to downregulation of several important genes such as growth-regulated oncogene 1 (Gro1), heat shock proteins (HSP), I kappa B kinase beta (IKK beta), colony-stimulating factor-1 (CSF-1) and annexin A7, suggesting the importance of VEGF-Flt-1 receptor signaling during PC.     

Expression of GLUT-1 and GLUT-3 in Xanthogranulomatous Cholecystitis Induced a Positive Result on 18F-FDG PET: Report of a Case

Although several reports have revealed that fluorine-18 fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (¹⁸F-FDG PET) is useful for differentiating between benign and malignant lesions in the gallbladder, the positive results of ¹⁸F-FDG PET are not specific for malignancy because ¹⁸F-FDG is also accumulated in inflammatory lesions. It is known that the most important pathway for ¹⁸F-FDG to enter the cell body is mediated by the facilitative glucose transporter-1 (GLUT-1) through GLUT-3. We herein present a case of xanthogranulomatous cholecystitis (XGC) with a positive result on ¹⁸F-FDG PET. In this case, GLUT-1 and GLUT-3 were both positively expressed in inflammatory cells at the gallbladder wall of XGC and this is the first report to reveal GLUT expression in XGC. This report reveals that surgeons should carefully consider the appropriate treatment of gallbladder tumor, even with a positive result on ¹⁸F-FDG PET.