Publisher's Note: Search for Majorana Neutrinos Near the Inverted Mass Hierarchy Region with KamLAND-Zen [Phys. Rev. Lett. 117, 082503 (2016)]

This corrects the article DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.117.082503.

Search for Majorana Neutrinos Near the Inverted Mass Hierarchy Region with KamLAND-Zen

We present an improved search for neutrinoless double-beta (0νββ) decay of ^{136}Xe in the KamLAND-Zen experiment. Owing to purification of the xenon-loaded liquid scintillator, we achieved a significant reduction of the ^{110m}Ag contaminant identified in previous searches. Combining the results from the first and second phase, we obtain a lower limit for the 0νββ decay half-life of T_{1/2}^{0ν}>1.07×10^{26}  yr at 90% C.L., an almost sixfold improvement over previous limits. Using commonly adopted nuclear matrix element calculations, the corresponding upper limits on the effective Majorana neutrino mass are in the range 61-165 meV. For the most optimistic nuclear matrix elements, this limit reaches the bottom of the quasidegenerate neutrino mass region.

Epidermal growth factor is a critical regulator of the cytokine IL-33 in intestinal epithelial cells

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

IL-33 is a novel cytokine that is believed to be involved in inflammation and carcinogenesis. However, its source, its production and its secretion process remain unclear. Recently, we have reported that IL-33 is up-regulated in dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) colitis in mice.

EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH

Production of IL-33 from intestinal tissue was studied in a murine cancer model induced by azoxymethane (AOM) and DSS in vivo and in cultures of IEC-6 epithelial cells. Cytokine levels were measured by real time PCR, immunohistochemistry and elisa.

KEY RESULTS

Mice with AOM/DSS-induced colitis expressed all the characteristic symptoms of colon cancer pathology. Immunohistochemical analysis demonstrated epithelial cell-derived IL-33 in colon tissues from mice with AOM/DSS colitis. Real time PCR and quantitative PCR analysis revealed that AOM/DSS colitis tissues expressed up-regulated IL-1β, IL-33, TGF-β, and EGF mRNA. Gefitinib, an EGFR inhibitor, inhibited IL-33 mRNA expression in AOM/DSS colitis mice. The pathophysiological role of IL-33 in the rat intestinal epithelial cell line (IEC-6 cells) was then investigated. We found that EGF, but not TGF-β1 or PDGF, greatly enhanced mRNA expression of IL-33 and its receptor ST2. In accordance with the gene expression and immunohistochemical analysis of IL-33 levels, elisa-based analysis of cytoplasmic and nuclear extracts showed increased IL-33 protein levels in IEC-6 cells after treatment with EGF.

CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS

Our results suggest that EGF is a key growth factor that increased IL-33 production and ST2 receptor expression during intestinal inflammation and carcinogenesis. The EGF/IL-33/ST2 axis represents a novel therapeutic target in colon cancer.

Comparison of pathogenicities of H7 avian influenza viruses via intranasal and conjunctival inoculation in cynomolgus macaques

The outbreak of H7N9 low pathogenic avian influenza viruses in China has attracted attention to H7 influenza virus infection in humans. Since we have shown that the pathogenicity of H1N1 and H5N1 influenza viruses in macaques was almost the same as that in humans, we compared the pathogenicities of H7 avian influenza viruses in cynomolgus macaques via intranasal and conjunctival inoculation, which mimics natural infection in humans. H7N9 virus, as well as H7N7 highly pathogenic avian influenza virus, showed more efficient replication and higher pathogenicity in macaques than did H7N1 and H7N3 highly pathogenic avian influenza viruses. These results are different from pathogenicity in chickens as reported previously. Therefore, our results obtained in macaques help to estimate the pathogenicity of H7 avian influenza viruses in humans.

Observation of B^{0}→pΛ[over ¯]D^{(*)-}

We report the first observation of the decays B^{0}→pΛ[over ¯]D^{(*)-}. The data sample of 711  fb^{-1} used in this analysis corresponds to 772×10^{6} BB[over ¯] pairs, collected at the ϒ(4S) resonance by the Belle detector at the KEKB asymmetric-energy e^{+}e^{-} collider. We observe 19.8σ and 10.8σ excesses of events for the two decay modes and measure the branching fractions of B^{0}→pΛ[over ¯]D^{-} and B^{0}→pΛ[over ¯]D^{*-} to be (25.1±2.6±3.5)×10^{-6} and (33.6±6.3±4.4)×10^{-6}, respectively, where the first uncertainties are statistical and the second are systematic. These results are not compatible with the predictions based on the generalized factorization approach. In addition, a threshold enhancement in the dibaryon (pΛ[over ¯]) system is observed, consistent with that observed in similar B decays.

Characterization of Aerococcus viridans isolated from milk samples from cows with mastitis and manure samples

Thirty-eight Aerococcus viridans isolates were obtained from milk from 478 cows with clinical mastitis in a farm during the periods between November 2011 and February 2012, and between December 2012 and March 2013. Additional isolates were obtained from processed manure (a mixture of composted manure, straw and hydrated lime) and bedding materials. The processed manure was later used to cover the floor of the stalls in barns as bedding materials. The temperatures recorded in the composted and processed manure were not as high as those generally observed during satisfactory composting. To reveal the association of A. viridans in manure-related products with intramammary infection in cows, isolates were characterized by their DNA fragment patterns as determined by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) and antimicrobial susceptibility testing. Isolates obtained from milk, processed manure and bedding materials had identical DNA fragment patterns. Antimicrobial susceptibilities were determined for 29 isolates from milk, processed manure and bedding materials. Of these, 26 (89.7%) were resistant to clindamycin, whereas virtually all the isolates were susceptible to 12 other antimicrobials including cefalosporins that have been used to treat bovine mastitis in Japan. In vitro, three A. viridans isolates from milk and an isolate from processed manure survived for 3 hr in Good’s buffer (pH 9) at high temperature (50°C). The results suggest that the processed manure and bedding materials in this farm were possible sources of A. viridans that caused infection in the cows with mastitis.

Multiple roles of the PGE2 -EP receptor signal in vascular permeability

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

PGE2 is a major prostanoid that regulates inflammation by stimulating EP1-4 receptors. However, how PGE2 induces an initial inflammatory response to vascular hyper-permeability remains unknown. Here we investigated the role of the PGE2 -EP receptor signal in modulating vascular permeability both in vivo and in vitro.

EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH

We used a modified Miles assay and intravital microscopy to examine vascular permeability in vivo. Endothelial barrier property was assessed by measuring transendothelial electrical resistance (TER) in vitro.

KEY RESULTS

Local administration of PGE2 , an EP2 or EP4 receptor agonist into FVB/NJcl mouse ear skin caused vascular leakage, indicated by dye extravasation. Intravital microscopy and laser Doppler blood-flow imaging revealed that these treatments dilated peripheral vessels and increased local blood flow. Pretreatment with the vasoconstrictor phenylephrine inhibited the PGE2 -induced blood flow increase and vascular leakage. In contrast to the EP2 and EP4 receptor agonists, administration of an EP3 receptor agonist suppressed vascular leakage without altering vascular diameter or blood flow. In isolated HUVECs, the EP3 receptor agonist elevated TER and blocked thrombin-induced dextran passage. Inhibiting PKA restored the hypo-permeability induced by the EP3 receptor agonist.

CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS

Activation of the PGE2 -EP2 or -EP4 receptor signal induces vasodilatation in mural cells, resulting in increased local blood flow and hyper-permeability. In contrast, activation of the PGE2 -EP3 receptor signal induces a cAMP-dependent enhancement of the endothelial barrier, leading to hypo-permeability. We provide the first evidence that endothelial cells and mural cells cooperate to modulate vascular permeability.

PDGF and TGF-β promote tenascin-C expression in subepithelial myofibroblasts and contribute to intestinal mucosal protection in mice

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Tenascin-C (TnC) is a multi-domain extracellular matrix glycoprotein that is expressed at a high level during embryogenesis but is almost absent during normal postnatal life. This multi-domain complex molecule is reported to associate with both pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory signalling cascades. In this study, we examined how TnC modulated intestinal inflammation.

EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH

TnC pathophysiology was evaluated in cultures of rat intestinal subepithelial myofibroblasts (ISEMF) and intestinal epithelial cells. Wild-type and TnC(-/-) mice were treated with dextran sodium sulfate (DSS) to induce colitis.

KEY RESULTS

DSS-induced colitis in mice markedly increased TnC in the damaged mucosal areas and up-regulated mRNA for TnC, pro-inflammatory cytokines and growth factors (PDGF-B and TGF-β1). In addition, 2,4,6-trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid-induced colitis and SAMP1/Yit mice, a model of spontaneous Crohn's disease, also exhibited increased mucosal TnC in colon and ilea respectively. PDGF receptor-α (PDGFRα) positive ISEMF were the primary TnC-producing cells in colon tissues. Accordingly, ISEMF collected from the rat colon constitutively expressed both TnC and PDGFRα. PDGF-BB and TGF-β1 up-regulated both TnC mRNA and protein levels in ISEMF. Knock-down of TnC gene increased susceptibility to DSS-induced colitis, compared with TnC(+/+) littermates. TnC(-/-) mice showed marked abrasion of intestinal mucosal barrier and increased inflammatory scores. Moreover, TnC accelerated both trans-well migration and wound healing in epithelial cells.

CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS

The pharmacological profiles of PDGF-BB and TGF-β in colitis tissues and ISEMF suggest that increased TnC production during inflammation contributed to epithelial cell migration, remodelling and protection of intestinal barriers.