• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.13 no.9
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• pp.1201-1204
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• 2000

We examined expression patterns of imc-415 gene in mammary gland and in HC11 mammary epithelial cells in culture. mRNA levels of imc-415 gene were higher at pregnancy and involution stages of mouse mammary gland compared with lactation period. Expression of imc-415 gene was induced with serum starvation or treatment with Fas monoclonal antibody in HC11 mammary epithelial cells in culture.

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.7 no.3
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• pp.99-108
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• 2004

Vitellogenin (VTG) was purified from serum of $estradiol-l7{\beta}-treated rockfish$(Sebastes schlegeli) by precipitation with $EDTA-Mg^{2+}$ and ammonium sulfate and two step chromatography (anion exchange chromatography and gel permeation chromatography) was performed on FPLC system. Rockfish VTG (rfVTG) was characterized and its properties were determined. The monomers have apparent, molecular mass of about 188 kDa as indicated by SDS-PAGE. Amino acid composition analysis of rfVTG was similar to VTG from other oviparous teleosts. Cysteine and lysine were present at relatively high level. Leucine was present at relatively lower level than in other species. The N-terminal amino acid sequence was evaluated to identify rfVTG. Western blot analysis using an antibody against the purified VTG showed that the antibody reacted with both plasma of $estradiol-l7{\beta}-treated rockfish$ treated male and purified VTG, whereas there was no reaction with male serum of the control. An ELISA was developed using monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies against rfVTG. The assay range was 3.2 ng/mL and 1,000 ng/mL and the value of the intra and inter assay variations were within $9.7{\%}$ and $11.2{\%}$, respectively. Recovery rate was $96.8{\%}$. The sandwich ELISA could be useful for the detection of VTG and could be good for screening of estrogenic compounds.

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.8 no.4
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• pp.213-219
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• 2005

Vitellogenin (VTG) was purified from the blood plasma of estradiol-17$\beta$ ($E_2$)-treated male marbled sole (Limanda yokohamae) using gel filtration and anion exchange chromatography. The purity of the marbled sole VTG (msVTG) was confirmed by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) and N-terminal amino acid sequencing. The purified msVTG was used to produce monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies in mice and rabbits, respectively, and the specificity of the polyclonal antisera for msVTG was confirmed by Western blot analysis. The antibodies cross­reacted with a protein of molecular mass approximately 160 kDa in the plasma samples of mature female marbled sole. No cross-reactivity was observed with the plasma of male fish. A direct non-competitive sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was developed using the monoclonal anti-msVTG and polyclonal anti-msVTG antibodies, with purified msVTG as the standard protein. The values of the intra- and inter-assay variations were within the ranges of $8.l-9.8\%$ and $8.5-12.2\%$, respectively. The sensitivity was about 0.3 ng/mL. Serial dilutions of plasma from mature female sole reacted with the msVTG-antibodies in the sandwich ELISA, whereas the plasma from male fish did not. The results indicate that the maturation status of female marbled sole can be identified using a sandwich ELISA for msVTG.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.315-329
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• 2016

Fas ligand (FasL) and its receptor Fas have been implicated in granulosa cell apoptosis during follicular atresia. Although interferon-gamma (IFN-${\gamma}$) is believed to be involved in the regulation Fas expression in differentiated granulosa or granulosa-luteal cells, the expression of this cytokine and its role in the regulation of the granulosa cell Fas/FasL system and apoptosis during follicular maturation have not been thoroughly investigated. In the present study, we have examined the presence of IFN-${\gamma}$ in ovarian follicles at different stage of development by immunohistochemistry and related their relative intensities with follicular expression of Fas and FasL, and with differences in granulosa cell sensitivity to Fas activation by exogenous agonistic Anti-Fas monoclonal antibody (Fas mAb). Although IFN-${\gamma}$ immunostaining was detectable in oocyte and granulosa cells in antral follicles, most intense immunoreactivity for the cytokine was observed in these cells of preantral follicles. Intense immunoreactivity for IFN-${\gamma}$ was most evident in granulosa cells of atretic early antral follicles where increased Fas and FasL expression and apoptosis were also observed. Whereas low concentrations of IFN-${\gamma}$ (10-100 U/mL) significantly increased Fas expression in undifferentiated granulosa cells (from preantral or very early antral follicles) in vitro, very higher concentrations (${\geq}1,000U/mL$) were required to up-regulate of Fas in differentiated cells isolated from eCG-primed (antral) follicles. Addition of agonistic Fas mAb to cultures of granulosa cells at the two stages of differentiation and pretreated with IFN-${\gamma}$ (100 U/mL) elicited morphological and biochemical apoptotic features which were more prominent in cells not previously exposed to the gonadotropin in vivo. These findings suggested that IFN-${\gamma}$ is an important physiologic intra-ovarian regulator of follicular atresia and plays a pivotal role in regulation of expression of Fas receptor and subsequent apoptotic response in undifferentiated (or poorly differentiated) granulosa cells at an early (penultimate) stage of follicular development.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.53-59
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• 2002

Background: Clinical observations and laboratory studies have supported an immune basis for most acquired aplastic anemias, with the majority of patients responding to immunosuppressive therapy. Fas, a member of the tumor necrosis factor (TNF) receptor superfamily is a critical downregulator of cellular immune responses. Proinflammatory cytokines like interferon gamma (IFN-${\gamma}$) and TNF-${\alpha}$ can induce Fas expression and render hematopoietic progenitor cells susceptible to Fas-induced growth suppression and apoptosis. Methods: In order to investigate the involvement of apoptosis in the pathogenesis of aplastic anemia (AA), we measured the expression of Fas antigen and caspase-3 on bone marrow (BM) mononuclear cells (MNCs) of AA in the presence or absence of IFN-${\gamma}$, TNF-${\alpha}$, or macrophage inflammatory protein 1-${\alpha}$ (MIP-$1{\alpha}$). Results: We confirmed that AA BM MNCs were more apoptotic and highly expressed Fas antigen than normal donors. Stimulation by IFN-${\gamma}$, TNF-${\alpha}$, or MIP-$1{\alpha}$ increased Fas antigen and caspase-3 expression in AA BM MNCs than BM MNCs of normal donors. Anti-Fas monoclonal antibody enhanced IFN-${\gamma}$, TNF-${\alpha}$, or MIP$1{\alpha}$ mediated caspase-3 expression in BM MNCs of normal donors. Among these three cytokines, IFN-${\gamma}$ enhanced apoptosis most strongly via Fas-caspase-3 pathway. Conclusion: These results suggest that Fas signal pathway may play a role in the pathophysiology of aplastic anemia and negative hematopoietic regulators like IFN-${\gamma}$ can induce apoptosis of bone marrow progenitors in part by Fas induction.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.46 no.2
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• pp.128-136
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• 2003

Purpose : Hyper IgM syndrome(HIGM) is characterized by severe recurrent bacterial infections with decreased serum levels of IgG, IgA, and IgE but elevated IgM levels. Recently, it has been classified into three groups; HIGM1, HIGM2 and a rare form of HIGM. HIGM1 is a X-linked form of HIGM and has now been identified as a T-cell deficiency in which mutations occur in the gene that encodes the CD40 ligand molecule. HIGM2 is an autosomal recessive form of HIGM. Molecular studies have shown that the mutation of HIGM2 is in the gene that encodes activation-induced cytidine deaminase(AID). Recently, another rare form of X-linked HIGM syndrome associated with hypohydrotic ectodermal dysplasia has been identified. We encountered a patient with a varient form of HIGM2. To clarify the cause of this form of HIGM, we evaluated the peripheral B cells of this patient. Methods : The lymphocytes of the patient were prepared from peripheral blood. B cells were immortalized with the infection of EBV. Cell cycle analysis was done with the immortalized B cells of the patient. Peripheral mononuclear cells were stained with monoclonal anti-CD40L antibody. Total RNA was extracted from the peripheral mononuclear cells. After RT-PCR, direct sequencing for CD40L gene and HuAID gene were done. Immunostainings of a lymph node for CD3, CD23, CD40, Fas-L, bcl-2, BAX were done. Results : The peripheral B cells of this patient showed normal expression of CD40L molecule and normal sequencing of CD40L gene, and also normal sequencing of AID gene. Interestingly, the peripheral B cells of this patient showed a decreased population of G2/mitosis phase in cell cycles which recovered to normal with the stimulation of IL-4. Conclusion : We suspect that the cause of increased serum IgM in this patient may be from a decrease of G2/mitosis phase of the peripheral B cells, which may be from the decreased production or secretion of IL-4. Therefore, this may be a new form of HIGM.