University of Tokyo

About: University of Tokyo is a education organization based out in Tokyo, Japan. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Gene. The organization has 134564 authors who have published 337567 publications receiving 10178620 citations. The organization is also known as: Todai & Universitas Tociensis.

Sharing of the interleukin-2 (IL-2) receptor gamma chain between receptors for IL-2 and IL-4.

Abstract: The gamma chain of the interleukin-2 (IL-2) receptor is an indispensable subunit for IL-2 binding and intracellular signal transduction. A monoclonal antibody to the gamma chain, TUGm2, inhibited IL-2 binding to the functional IL-2 receptors and also inhibited IL-4-induced cell growth and the high-affinity binding of IL-4 to the CTLL-2 mouse T cell line. Another monoclonal antibody, TUGm3, which reacted with the gamma chain cross-linked with IL-2, also immunoprecipitated the gamma chain when cross-linked with IL-4. These results suggest that the IL-2 receptor gamma chain is functionally involved in the IL-4 receptor complex.

The Social Affordances of the Internet for Networked Individualism

Abstract: We review the evidence from a number of surveys in which our NetLab has been involved about the extent to which the Internet is transforming or enhancing community. The studies show that the Internet is used for connectivity locally as well as globally, although the nature of its use varies in different countries. Internet use is adding on to other forms of communication, rather than replacing them. Internet use is reinforcing the pre-existing turn to societies in the developed world that are organized around networked individualism rather than group or local solidarities. The result has important implications for civic involvement.

Significance of macrophage chemoattractant protein-1 in macrophage recruitment, angiogenesis, and survival in human breast cancer.

Abstract: Tumor cells stimulate the formation of stroma that secretes various mediators pivotal for tumor growth, including growth factors, cytokines, and proteases. However, little is known about the local regulation of these soluble mediators in the human tumor microenvironment. In this study, the local expression of cytokines, chemokines, and angiogenic factors was investigated in primary breast cancer tissue. The concentrations of interleukin (IL)-1, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, IL-12, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, IFN-gamma, IL-8, macrophage chemoattractant protein (MCP)-1, epithelial-neutrophil activating peptide-78, vascular endothelial growth factor, and thymidine phosphorylase (TP) were measured in 151 primary breast cancer extracts by ELISA. Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) were also examined by immunohistochemistry with anti-CD68 antibodies. The correlation between soluble mediators and the relationship between TAM count and soluble mediators were evaluated. MCP-1 concentration was correlated significantly with the level of vascular endothelial growth factor, TP, TNF-alpha, and IL-8, which are potent angiogenic factors. IL-4 concentration was correlated significantly with IL-8 and IL-10. On the other hand, an inverse association was observed between TP and IL-12. The level of MCP-1 was associated significantly with TAM accumulation. In the immunohistochemical analysis, MCP-1 expression was observed in both infiltrating macrophages and tumor cells. Prognostic analysis revealed that high expression of MCP-1, as well as of VEGF, was a significant indicator of early relapse. These findings indicate that interaction between the immune network system and angiogenesis is important for progression of human breast cancer, and that MCP-1 may play an important role in the regulation of angiogenesis and the immune system.

Trauma and PTSD in the WHO World Mental Health Surveys

Abstract: Background: Although post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) onset-persistence is thought to vary significantly by trauma type, most epidemiological surveys are incapable of assessing this because they evaluate lifetime PTSD only for traumas nominated by respondents as their 'worst.' Objective: To review research on associations of trauma type with PTSD in the WHO World Mental Health (WMH) surveys, a series of epidemiological surveys that obtained representative data on trauma-specific PTSD. Method: WMH Surveys in 24 countries (n = 68,894) assessed 29 lifetime traumas and evaluated PTSD twice for each respondent: once for the 'worst' lifetime trauma and separately for a randomly-selected trauma with weighting to adjust for individual differences in trauma exposures. PTSD onset-persistence was evaluated with the WHO Composite International Diagnostic Interview. Results: In total, 70.4% of respondents experienced lifetime traumas, with exposure averaging 3.2 traumas per capita. Substantial between-trauma differences were found in PTSD onset but less in persistence. Traumas involving interpersonal violence had highest risk. Burden of PTSD, determined by multiplying trauma prevalence by trauma-specific PTSD risk and persistence, was 77.7 person-years/100 respondents. The trauma types with highest proportions of this burden were rape (13.1%), other sexual assault (15.1%), being stalked (9.8%), and unexpected death of a loved one (11.6%). The first three of these four represent relatively uncommon traumas with high PTSD risk and the last a very common trauma with low PTSD risk. The broad category of intimate partner sexual violence accounted for nearly 42.7% of all person-years with PTSD. Prior trauma history predicted both future trauma exposure and future PTSD risk. Conclusions: Trauma exposure is common throughout the world, unequally distributed, and differential across trauma types with respect to PTSD risk. Although a substantial minority of PTSD cases remits within months after onset, mean symptom duration is considerably longer than previously recognized.