Effect of beta-casein (1-28) on proliferative responses and secretory functions of human immunocompetent cell lines

The effect of bovine beta-casein (1-28) purified from commercial casein phosphopeptide preparations on human T, B, and monocyte cell lines was evaluated. Beta-casein (1-28) enhanced the proliferation of the following: T cell lines HUT-78, Jurkat Clone E6-1, and MOLT-4; B cell lines BALL, KHM-1B, and U266B1; and monocyte cell lines U937 and HL-60. Moreover, beta-casein (1-28) stimulated IgA production by KHM-1B over 96 h of culture. Semiquantitative reverse transcriptional-polymerase chain reaction analysis indicated that beta-casein (1-28) enhanced mRNA expression of interleukin (IL)-6 in U266B1 and KHM-1B. These results suggest that beta-casein (1-28) exerts a mitogenic effect on human T, B, and monocyte cells, and an IgA-enhancing effect on B cells.

Characterization of Casein Phosphopeptides from Fermented Milk Products

This study dealt with the potential of fermented milk products as a source of functional casein phosphopeptides (CPPs) using plain yogurts and Camembert cheeses. The CPPs were prepared by tryptic digestion from four commercially available plain yogurts (P1-P4), five Camembert cheeses (C1-C5), and raw milk. From portions with a 1-g protein content of the plain yogurts, the Camembert cheeses, and the raw milk, 171 mg, 139 mg, and 146 mg of CPPs were obtained, respectively. The Camembert cheeses retained high amounts of organic phosphorus (32 microg) per 1 mg CPPs compared to the raw milk (15 microg) and plain yogurts (16 microg). Reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatographic analysis showed that the elution patterns and retention times of the three major peaks of CPPs from P1 and C1 were similar to those from raw milk. Moreover, CPPs from P1 and C1 showed a mitogenic effect, while CPPs from C1 showed an IgA-enhancing effect in mouse spleen cell cultures. These results suggest that fermented milk products such as plain yogurts and Camembert cheeses generate functional CPPs in the body and exert beneficial effects on the immune system.

Leachability of plasticizer and residual monomer from commercial temporary restorative resins

OBJECTIVES

This study was performed to determine the compositions of commercial temporary restorative resins and to evaluate the leachability of plasticizer and residual monomer from them.

METHODS

The chemicals in four commercial temporary restorative resins (Dura Seal, Fit Seal, Plast Seal Quick, and Poly Seal) were detected by GCMS and HPLC. The amounts of plasticizers and residual monomers that leached from cured resin samples immersed in ethanol for 1 h to 14 d were determined by HPLC.

RESULTS

Phthalate esters used as plasticizers contained 40-55 wt% either di-n-butyl phthalate (DBP) or butyl phthalyl butyl glycolate. The resin monomer included methyl methacrylate (MMA) or a mixture of MMA and 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA); 1,3-butanediol dimethacrylate was added as a cross-linking agent. Each resin contained 40-60 wt% monomer. The amounts of phthalate esters leached increased with immersion time up to 7 d, reaching 120-190 microg/mg, and did not change subsequently. The residual monomers leached gradually for up to 3d and did not change subsequently. The amount of leached residual monomer (MMA, HEMA) was 20-90 microg/mg after 3d storage. More than 50% of the leachable plasticizers and monomers were eluted from the cured resins within 24 and 3 h, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

The amounts of leached plasticizers and residual monomers were extremely large compared with the concentrations of endocrine disrupters and their potentially genotoxic effects. Therefore, it is very important to evaluate the leachability of these compounds from temporary restorative resins.

Inheritance of dense spike in diploid wheat and Aegilops squarrosa

The individuals of diploid wheat Triticum boeoticum, T. monococcum and T. sinskajae and goatgrass Aegilops squarrosa were picked out with screening the dense spike characteristics. The dense-spike accessions were discovered in diploid wheat (T. sinskajae) and Ae. squarrosa. Inheritance of the dense spike was studied. The trait was found to be controlled by a recessive gene in T. sinskajae and by an incomplete dominant gene in Ae. squarrosa. The dosage effect of dominant gene C was detected in interspecific pentaploid F1 hybrid plants T. compactum x T. palmovae (2n =35, A(u)A(b)BDD genome). The spike of pentaploid hybrid was not so dense as compared to hexaploid wheat T. compactum. This is the first report showing similarity of the expression of dominant gene C on D genome of the hexaploid wheat to that of dense spike gene in Ae. squarrosa. The existence of dense-spike accessions of Ae. squarrosa allows us to hypothesize that the origin of T. compactum is independent from that of common wheat.

Stimulatory effect of a dietary casein phosphopeptide preparation on the mucosal IgA response of mice to orally ingested lipopolysaccharide from Salmonella typhimurium

The effect on immunoglobulin production of a commercially available casein phosphopeptide preparation (CPP-III) consisting mainly of bovine alpha s2-casein (1-32) and beta-casein (1-28) in mice that had orally ingested lipopolysaccharide (LPS) from Salmonella typhimurium was investigated. No significant difference in body weight gain was observed between the mice fed on the CPP-III-added diet and those fed on the control diet. The mice fed on the CPP-III-added diet exhibited similar serum and intestinal IgG, IgM, and IgE responses towards LPS to those fed on the control diet. In contrast, fecal and intestinal anti-LPS IgA and total IgA in mice fed on the CPP-III-added diet were significantly higher than in those fed on the control diet. Spleen cells from mice fed on the CPP-III-added diet produced larger amounts of IgA, IL-5, and IL-6 than cells from mice fed on the control diet. These results suggest that dietary casein phosphopeptide may protect a host from invasion of the intestinal mucosa by food-born pathogenic microorganisms.

Expression of a p67(phox) homolog in Caco-2 cells giving O(2)(-)-reconstituting ability to cytochrome b(558) together with recombinant p47(phox)

Human normal and transformed (Caco-2) colon tissues as well as guinea pig gastric mucosal cells express Nox1, which is a homolog of the phagocyte NADPH oxidase subunit, gp91(phox) of membrane-bound cytochrome b(558). It was reported that Nox1-transfection to NIH 3T3 cells could provide O(2)(-)-generating ability, independently of regulatory cytosolic factors (Rac2, p67(phox), and p47(phox)) that are obligatory in the phagocyte oxidase system. Here, we detected and sequenced a p67(phox) homolog in Caco-2 almost identical to the neutrophil sequence, except for three nucleotide substitutions, two of which changed lysines 181 and 328 to arginines. Investigation of its ability to support O(2)(-)-generation in cell-free reconstitution experiments combining with neutrophil cytochrome b(558) showed O(2)(-)-generation, provided that recombinant p47(phox) was added. This result demonstrates that the intrinsic p67(phox) homolog of Caco-2 was able to function as a phagocyte p67(phox) for cytochrome b(558). The requirement of p47(phox) addition suggested that this component was absent in Caco-2 cells. Caco-2 membranes, used as a source of Nox1 in place of cytochrome b(558), did not show significant O(2)(-)-generation, which was mainly explained by their very little Nox1 expression.

Bradykinin inhibits serum-depletion-induced apoptosis of human vascular endothelial cells by inducing nitric oxide via calcium ion kinetics

Vascular endothelial cells play important roles in atherogenesis, and bradykinin is associated with atherosclerosis. The effect of bradykinin on apoptosis in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) was investigated, with a focus on Ca2+ kinetics and nitric oxide production. In serum-free conditions, the number of apoptotic cells increased in a time-dependent manner, but this increase was inhibited by bradykinin in a dose-dependent manner. The apoptosis inhibited by bradykinin was reduced by nitric oxide inhibitor N(G)-monomethyl-L-arginine (L-NMMA) and consequently restored by combined treatment with L-NMMA and L-arginine. Bradykinin increased influx of extracellular Ca2+, generation of inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate, and release of Ca2+ from intracellular storage sites, thus increasing the total intracellular Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i). Bradykinin increased nitric oxide production, which was inhibited by L-NMMA and restored by combined treatment with L-NMMA and L-arginine. Sodium nitroprusside (SNP) dose-dependently increased nitric oxide production and inhibited apoptosis; however, 10(-5) M SNP did not inhibit apoptosis. Caspase-3 inhibitor, acetyl-Asp-Met-Gln-Asp-aldehyde, enhanced bradykinin-induced inhibition of apoptosis but did not effect bradykinin-induced nitric oxide production. These findings suggest that bradykinin inhibits serum-depletion-induced apoptosis in HUVECs by enhancing nitric oxide production via an increase in [Ca2+]i.

Production of beta-defensin-2 by human colonic epithelial cells induced by Salmonella enteritidis flagella filament structural protein

We recently showed that FliC of Salmonella enteritidis increased human beta-defensin-2 (hBD-2) expression, and now describe the signaling responsible pathway. FliC increased the intracellular Ca(2+) concentration ([Ca(2+)](in)) in Caco-2 cells. The [Ca(2+)](in) increase induced by FliC was prevented by U73122 and heparin, but not by chelating extracellular Ca(2+) or pertussis toxin. The FliC-induced increase in hBD-2 promoter activity via nuclear factor kappaB (NF-kappaB) was also inhibited by chelation of intracellular Ca(2+) or by U73122. We conclude that FliC increased [Ca(2+)](in) via inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate, which was followed by up-regulating hBD-2 mRNA expression via an NF-kappaB-dependent pathway.

Stabilized Kuramoto-Sivashinsky system

A model consisting of a mixed Kuramoto-Sivashinsky-Korteweg-de Vries equation, linearly coupled to an extra linear dissipative equation, is proposed. The model applies to a description of surface waves on multilayered liquid films. The extra equation makes it possible to stabilize the zero solution in the model, thus opening the way to the existence of stable solitary pulses. By means of perturbation theory, treating the dissipation and the instability-generating gain in the model (but not the linear coupling between the two waves) as small perturbations, and making use of the balance equation for the net momentum, we demonstrate that the perturbations may select two steady-state solitons from their continuous family existing in the absence of the dissipation and gain. In this case, the selected pulse with the larger value of the amplitude is expected to be stable, provided that the zero solution is stable. The prediction is completely confirmed by direct simulations. If the integration domain is not very large, some pulses are stable even when the zero background is unstable. An explanation for the latter finding is proposed. Furthermore, stable bound states of two and three pulses are found numerically.

Helicobacter pylori lipopolysaccharide induces apoptosis of cultured guinea pig gastric mucosal cells

Helicobacter pylori lipopolysaccharide (LPS) is generally accepted as a low-toxicity virulence. Primary cultures of guinea pig gastric mucosal cells expressed the Toll-like receptor 4 and were sensitive to H. pylori LPS as well as Escherichia coli LPS. H. pylori LPS stimulated phosphorylation of transforming growth factor-beta-activated kinase 1 (TAK1), TAK1-binding protein 1 (TAB1), and c-Jun NH(2)-terminal kinase (JNK) 2. H. pylori LPS at >2.1 endotoxin unit/ml (>1 ng/ml) activated caspase-8, stimulated cytochrome c release from mitochondria, and subsequently activated caspases-9 and -3, leading to apoptosis. Epidermal growth factor blocked all of these apoptotic processes and inhibited apoptosis, whereas it did not modify the phosphorylation of TAK1, TAB1, and JNK2. A comparatively specific inhibitor of caspase-8 or -9 blocked apoptosis, whereas cytochrome c release was prevented only with a caspase-8-like inhibitor. Our results suggest that caspase-8 and mitochondria may play crucial roles in H. pylori LPS-induced apoptosis and that this accelerated apoptosis may be involved in abnormal cell turnover of H. pylori-infected gastric mucosa.

Gastric cancer with Virchow's and multiple lung metastases showing a remarkable response to preoperative chemotherapy: report of a case

We report herein a rare case with advanced gastric cancer combined with group 4 lymph node and lung metastases that responded remarkably to neoadjuvant chemotherapy. A 65-year-old man was found to have a well-differentiated type 3 gastric cancer that invaded the duodenum locally and was accompanied with Virchow's, para-aortic lymph nodes, and multiple lung metastases based on physical, endoscopic, and radiological examinations. In addition, his carbohydrate antigen (CA) 19-9 was elevated to 3965U/ml, and CA72-4 to 46U/ml. Prior to surgery, he was treated with 5-fluorouracil (5-FU; 500mg/body per day) and low-dose cisplatinum (CDDP; 10mg/body per day) as neoadjuvant chemotherapy for 6 weeks. As a result, a partial response was obtained in all lesions, and CA19-9 and CA72-4 decreased to 463U/ml and 9.4U/ml, respectively. Four weeks after the completion of neoadjuvant chemotherapy, a distal gastrectomy was performed, and a histopathological examination of the resected specimen showed a grade 2 response to chemotherapy. Immunohistochemically, the thymidylate synthase expression level was very low in the tumor tissues, which might account for the good response to the combination chemotherapy with 5-FU and CDDP observed in the present case.

Toll-like receptor 4 regulates gastric pit cell responses to Helicobacter pylori infection

Gastric pit cells express mitogen oxidase1 (Mox1) and essential components for the phagocyte NADPH oxidase (p67-, p47-, p40-, and p22-phoxes). Helicobacter pylori (Hp) lipopolysaccharide (LPS) is a potent up-regulator of the Mox 1 oxidase. In this study, we examined the expression levels of several key members of the Toll-like receptor (TLR) family in primary cultures of guinea pig gastric pit cells. These cells expressed the TLR4 mRNA. Immunoblot analysis and immunofluorescence histochemistry with an anti-TLR4 antibody showed that gastric pit cells possessed significant amounts of TLR4 protein preferentially on the plasma membrane. In contrast, the cells did not express the TLR2 and TLR9 transcripts and did not contain detectable amounts of TLR2 protein. Neither peptidoglycan from Staphylococcus aureus nor Hp DNA with the CpG motif up-regulated Mox1 oxidase activity. Hp LPS activated nuclear factor-kappa B in association with the expression of cyclooxygenase II and tumor necrosis factor alpha transcripts. These findings suggest that TLR4 may play a crucial role in the initiation of inflammatory responses of gastric pit cells against Hp infection.

Modulation by dietary restriction in gene expression related to insulin-like growth factor-1 in rat muscle

Physiological adaptations induced by dietary restriction might include the modulation of the insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) axis. We investigated the effects of dietary restriction on aging-dependent changes in plasma level of IGF-1 and gene expression levels of type-1 IGF receptor (IGFR), insulin receptor substrate-1 (IRS-1), and IGF-1 in the diaphragm and quadriceps femoris muscle (QFM) of male F344 rats. The animals were fed ad libitum throughout life (AL), or provided with 70% of diet of AL rats from 6 weeks of age (DR). The plasma IGF-1 and steady-state levels of the genes were quantified by radioimmunoassay and the reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction method, respectively. Immunohistochemical analysis in tissue sections was also performed for IGFR. Our results showed that dietary restriction: 1) decreased the plasma level of IGF-1; 2) increased the steady-state level of IGFR-mRNA at 6 and 16 months of age. and the peptide level at 6 months; 3) maintained IGF-1- and IRS-1-mRNA at a level similar to that in AL rats; and 4) delayed or inhibited an aging-dependent increase in IGFR-mRNA in the muscles. The present results suggest that dietary restriction could modulate IGF-1 signaling by augmenting local tissue response to IGF-1 and by maintaining the local production of the peptide, even though plasma IGF-1 is reduced.

Helicobacter pylori lipopolysaccharide from type I, but not type II strains, stimulates apoptosis of cultured gastric mucosal cells

The cag pathogenicity island (cag PAI) genes are a major determinant of virulence of Helicobacter pylori (Hp). Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) purified from the cag PAI-positive (type I) strains induced apoptosis of primary cultures of guinea pig gastric mucosal cells. Lipid A catalyzed this apoptosis. These cells expressed the Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) mRNA and its protein, and type I Hp LPS phosphorylated transforming growth factor beta-activated kinase 1 (TAK1) and TAK1-binding protein 1 (TAB1) in association with up-regulation of the TLR4 expressions, suggesting that type I Hp LPS evoked distinct TLR4 signaling. In contrast, Hp LPS from type II strains with complete or partial deletion of the cag PAI genes did not phosphorylate TAK1 and TAB1 and failed to induce apoptosis. Accelerated apoptosis of gastric epithelial cells is one of the important events relevant to chronic, atrophic gastritis caused by Hp infection. The difference in proapoptotic action of LPS between the type I and II strains may support an important role of the cag PAI genes in the pathogenesis of gastric lesions caused by Hp infection.

Effect of cicletanine on the nitric oxide pathway in human umbilical vein endothelial cells

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of cicletanine, a slightly diuretic antihypertensive drug, on human vascular endothelial cells with regard to nitric oxide, intracellular calcium concentration ([Ca2+]i), cyclic nucleotide, inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (IP3), and prostacyclin generation. Primary cultured human umbilical vein endothelial cells were used in this study. [Ca2+]i was measured by fura-2/AM. Cyclic adenosine monophosphate (AMP), cyclic guanosine monophosphate (GMP), IP3, and prostacyclin were measured by radioimmunoassay. Nitric oxide was measured by the Griess method. Cicletanine had no effect on [Ca2+]i. Cicletanine (10(-6)-10(-4) M) increased cyclic GMP but decreased prostacyclin generation. Cicletanine had no stimulating effect on cyclic AMP or IP3 generation. IP3 increased 45Ca release from storage sites. Cicletanine decreased prostacyclin generation via increase in cyclic GMP. Cicletanine had no stimulating effect on nitrogen oxides for 2 h after incubation but increased it after 3-24 h. Pretreatment with L-N(G)-monomethyl-arginine (L-NMMA) prevented this increase. The inhibitory effect of L-NMMA was prevented by pretreatment with L-arginine. These results indicate that nitric oxide and cyclic GMP may contribute to the antihypertensive action of cicletanine.

Type I Helicobacter pylori lipopolysaccharide stimulates toll-like receptor 4 and activates mitogen oxidase 1 in gastric pit cells

Guinea pig gastric pit cells express an isozyme of gp91-phox, mitogen oxidase 1 (Mox1), and essential components for the phagocyte NADPH oxidase (p67-, p47-, p40-, and p22-phox). Helicobacter pylori lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and Escherichia coli LPS have been shown to function as potent activators for the Mox1 oxidase. These cells spontaneously secreted about 10 nmol of superoxide anion (O(2)(-))/mg of protein/h under LPS-free conditions. They expressed the mRNA and protein of Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) but not those of TLR2. LPS from type I H. pylori at 2.1 endotoxin units/ml or higher stimulated TLR4-mediated phosphorylations of transforming growth factor beta-activated kinase 1 and its binding protein 1 induced TLR4 and p67-phox and up-regulated O(2)(-) production 10-fold. In contrast, none of these events occurred with H. pylori LPS from complete or partial deletion mutants of the cag pathogenicity island. Lipid A was confirmed to be a bioactive component for the priming effects, while removal of bisphosphates from lipid A completely eliminated the effects, suggesting the importance of the phosphorylation pattern besides the acylation pattern for the bioactivity. H. pylori LPS is generally accepted as having low toxicity; however, our results suggest that type I H. pylori lipid A may be a potent stimulator for innate immune responses of gastric mucosa by stimulating the TLR4 cascade and Mox1 oxidase in pit cells.

Increased islet viability by addition of beraprost sodium to collagenase solution

The digestion of pancreatic tissue with collagenase is an essential part of the islet isolation procedure. However, the process exposes islets to various types of harmful factors, including collagenase contaminants, enzymes released from the acinar cells, warm ischemia, and mechanical agitation. Nitrogen oxide production and cytokine release may also contribute to islet cell damage. Protection of islets from such damage would improve the islet yield, survival, and function. Beraprost sodium (BPS) is a prostaglandin I2 analogue, is stable in aqueous solution, and has a cytoprotective effect on various types of cells. BPS has been shown to improve the yield and function of cryopreserved and/or cultured islets. These findings prompted us to examine its cytoprotective effect on islets during the islet isolation process. Canine islets were isolated by means of a two-step digestion method and purified on Euro-Ficoll density gradient solutions (the procedure used for human islets). BPS at a concentration of 100 nM was added to the collagenase solution. After purification, the islet yield was 434,561 +/- 35.691 islet number expressed as 150 microm equivalent size (IEQ)/pancreas or 8,799 +/- 345 IEQ/g of pancreas in the BPS group and 349,987 +/- 52,887 IEQ/pancreas or 7,998 +/-1610 IEQ/g of pancreas in the control group (n = 8, each). The percent viability was 88.5 +/- 0.7% in the BPS group and 82.0 +/-0.9% in the control group (P < 0.01). Therefore, the recovery of viable islets (calculated by islet number x % viability) was 384,586 +/- 46,804 IEQ/pancreas (7,743 IEQ/g) in the BPS group and 286,989 +/- 43,367 IEQ/pancreas (6,558 IEQ/g) in the control group (P < 0.02). After culture, significantly higher numbers of islets were also recovered in the BPS group than in the control group. The islet insulin content was significantly higher in the BPS group than controls (237.8 +/- 38.5 versus 92.3 +/- 25.6 microU/IEQ; P < 0.02), although islets of both groups responded with high stimulation indices (>6). These results indicate that the addition of BPS to the collagenase solution increases the recovery of viable islets, and improves beta cell function.

Geranylgeranylacetone stimulates mucin synthesis in cultured guinea pig gastric pit cells by inducing a neuronal nitric oxide synthase

Nitric oxide (NO) has been considered to play an important role in the regulation of blood flow, mucosal integrity, and mucus production in the stomach. We investigated the stimulatory actions of epidermal growth factor (EGF) and a cytoprotective compound, geranylgeranylacetone (GGA), on mucin synthesis in guinea pig gastric pre-pit cells, maintained in a serum-free culture system. GGA increased [3H]glucosamine uptake and the accumulation of mucus granules positive for galactose oxidase-Schiff reaction in the cells. This stimulatory action of GGA was equivalent to that of EGF, but GGA did not stimulate the cell growth. Both EGF and GGA increased the release of NO degeneration products, NO2- and NO3-. The [3H]glucosamine uptake was completely inhibited by the non-selective NO synthase (NOS) inhibitors, N(G)-nitro-L-arginine and N(G)-monomethyl-L-arginine, and it was only partially inhibited by a more selective inhibitor for inducible NOS isoform (iNOS), aminoguanidine. Northern blotting with a cDNA probe for rat iNOS, and Western blotting with a polyclonal antibody against iNOS, demonstrated that GGA did not up-regulate the iNOS mRNA expression nor induce its protein. In contrast, GGA and EGF induced neuronal NOS, but not endothelial NOS, which was confirmed by immunoblot analyses with antibodies against these constitutive NOS isoforms. Thus, the present experiments suggests that GGA, as well as EGF, stimulates mucin synthesis at least in part through an NO-dependent pathway, leading to an increase in the integrity of the gastric mucosa.