Kagawa University

About: Kagawa University is a education organization based out in Takamatsu, Japan. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Cancer & Population. The organization has 6028 authors who have published 11918 publications receiving 224111 citations. The organization is also known as: Kagawa Daigaku.

HCV-infected hepatocytes drive CD4+ CD25+ Foxp3+ regulatory T-cell development through the Tim-3/Gal-9 pathway.

Abstract: HCV is remarkable at disrupting human immunity to establish chronic infection. The accumulation of Treg cells at the site of infection and upregulation of inhibitory signaling pathways (such as T-cell Ig and mucin domain protein-3 (Tim-3) and galectin-9 (Gal-9)) play pivotal roles in suppressing antiviral effector T (Teff) cells that are essential for viral clearance. While Tim-3/Gal-9 interactions have been shown to negatively regulate Teff cells, their role in regulating Treg cells is poorly understood. To explore how Tim-3/Gal-9 interactions regulate HCV-mediated Treg-cell development, here we provide pilot data showing that HCV-infected human hepatocytes express higher levels of Gal-9 and TGF-β, and upregulate Tim-3 expression and regulatory cytokines TGF-β/IL-10 in co-cultured human CD4+ T cells, driving conventional CD4+ T cells into CD25+Foxp3+ Treg cells. Additionally, recombinant Gal-9 protein can transform TCR-activated CD4+ T cells into Foxp3+ Treg cells in a dose-dependent manner. Importantly, blocking Tim-3/Gal-9 ligations abrogates HCV-mediated Treg-cell induction by HCV-infected hepatocytes, suggesting that Tim-3/Gal-9 interactions may regulate human Foxp3+ Treg-cell development and function during HCV infection.

Chronic Restraint Stress Inhibits Hair Growth via Substance P Mediated by Reactive Oxygen Species in Mice

Abstract: Backgrounds Solid evidence has demonstrated that psychoemotional stress induced alteration of hair cycle through neuropeptide substance P (SP) mediated immune response, the role of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in brain-skin-axis regulation system remains unknown. Objectives The present study aims to investigate possible mechanisms of ROS in regulation of SP-mast cell signal pathway in chronic restraint stress (CRS, a model of chronic psychoemotional stress) which induced abnormal of hair cycle. Methods and Results Our results have demonstrated that CRS actually altered hair cycle by inhibiting hair follicle growth in vivo, prolonging the telogen stage and delaying subsequent anagen and catagen stage. Up-regulation of SP protein expression in cutaneous peripheral nerve fibers and activation of mast cell were observed accompanied with increase of lipid peroxidation levels and reduction of the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) in CRS mice skin. In addition, SP receptor antagonist (RP67580) reduced mast cell activations and lipid peroxidation levels as well as increased GSH-Px activity and normalized hair cycle. Furthermore, antioxidant Tempol (a free radical scavenger) also restored hair cycle, reduced SP protein expression and mast cell activation. Conclusions Our study provides the first solid evidence for how ROS play a role in regulation of psychoemotional stress induced SP-Mast cell pathway which may provide a convincing rationale for antioxidant application in clinical treatment with psychological stress induced hair loss.

Synergistic and persistent effect of T-cell immunotherapy with anti-CD19 or anti-CD38 chimeric receptor in conjunction with rituximab on B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma

Abstract: Using artificial receptors, it is possible to redirect the specificity of immune cells to tumour-associated antigens, which is expected to provide a useful strategy for cancer immunotherapy. Given that B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma (B-NHL) cells invariably express CD19 and CD38, these antigens may be suitable molecular candidates for such immunotherapy. We transduced human peripheral T cells or a T-cell line with either anti-CD19-chimeric receptor (CAR) or anti-CD38-CAR, which contained an anti-CD19 or anti-CD38 antibody-derived single-chain variable domain respectively. Retroviral transduction led to anti-CD19-CAR or anti-CD38-CAR expression in T cells with high efficiency (>60%). The T cell line, Hut78, when transduced with anti-CD19-CAR or anti-CD38-CAR, exerted strong cytotoxicity against the B-NHL cell lines, HT and RL, and lymphoma cells isolated from patients. Interestingly, use of both CARs had an additive cytotoxic effect on HT cells in vitro. In conjunction with rituximab, human peripheral T cells expressing either anti-CD19-CAR or anti-CD38-CAR enhanced cytotoxicity against HT-luciferase cells in xenografted mice. Moreover, the synergistic tumour-suppressing activity was persistent in vivo for over 2 months. These results provide a powerful rationale for clinical testing of the combination of rituximab with autologous T cells carrying either CAR on aggressive or relapsed B-NHLs.

Molecular characterization of Fusarium oxysporum f. melongenae by ISSR and RAPD markers on eggplant.

Abstract: Fusarium oxysporum f. melongenae is a major soil-borne pathogen of eggplant (Solanum melongena). ISSR and RAPD markers were used to characterize Fusarium oxysporum f. melongenae isolates collected from eggplant fields in southern Turkey. Those isolates were not pathogenic to tomato. Pathogens were identified by their morphology, and their identity was confirmed by PCR amplification using the specific primer PF02-3. The isolates were classified into groups on the basis of ISSR and RAPD fingerprints, which showed a level of genetic specificity and diversity not previously identified in Fusarium oxysporum f. melongenae, suggesting that genetic differences are related to the pathogen in the Mediterranean region. The primers selected to characterize Fusarium oxysporum f. melongenae may be used to determine genetic differences and pathogen virulence. This study is the first to characterize eggplant F.oxysporum species using ISSR and RAPD.