Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Jihye Yoo, Jiyoung Park, Darong Kim, Yeonjoo Huh, Hea-Young Park Choo, Hyun Ae Woo
Summary: By synthesizing 12 novel compounds and evaluating their biological activities, it was found that 4 compounds exhibited strong inhibitory activities on IL-1 beta and IL-6 mRNA expression. Further in vivo activity evaluation indicated that 2 compounds significantly decreased mRNA levels of IL-1 beta, IL-6, and TNF-alpha.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Jihye Yoo, Darong Kim, Jiyoung Park, Young-Kook Kim, Hea-Young Park Choo, Hyun Ae Woo
Summary: Development of small molecule inhibitors for inflammatory cytokines is a promising strategy for treating inflammatory diseases like rheumatoid arthritis. The synthesized compounds demonstrated significant inhibitory activity on interleukins and their signaling pathways, showing potential for further development as small molecule inhibitors for RA.
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Fan Tan, Li Zhang, Liyang Yin, Liming Wang, Honghui Zhang, Longlong Zheng, Xiaozhen Cui, Xiaoling Lv, Rui Bai, Mingxue Zheng
Summary: In this study, it was found that using a recombinant plasmid as an adjuvant could enhance the anticoccidiosis effect of a chicken coccidia live vaccine. The results showed that the recombinant plasmid adjuvant enhanced the immune response by upregulating the expression of IL-2, IL-4, TNF-alpha, and IFN-gamma, and promoting the proliferation of T, B lymphocytes, and antigen presenting cells (APCs) in chicken intestines and immune organ sites.
Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Danny Luan, Benyamin Dadpey, Jessica Zaid, Pania E. Bridge-Comer, Julia H. DeLuca, Wenmin Xia, Joshua Castle, Shannon M. Reilly
Summary: The bidirectional interaction between adipocytes and adipose tissue immune cells is crucial for regulating adipose function, inflammation, and insulin responsiveness. Obesity reduces cAMP-driven IL-6 secretion from adipocytes, but restoring their catecholamine sensitivity can stimulate IL-6 secretion and activate macrophages to promote an anti-inflammatory gene expression pattern.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Fan Yang, Zhenqiang He, Hao Duan, Duo Zhang, Juehui Li, Huijuan Yang, Jay F. Dorsey, Wei Zou, S. Ali Nabavizadeh, Stephen J. Bagley, Kalil Abdullah, Steven Brem, Lin Zhang, Xiaowei Xu, Katelyn T. Byrne, Robert H. Vonderheide, Yanqing Gong, Yi Fan
Summary: This study demonstrates that IL-6 blockade, in combination with a CD40 agonist, overcomes macrophage-mediated immunosuppression and sensitizes glioblastoma to immune checkpoint blockade in preclinical models, providing promising opportunities for GBM and other solid tumors.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2021)
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Longlong Zheng, Li Zhang, Fan Tan, Chen Wang, Xiaoling Lv, Rui Bai, Nairui Huo, Mingxue Zheng
Summary: In this study, a recombinant Lactococcus lactis expressing fusion protein of chicken IL-4 and IL-2 was constructed to enhance the immune effect of chicken coccidiosis vaccine and reduce its adverse effects. The co-immunization with the recombinant L. lactis resulted in significantly higher weight gains and lower intestinal lesion scores compared to the vaccine-only group.
Article
Immunology
Kei Ishida, Takahiro Nagatake, Azusa Saika, Soichiro Kawai, Eri Node, Koji Hosomi, Jun Kunisawa
Summary: Macrophages are a diverse group with different functions in immunosurveillance and immunological homeostasis. The traditional classification of macrophages into M1 and M2 subtypes is not sufficient to explain their diversity. In this study, researchers analyzed macrophages induced by simultaneous stimulation with LPS and IL-4, and found that these macrophages exhibited a combination of M1 and M2 characteristics, as well as distinct energy metabolism.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Denglu Long, Meng Liu, Haiyang Li, Jinhuan Song, Xiaohua Jiang, Guang Wang, Xuesong Yang
Summary: The study identified that the suppression of neurogenesis induced by dysbacteriosis-derived LPS could be significantly reversed through fecal microbiota transplantation. This suggests that gut dysbacteriosis impairs embryonic neurogenesis. The NF-kappa B/IL-6 pathway may be one of the main factors triggering the downstream signaling cascade.
PHARMACOLOGICAL RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Mengdie Li, Fengrun Sun, Jinfeng Qian, Lanting Chen, Dajin Li, Songcun Wang, Meirong Du
Summary: Establishing maternal-fetal tolerance and successful placentation are crucial for a successful pregnancy, as disruption of immune balance and inadequate placental perfusion can lead to pregnancy-related complications. Extravillous trophoblasts play a key role in regulating decidual immune cells for fetal tolerance. Blocking Tim-3 and CTLA-4 pathways can lead to abnormal interaction between decidual immune cells and extravillous trophoblasts, resulting in poor placental development and increased fetal loss. IL-4 and IL-10 treatment may rescue the adverse effects of targeting Tim-3 and CTLA-4 on pregnancy outcomes, suggesting them as potential therapeutic strategies to prevent pregnancy loss induced by checkpoint inhibition.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
John Benjamin W. Duncan, Swarna Basu, Pavithra Vivekanand
Summary: Interleukin-6 (IL-6) is a cytokine that regulates host immune responses. Excessive IL-6 can lead to chronic inflammatory diseases. Researchers have found that gold nanoparticles synthesized with honey can reduce the secretion of IL-6 by LPS-activated macrophages, possibly by modulating the TLR4/NF-kappa B signaling pathway. Further studies may provide new therapeutic approaches for chronic inflammation.
Review
Immunology
Zachary J. J. Bernstein, Anjali Shenoy, Amy Chen, Nicola M. M. Heller, Jamie B. B. Spangler
Summary: IL-4 and IL-13 cytokines play important roles in immune activity, especially in T helper 2 cell-mediated inflammation, immune regulation, antibody production, and fibrosis. Manipulating the IL-4/IL-13 axis through cytokine engineering, fusion protein formulation, antagonist development, cell engineering, and biosensor design can lead to the discovery of new immunotherapies targeting allergy, autoimmune diseases, and cancer.
IMMUNOLOGICAL REVIEWS
(2023)
Article
Oncology
Dong Young Kang, Nipin Sp, Eun Seong Jo, Alexis Rugamba, Hyoung Do Kim, Il Ho Kim, Jong-Chan Park, Se Won Bae, Kyoung-Jin Jang, Young Mok Yang
Summary: JAK2 and STAT3 signaling pathway plays a major role in LPS-induced inflammation, with NTS showing a protective effect against cell death and inhibiting expression of inflammatory factors. This suggests that NTS could be a potential drug candidate for inflammation treatment.
MOLECULAR MEDICINE REPORTS
(2021)
Article
Cell Biology
Yao Wang, Xiaolong Miao, Yuancong Jiang, Zelai Wu, Xuhang Zhu, Han Liu, Xiaoying Wu, Jinzhen Cai, Xianfeng Ding, Weihua Gong
Summary: In this study, the combination of anti-IL-6 antibody and NVP-BEZ235 showed enhanced antitumor effects in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) by synergistically inhibiting the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway. These findings provide guidance for the analysis and clinical treatment of HCC.
CELL DEATH & DISEASE
(2022)
Article
Cell Biology
Ahmed Shamloul, Gustav Steinemann, Kerrin Roos, Celine Huajia Liem, Jonathan Bernd, Thorsten Braun, Andreas Zakrzewicz, Janine Berkholz
Summary: The methyltransferase Smyd1 plays a crucial role in regulating IL-6 expression and secretion in endothelial cells by increasing NF-kappa B activity and promoting H3K4 trimethylation within the IL-6 promoter in response to LPS stimulation.
Article
Cell Biology
Kristina Riegel, Hajime Yurugi, Janine Schloeder, Helmut Jonuleit, Manuel Kaulich, Friederike Kirschner, Danielle Arnold-Schild, Stefan Tenzer, Hansjorg Schild, Krishnaraj Rajalingam
Summary: Tumors suppress antitumor immune responses by secreting IL-6, which inhibits the production of IL-12p70 in dendritic cells. The classical mitogen-activated protein kinase ERK5/MAPK7 is essential for IL-6 production in tumor cells, suggesting a potential target for enhancing antitumor immune responses.
CELL DEATH & DISEASE
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Ayane Mikami, Tasuku Ogita, Fu Namai, Suguru Shigemori, Takashi Sato, Takeshi Shimosato
MOLECULAR BIOLOGY REPORTS
(2020)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Fu Namai, Suguru Shigemori, Tasuku Ogita, Takashi Sato, Takeshi Shimosato
MOLECULAR BIOLOGY REPORTS
(2020)
Article
Cell Biology
Sayaka Shinji, Koji Umezawa, Yuma Nihashi, Shunichi Nakamura, Takeshi Shimosato, Tomohide Takaya
Summary: This study demonstrates that 18-base telomeric oligodeoxynucleotides designed from the Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG genome promote differentiation of skeletal muscle myoblasts by antagonizing nucleolin and modulating gene expression. The alkaloid berberine enhances the activity of the oligodeoxynucleotides by stabilizing and optimizing their conformation. These bacterial-derived oligodeoxynucleotides serve as aptamers and potential nucleic acid drugs that target myoblasts directly.
FRONTIERS IN CELL AND DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Physiology
Shunichi Nakamura, Shinichi Yonekura, Takeshi Shimosato, Tomohide Takaya
Summary: The study explores the use of novel myoDNs to promote the differentiation of myoblasts in diabetic patients, demonstrating that this approach effectively improves muscle wasting and has similar effects on healthy myoblasts exposed to high glucose or high lipid levels.
FRONTIERS IN PHYSIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Immunology
Takuma Okajima, Suguru Shigemori, Fu Namai, Tasuku Ogita, Takashi Sato, Takeshi Shimosato
Summary: The study found that prophylactic feeding of ODNcap can reduce allergic airway inflammation, hyperresponsiveness, and goblet cell hyperplasia in an ovalbumin-induced asthma model. Transcriptomics-driven approaches demonstrated that ODNcap feeding inhibits injury of pulmonary vein cardiomyocytes. Additionally, airway antimicrobial peptide and fecal microbiota participate in the ODNcap-mediated effects.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Virology
Kanako Shinada, Takashi Sato, Saya Moriyama, Yu Adachi, Masahiro Shinoda, Shinichiro Ota, Miwa Morikawa, Masamichi Mineshita, Takayuki Matsumura, Yoshimasa Takahashi, Masaharu Shinkai
Summary: The use of favipiravir in the treatment of COVID-19 accelerates viral clearance, preserves the generation and persistence of neutralizing antibodies, and does not interfere with the maturation of neutralizing potency against both WT SARS-CoV-2 and its variants.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Yuma Nihashi, Mana Miyoshi, Koji Umezawa, Takeshi Shimosato, Tomohide Takaya
Summary: The study identified an 18-base oligodeoxynucleotide (ODN) called iSN40 that enhances the activity and gene expression of osteoblasts, promoting their differentiation and calcium deposition. iSN40 may serve as a potential nucleic acid drug for osteoporosis therapy.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Naoki Nohira, Sayaka Shinji, Shunichi Nakamura, Yuma Nihashi, Takeshi Shimosato, Tomohide Takaya
Summary: In this study, it was found that embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma (ERMS) cells express nucleolin and their growth can be inhibited by anti-nucleolin aptamers. Further investigation revealed that iSN04 and AS1411, the two anti-nucleolin aptamers, not only suppress the proliferation of ERMS cells, but also promote their differentiation and myogenesis. Additionally, these anti-nucleolin aptamers disrupt the formation of tumor spheres in three-dimensional culture. Therefore, anti-nucleolin aptamers have the potential to be used as nucleic acid drugs for chemotherapy against ERMS.
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Fu Namai, Shunsuke Sumiya, Natsumi Nomura, Takashi Sato, Takeshi Shimosato
Summary: We developed genetically modified lactic acid bacteria (gmLAB) that produce green fluorescent protein (GFP)-conjugating, anti-programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) single-chain variable fragments (scFv) for targeted cancer therapy. The gmLAB was able to express the anti-PD-L1 scFv and show specificity towards PD-L1 protein. These findings suggest that gmLAB could serve as an affordable diagnostic and treatment tool for cancer research.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Suzuka Oshima, Fu Namai, Takashi Sato, Takeshi Shimosato
Summary: In this study, a scFv based on the amino acid sequence of CC12.1 was designed to bind to the RBD of SARS-CoV-2 and enter cells through ACE2 receptors. Compared with the original antibody, scFv has the advantages of high tissue penetration and low production cost. gmLAB were constructed to incorporate the designed scFv and could be used as microbial therapeutics against COVID-19.
MOLECULAR BIOTECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Tomohiro Takano, Takashi Sato, Ryutaro Kotaki, Saya Moriyama, Shuetsu Fukushi, Masahiro Shinoda, Kiyomi Kabasawa, Nagashige Shimada, Mio Kousaka, Yu Adachi, Taishi Onodera, Kazutaka Terahara, Masanori Isogawa, Takayuki Matsumura, Masaharu Shinkai, Yoshimasa Takahashi
Summary: Takano et al. demonstrate that a heterologous booster using a SARS-CoV-2 recombinant spike protein vaccine induces a more sustained and broader anti-spike receptor-binding domain antibody response compared to a homologous booster using an mRNA vaccine. The study shows that the S-268019-b spike protein booster generates higher and longer-lasting IgG titers specific to the SARS-CoV-2 spike receptor-binding domain, with the ability to bind to antigenically distinct variants, while the BNT162b2 mRNA homologous booster has a weaker effect. Additionally, the S-268019-b booster enhances the production of RBD-angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) binding inhibitory antibodies, resulting in increased neutralizing activities against Omicron BA.1 and BA.5 variants.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Masahiro Shinoda, Shinichiro Ota, Yuto Yoshida, Takatomo Hirouchi, Kanako Shinada, Takashi Sato, Miwa Morikawa, Naoki Ishii, Masaharu Shinkai
Summary: High fever, widespread viral pneumonia, and pleural effusion may serve as easily measurable prognostic indicators in COVID-19 patients with similar backgrounds.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF GENERAL MEDICINE
(2023)
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Merisa Sirisopapong, Takeshi Shimosato, Supattra Okrathok, Sutisa Khempaka
Summary: This study aimed to characterize LAB strains from the chicken digestive tract and determine their potential as probiotics. The researchers found that the L. ingluviei and L. salivarius strains exhibited probiotic properties and improved the growth of broiler chickens. Future studies should investigate their potential for growth improvement in broilers.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Mina Ishioka, Yuma Nihashi, Yoichi Sunagawa, Koji Umezawa, Takeshi Shimosato, Hiroshi Kagami, Tatsuya Morimoto, Tomohide Takaya
Summary: This study found that inhibition of nucleolin by iSN04 can promote the differentiation of cardiac mesoderm into cardiomyocytes but interferes with the differentiation of early mesoderm into the cardiac lineage. This is the first report on generating cardiomyocytes from pluripotent stem cells using a DNA aptamer. iSN04 does not induce hypertrophic responses in primary-cultured cardiomyocytes, making it useful and safe for regenerative therapy of heart failure using stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Yuma Nihashi, Sayaka Shinji, Koji Umezawa, Takeshi Shimosato, Tamao Ono, Hiroshi Kagami, Tomohide Takaya
Summary: Research has shown that certain myogenetic oligodeoxynucleotides (myoDNs) can promote the differentiation of chicken myoblasts into MHC-positive myotubes.
ANIMAL SCIENCE JOURNAL
(2021)