Detectability and Perceptual Consequences of Delayed Feedback in a Vibrotactile Texture Display.

This study estimated the maximum allowable system latency for haptic displays that produce tactile stimuli in response to the hand movements of users. In Experiment 1, two types of detection thresholds were estimated for the time delay of stimuli through psychophysical experiments involving 13 participants. One was a threshold for the users to notice the existence of a time delay. The other was a threshold for the users to experience changes in the perceived textures in comparison with stimuli with no time delay. The estimated thresholds were approximately 60 and 40 ms, respectively. In interviews, the participants reported that they experienced various types of subjective changes due to the time delay. In Experiment 2, the types of subjective sensations that might be altered by the time delay were investigated. The time delays were controlled based on the acceleration of the hand motions of the participants. The participants evaluated the differences in the perceived textures between the stimuli with a controlled time delay and ones with no delay. The results indicated that the participants associated the time-delayed stimuli with changes in mechanical parameters such as kinetic friction coefficient in addition to changes in the perceived roughness of the textures.

Cyclooxygenase-2 is a possible target of treatment approach in conjunction with photodynamic therapy for various disorders in skin and oral cavity.

BACKGROUND: Anti-cancer effects of cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 inhibitors have been reported, but not fully investigated in skin and oral diseases. 5-aminolaevulinic acid (ALA)-based photodynamic therapy (PDT) for treating those patients with skin and oral lesions is a highly sophisticated procedure, but the incidence of disease recurrence after treatment is rather significant. OBJECTIVE: To confirm that COX-2 could be a molecular target in adjunctive therapy to ALA-based PDT, we investigated (i) COX-2 expression in various skin and oral diseases, and (ii) the inhibitory effects on cellular growth of COX-2 selective inhibitor (nimesulide), ALA-based PDT and their combination on human oral squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) cell lines. METHODS: A total of 129 biopsy samples from the skin and oral mucosal lesions were tested immunohistochemically for COX-2 expression. Then the in vitro effects of nimesulide, ALA-based PDT, and their combination were determined on two SCC cell lines, HSC-2 and HSC-4. Three different methods (MTT assay, double-staining for annexin V and propidium iodide, caspase-3/CPP32 fluorometric protease assay) were applied for evaluation of their inhibitory effects on these two cell lines. RESULTS: Among the skin diseases, a considerable number of COX-2 high expressers were found in actinic keratosis (15 of 25, 60%), Bowen's disease (13 of 17, 76%) and extramammary Paget's disease (15 of 15, 100%). In contrast, only one of 33 (3%) basal cell carcinoma tumours was a COX-2 high expresser. Among the oral mucosal biopsies, the proportion of COX-2 high expressers increased gradually from hyperplasia (one of six, 17%) through mild dysplasia (five of eight, 63%) and moderate dysplasia (20 of 23, 87%) to severe dysplasia (two of two, 100%). Nimesulide had an inhibitory effect in vitro on HSC-2 (proven to be a COX-2 high expresser), but not on HSC-4 (a COX-2 non-expresser). While ALA-based PDT showed an inhibitory effect on both HSC-2 and HSC-4, most importantly the combination of nimesulide and ALA-based PDT demonstrated a significant synergistic effect on the cellular growth inhibition of only HSC-2, but not of HSC-4. CONCLUSIONS: Our study strongly suggests that COX-2 can be one of the molecular targets in treating various skin and oral diseases. The results from our in vitro experiments also prompt us to develop a new protocol with a combination of COX-2 selective inhibitor and ALA-based PDT for more effective treatment of those diseases.

Targeting hyperthermia for renal cell carcinoma using human MN antigen-specific magnetoliposomes.

Magnetoliposomes (MLs) conjugated with an antibody fragment to give specificity to a tumor were applied to hyperthermia for cancer. The Fab' fragment of the G250 antibody, which binds to MN antigen on many types of human renal cell carcinoma, was cross-linked to N-(6-maleimidocaproyloxy)-dipalmitoyl phosphatidylethanolamine (EMC-DPPE) in liposomal membrane. The targetability of the G250-Fab' fragment-conjugating MLs (G250-FMLs) was investigated using the mouse renal cell carcinoma (mRCC) and MN antigen-presenting cell, MN-mRCC. The amount of G250-FMLs uptake reached 67 pg / cell against MN-mRCC cells in an in vitro experiment using plastic dishes and this value was about 6 times higher than that in the case of MLs. In an in vivo experiment using MN-mRCC-harboring mice, 1.5 mg of the FMLs per carcinoma tissue accumulated (tumor weight was 0.19 g), which corresponded to approximately 50% of the total injection. This value was 27 times higher than that of the MLs. After injection of the FMLs, mice were exposed to intracellular hyperthermia using alternating magnetic field irradiation. The temperature of tumor tissue increased to 43 degrees C and the growth of the carcinoma was strongly arrested for at least 2 weeks. These results indicate the G250-FMLs could target renal cell carcinoma cells in vitro and in vivo, and are efficiently applicable to the hyperthermic treatment of carcinoma.

Hypomethylation of the MN/CA9 promoter and upregulated MN/CA9 expression in human renal cell carcinoma.

MN/CA9 is a cancer-related gene, frequently activated in human renal cell carcinomas (RCCs). To reveal the activation mechanism, we investigated the relationship between methylation status of the MN/CA9 promoter region and gene expression using 13 human RCCs, and examined the effect of in vitro CpG methylation on the MN/CA9 promoter activity using a human RCC cell line (SK-RC-44), expressing MN/CA9. MN/CA9 expression was evaluated by RT-PCR and observed in 10 of 13 RCCs (77%). A total of 9 out of 10 MN/CA9 -positive RCCs (90%) contained clear cell components. Methylation status of 6 CpGs in the MN/CA9 promoter region was decided by using the bisulfite genomic sequencing protocol. Out of 13 RCCs 9 (69%) showed partial hypomethylation of the CpG at -74 bp, while the other 4 RCCs and 3 normal kidney tissue samples showed complete methylation. Hypomethylation of the CpG at -74 bp was strongly correlated with MN/CA9 expression. Luciferase assay revealed that the MN/CA9 promoter activity was strongly suppressed by methylation of the CpG at -74 bp. These findings suggest that hypomethylation of the CpG at -74 bp in the MN/CA9 promoter region might play an important role in this gene activation of human RCC.

The binding of thymus leukemia (TL) antigen tetramers to normal intestinal intraepithelial lymphocytes and thymocytes.

Thymus leukemia (TL) Ags belong to the family of nonclassical MHC class I Ags and can be recognized by both TCRalphabeta and TCRgammadelta CTL with TL, but not H-2 restriction. We previously reported that the CTL epitope is TAP independent, but the antigenic molecule(s) presented by TL has yet to be determined. In the present study, TL tetramers were prepared with T3(b)-TL and murine beta(2)-microglobulin, not including antigenic peptides, and binding specificity was studied. CTL clones against TL Ags were stained with the T3(b)-TL tetramer, and the binding shown to be CD3 and CD8 dependent. Normal lymphocytes from various origins were also studied. Surprisingly, most CD8(+) intraepithelial lymphocytes derived from the small intestines (iIEL), as well as CD8(+) and CD4(+)CD8(+) thymocytes, were stained, while only very minor populations of CD8(+) cells derived from other peripheral lymphoid tissues, such as spleen and lymph nodes, were positive. The binding of T3(b)-TL tetramers to CD8(+) iIEL and thymocytes was CD8 dependent, but CD3 independent, in contrast to that to TL-restricted CTL. These results altogether showed that TL-restricted CTL can be monitored by CD3-dependent binding of T3(b)-TL tetramers. In addition, CD3-independent T3(b)-TL tetramer binding to iIEL and thymocytes may imply that TL expressed on intestinal epithelium and cortical thymocytes has a physiological function interacting with these tetramer(+)CD8(+) T lymphocytes.

AlphaB-crystallin phosphorylated at Ser-59 is localized in centrosomes and midbodies during mitosis.

We have reported that the three serine residues in alphaB-crystallin are phosphorylated under various stress conditions. We prepared affinity-purified antibodies recognizing each of the phosphorylated serine residues (Ser-19, Ser-45, and Ser-59, respectively) in alphaB-crystallin with peptides (p19S, p45S, or p59S) that contained the corresponding phosphorylated serine residue. Immunocytochemically anti-p45S antibodies stained the cytoplasm of mitotic cells (J. Biol. Chem. 273, 28,346-28,354). We have now found that the anti-p59S antibodies recognize centrosomes and midbodies of dividing cells. alphaB-Crystallin was the only protein recognized by the anti-p59S antibodies in Western blot analyses of isolated centrosome fractions. alphaB-Crystallin phosphorylated at Ser-59 was localized at the microtubule organizing centers by means of double staining with anti-beta-tubulin antibody in aster formation analysis and was co-localized with gamma-tubulin in centrosomes. Gamma-Tubulin was co-immunoprecipitated with alphaB-crystallin in U373 glioma cell extracts. On the other hand, the location of the phosphorylated alphaB-crystallin deviated from that of alpha-tubulin or gamma-tubulin in the midbody region. Taken together with the evidences that several chaperones are distributed to centrosomes, these results suggest that alphaB-crystallin as a chaperone might be also involved in the quality control of proteins.

Production of a single-chain variable fragment antibody recognizing type III mutant epidermal growth factor receptor.

The type III deletion mutant of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is a potential target in diagnostic and therapeutic approaches for those glioblastomas characterized by its expression. We previously raised a mouse monoclonal antibody, 3C10 (IgG2b) specifically recognizing this mutant EGFR. In this study, a single-chain variable fragment (scFv) antibody was produced. Partial determination of its N-terminal amino acid sequence and preparation of adequate primers for variable heavy chain (V(H)) and variable light chain (V(L)) genes were performed to allow cloning by means of reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction. The genes cloned were assembled with a linker, (Gly4Ser)3, and ligated into a bacterial expression vector to express the scFv as cytoplasmic inclusion bodies. After appropriate refolding, the antibody activity of the V(H)-V(L) scFv was examined in an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. 3C10 scFv showed a selective reactivity with the mutant peptide, similarly to the parental 3C10 antibody. A mouse transfectant expressing the type III mutant EGFR and a glioblastoma with type III deletion-mutant EGFR were positively stained by immunofluorescence. By Biacore analysis, the affinity (K(A)) of the parental 3C10 for the mutant peptide was 9.7 x 10(7) M(-1), while that of 3C10 scFv was 2.45 - 2.48 x 10(7) M(-1), being approximately 4-fold weaker. The results together suggested that the scFv antibody retained the appropriate structure to recognize a conformational epitope of the mutant receptor, similarly to the parental antibody.

A synthetic peptide of human apoprotein E with antibacterial activity.

In recent years, several endogenous mammalian antibacterial peptides have been described. An amphipathic cationicalpha-helix is a common feature in many cases; therefore, other peptides with this characteristic might also possess antibiotic activity. In fact, a 30-mer peptide of apoprotein E 133-162 (LRVRLASHLRKLRKRLLRDADDLQKRLAVY) was found to have antibiotic activity comparable to those of a classic antibiotic (Gentamicin) and a neutrophil-derived antibiotic peptide (CAP18). Calculation of cationicity, hydrophobicity, and hydrophobic moment and the helical wheel diagram of apoprotein E 133-162 revealed close similarities to CAP18.

MN/CA IX/G250 as a potential target for immunotherapy of renal cell carcinomas.

The monoclonal antibody G250 (mAbG250) raised against a human renal cell carcinoma (RCC) has been shown to react with a large number of RCCs. Recently, G250 antigen was isolated and found to be homologous to the MN/CA9 gene originally identified in HeLa cells. To determine whether G250 antigen (MN/CA IX/G250) could be a potential therapeutic target and a tumour marker, a total of 147 cases of RCC were investigated immunohistochemically as well as by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) analysis. In addition, total RNAs extracted from patients' peripheral blood samples were analysed for MN/CA9/G250 mRNA signals. Immunohistochemistry demonstrated strong expression in 128/147 (87.1%) of RCCs, in contrast to the lack of expression observed in normal tissues. RT-PCR analyses of frozen specimens resulted in the clear detection of MN/CA9/G250 mRNA signals in 137/147 (93.2%), and despite subtle differences the results were almost identical to those for immunohistochemistry. Although high-grade and -stage tumours exhibited significantly lower expression than low-grade and -stage tumours, a large proportion of tumours expressed MN/G250 protein as well as mRNA. RT-PCR analysis of patients' blood samples revealed the presence of circulating MN/CA9/G250 expressing cells. These findings suggest that this antigen may be a potential therapeutic target as well as diagnostic marker for RCCs.

Antibacterial activity of multiple antigen peptides homologous to a loop region in human lactoferrin.

An 11-residue peptide (FQWQRNMRKVR) homologous to just over half the loop region of human lactoferricin is thought to be responsible for antimicrobial properties of human lactoferricin. Multiple antigen peptides (MAP) of the 11-residue peptide exerted significant antibacterial effects against a broad spectrum of bacteria including MRSA. More than eight branching was favourable for increasing its antibacterial activity. Our report shows a novel possibility for MAP to increase the activity of antibiotic peptides other than simply to stimulate antibody production, as reported so far.

Oral adsorbent ameliorates renal TGF-beta 1 expression in hypercholesterolemic rats.

BACKGROUND: A spontaneously hypercholesterolemic Imai rat has recently been reported as a model of focal glomerulosclerosis that causes nephrotic syndrome followed by renal failure. This study was designed to determine if an oral adsorbent, AST-120, ameliorates renal lesions and TGF-beta 1 expression in the rats. METHODS: AST-120 was given orally to the Imai rats for 32 weeks, and renal function and pathology were compared between the AST-120-administered and control Imai rats. RESULTS: AST-120-administered rats showed significantly lower level of blood urea nitrogen, serum creatinine, urinary protein, serum total-cholesterol, serum triglyceride, and serum and urinary indoxyl sulfate, and significantly higher levels of serum albumin and creatinine clearance than control rats. AST-120 reduced the glomerular sclerosis index, interstitial fibrosis area, and the extent of glomerular lipid deposition. Immunohistochemistry demonstrated that AST-120 reduced the expression of transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta 1 and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase (TIMP)-1 as well as interstitial infiltration of macrophages in the renal cortex of the Imai rats. CONCLUSIONS: AST-120 prevented the progression of nephrotic syndrome and renal failure in the Imai rats by ameliorating glomerular sclerosis and interstitial fibrosis, accompanied with reduced expression of TGF-beta 1 and TIMP-1, and reduced infiltration of macrophages in the kidneys.

Inhibition of complement-mediated immune hemolysis by peptides derived from the constant domain of immunoglobulin.

High-dose administration of intravenous immunoglobulin is reported to be useful for inhibiting complement-dependent immune cytolysis. We have found that, among the proposed C1q-binding sites of the Fc portion of human IgG1, only residues 282-292 inhibited pig red blood cell lysis by human serum. Moreover, a hexadecemeric multiple antigen peptide of residues 282-292 from IgG showed significantly greater activity in suppressing complement-mediated immune cytolysis and can be used in place of high-dose intravenous immunoglobulin, which is extracted from donors and thus is expensive.

Phosphorylation of alphaB-crystallin in mitotic cells and identification of enzymatic activities responsible for phosphorylation.

The immunofluorescence localization of alphaB-crystallin in U373 MG human glioma cells with an antibody specific for alphaB-crystallin that had been phosphorylated at Ser-45 revealed an intense staining of cells in the mitotic phase of the cell cycle. Phosphorylated forms of alphaB-crystallin in mitotic cells were detected in all cell lines examined and in tissue sections of mouse embryos. Increases in the levels of alphaB-crystallin that had been phosphorylated at Ser-45 and Ser-19, but not at Ser-59, were detected biochemically by isoelectric focusing or SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and a subsequent Western blot analysis of extracts of cells collected at the mitotic phase. When we estimated the phosphorylation activity specific for alphaB-crystallin in extracts of mitotic U373 MG cells, using the amino-terminal 72-amino acid peptide derived from unphosphorylated alphaB2-crystallin as the substrate, we found that the activities responsible for the phosphorylation of Ser-45 and Ser-19 were markedly enhanced but that the activity responsible for the phosphorylation of Ser-59 was suppressed. The protein kinases responsible for the phosphorylation of Ser-45 and Ser-59 in the amino-terminal 72-amino acid peptide were partially purified from extracts of cells that had been stimulated by exposure to H2O2 in the presence of calyculin A. The activities responsible for the phosphorylation of Ser-45 and Ser-59 were eluted separately from a column of Superdex 200 at fractions corresponding to about 40 and 60 kDa, respectively, while the kinase for Ser-19 was unstable. p44/42 mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase and MAP kinase-activated protein (MAPKAP) kinase-2 were concentrated in the Ser-45 kinase fraction and Ser-59 kinase fraction, respectively. Recombinant human p44 MAP kinase and MAPKAP kinase-2 purified from rabbit muscle selectively phosphorylated Ser-45 and -59, respectively. The Ser-45 kinase fraction and Ser-59 kinase fraction phosphorylated myelin basic protein and hsp27, respectively. These results suggest that the phosphorylations of Ser-45 and Ser-59 in alphaB-crystallin are catalyzed by p44/42 MAP kinase and MAPKAP kinase-2, respectively, in cells and that the phosphorylation of Ser-45 by p44/42 MAP kinase is enhanced while the phosphorylation of Ser-59 by MAPKAP kinase-2 is suppressed during cell division.

Isolation, purification, and characterization of a collagen-associated serpin, caspin, produced by murine colon adenocarcinoma cells.

A 45-kDa serpin secreted by a murine colon adenocarcinoma cell line, colon26, was isolated, purified, and characterized. It was found to bind specifically to type I collagen with high affinity and to type III collagen with lower affinity. Immunohistochemical studies of murine embryonic tissues showed a specific distribution of this collagen-associated serpin, named caspin, in relation to the formation of bone, cartilage, teeth, and basement membrane. The expression of caspin in high and low lung metastatic subclones of colon26 cell lines was inversely correlated with their metastatic capacity: low lung metastatic cells secreted higher amounts of caspin than their high lung metastatic counterparts. Caspin also demonstrated high homology with human pigment epithelium-derived factor/early population doubling level cDNA-1, which reportedly induces neuronal differentiation of human retinoblastoma cells and is expressed in association with G0 growth arrest. These findings suggest that caspin/pigment epithelium-derived factor/early population doubling level cDNA-1 is a novel factor that might play a crucial role in embryogenesis and tumor metastasis through binding to the extracellular matrix.

The retention of abnormal type I procollagen and correlated expression of HSP 47 in fibroblasts from a patient with lethal osteogenesis imperfecta.

Various mutations of genes encoding type I procollagen chains have been linked to osteogenesis imperfecta (OI). The mutations yield abnormal procollagen molecules that fold improperly. HSP 47, a stress-inducible protein localized to the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) of collagen-producing cells, may participate in collagen processing as a procollagen-specific molecular chaperone. The intracellular transport of abnormal procollagen molecules and the expression of HSP 47 have been studied in fibroblasts from a patient with OI. Normal and OI fibroblasts cultured with or without ascorbate were analysed by immunofluorescent double labelling with monoclonal antibodies to C-propeptide of type I procollagen and HSP 47, as observed by confocal microscopy. Procollagen and HSP 47 were also quantified by immunoprecipitation of normal and OI fibroblasts radiolabelled with 35S-methionine. By confocal microscopy, procollagen molecules were retained in the ER of both fibroblast types cultured in the absence of ascorbate, and were co-localized with HSP 47. In normal fibroblasts, 2 h after the addition of ascorbate, most of the procollagen had disappeared from the cells, while in OI fibroblasts, abnormal procollagen molecules and HSP 47 were still retained in the ER. By immunoprecipitation, procollagen was negligible in normal fibroblasts cultured with ascorbate; much larger amounts of procollagen were immunoprecipitated from OI fibroblasts despite ascorbate. Increased HSP 47 in OI fibroblasts was demonstrated by immunoprecipitation with a specific monoclonal antibody. These results suggest the increase in HSP 47 in the ER of OI fibroblasts is related to its collagen-specific chaperone function.

Elevated expression of PDI family proteins during differentiation of mouse F9 teratocarcinoma cells.

We investigated the expression of protein disulfide isomerase family proteins (PDI, ERp61, and ERp72) in mouse F9 teratocarcinoma cells during differentiation induced by treatment with retinoic acid and dibutyryl cAMP. Each member of this family was expressed at a constitutive level in undifferentiated F9 cells. During differentiation of F9 cells to parietal or visceral endodermal cells the protein level of all these enzymes increased, although the extent of this increase in both protein and mRNA levels varied among the enzymes. Certain proteins were found to be coimmunoprecipitated with PDI, ERp61, and ERp72 in the presence of a chemical crosslinker. Type IV collagen was significantly coprecipitated with PDI whereas laminin was equally coprecipitated with the three proteins. Furthermore, 210 kDa protein characteristically coprecipitated with ERp72. Thus, the induction of PDI family proteins during the differentiation of F9 cells and their association with different proteins may implicate specific functions of each member of this family despite the common redox activity capable of catalyzing the disulfide bond formation.

Disruption of semaphorin III/D gene causes severe abnormality in peripheral nerve projection.

The molecules of the collapsin/semaphorin gene family have been thought to play an essential role in axon guidance during development. Semaphorin III/D is a member of this family, has been shown to repel dorsal root ganglion (DRG) axons in vitro, and has been implicated in the patterning of sensory afferents in the spinal cord. Although semaphorin III/D mRNA is expressed in a wide variety of neural and nonneural tissues in vivo, the role played by semaphorin III/D in regions other than the spinal cord is not known. Here, we show that mice homozygous for a targeted mutation in semaphorin III/D show severe abnormality in peripheral nerve projection. This abnormality is seen in the trigeminal, facial, vagus, accessory, and glossopharyngeal nerves but not in the oculomotor nerve. These results suggest that semaphorin III/D functions as a selective repellent in vivo.

Association of the gamma12 subunit of G proteins with actin filaments.

Recent studies have suggested an association between heterotrimeric G proteins, which play a major role in transmembrane signal transduction, and intracellular components. We therefore examined the subcellular localization of isoforms of G protein gamma subunits in Swiss 3T3 and C6 glioma cells, mainly containing the gamma5 and gamma12 subunits. Immunocytochemical double staining with phalloidin showed co-localization of the gamma12 subunit with actin filaments (F-actin), while the gamma5 co-localized with vinculin, suggesting an association with focal adhesion. Pretreatment of cells with Triton X-100 eliminated the gamma5 but not the gamma12 staining. Co-localization of gamma12 and F-actin was preserved when F-actin was disorganized with cytochalasin D or reorganized using fetal calf serum. Large amounts of gamma12 were recovered in the vimentin- and tubulin-free F-actin-rich fraction prepared from crude cytoskeleton preparations by double depolymerization-repolymerization. Co-localization of Gi2alpha, beta and gamma12 in the F-actin-rich fraction suggested the existence of gamma12 as a betagamma or heterotrimeric complex. Furthermore, purified betagamma12 was found to associate with F-actin in vitro more tightly than betagamma5. These results strongly suggest that the gamma12 subunit associates with F-actin in cells. The observed differential distribution of gamma12 and gamma5 implies functional differences for the two gamma subunits.

Kinetics and collagenolytic role of eosinophils in chronic gastric ulcer in the rat.

An association between eosinophils and tissue damage has been observed in numerous disorders. However, few reports have addressed the role of infiltrating eosinophils in gastric ulcer healing. The aim of this study was to investigate the kinetics and role of eosinophils infiltrating experimental chronic gastric ulcers in the rat. We developed a monoclonal antibody against human matrix metalloproteinase 1 (MMP1) purified from conditioned culture medium of human skin fibroblasts. Acetic acid-induced gastric ulcers were resected from rats on days 1, 3, 5, 10, 20, 40, and 180 after the days of induction (day 0). Tissue specimens were immunostained with this antibody and examined with an electron microscope. Few eosinophils were observed in the granulation tissue until day 20. By days 40 and 180, MMP1-positive eosinophils had increased in the granulation tissue of open ulcers. Azan staining revealed dispersed collagen fibers around infiltrating eosinophils. In contrast, scars demonstrated few eosinophils in fibrous tissue on days 40 and 180. Eosinophils which express MMP1 infiltrate granulation tissue at the chronic stage of gastric ulceration. The results suggest that eosinophils may play a role in tissue remodeling and deterioration of ulceration.