記述言語：英語   掲載種別：研究論文（学術雑誌）  

Cell-penetrating peptides have gained attention owing to their promise in noninvasive delivery systems. Among the identified cell-penetrating peptides, the TAT peptide has been preferentially used for transduction into cells of diverse origins. However, this activity is nonselective between neoplastic and non-neoplastic cells. Here we describe artificial cell-penetrating peptides that are selectively and efficiently incorporated into human tumour cells, according to their lineage. Ten representative tumour lineage-homing cell-penetrating peptides were obtained by screening of a random peptide library constructed using messenger RNA display technology, and some of the isolates were further modified by amino-acid substitution. Their advantageous tumour cell-targeting ability is corroborated in an in vivo mouse model for imaging and growth suppression of metastatic xenoplant tumours. These cell-penetrating peptides are potentially useful for the efficient targeting of human neoplasms in a tumour origin-dependent manner, and provide a framework for the development of peptide-based anti-tumour technologies.

DOI： 10.1038/ncomms1952

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記述言語：英語   掲載種別：研究論文（学術雑誌）  

Hair and feather pigmentation is mainly determined by the distribution of two kinds of melanin, eumelanin and pheomelanin, which produce brown to black and yellow to red colorations, respectively. The agouti signaling protein (ASIP) acts as an antagonist or an inverse agonist of the melanocortin 1 receptor (MC1R), a G protein-coupled receptor for α-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (α-MSH). This antagonism of the MC1R by ASIP on melanocytes initiates a switch of melanin synthesis from eumelanogenesis to pheomelanogenesis in mammals. In the present study, we isolated multiple ASIP mRNA variants generated by alternative splicing and promoters in chicken feather follicles. The mRNA variants showed a discrete tissue distribution. However, mRNAs were expressed predominantly in the feather pulp of follicles. Paralleling mRNA distribution, ASIP immunoreactivity was observed in feather pulp. Interestingly, ASIP was stained with pheomelanin but not eumelanin in pulp areas that face developing barbs. We suggest that the elaborate color pattern of individual feathers is formed in part by the antagonistic action of ASIP that is produced by multiple mRNA variants in chicken feather follicles.

DOI： 10.1016/j.ygcen.2011.12.009

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記述言語：英語   掲載種別：研究論文（学術雑誌）  

The T cell line HOZOT has a unique FOXP3+CD4+ CD8+CD25+ phenotype, exhibits suppressive activity in allogeneic mixed lymphocyte reactions (MLR), and produces IL-10, defining HOZOT as regulatory T cells (Tregs). Interestingly, in addition to possessing a suppressive Treg ability, HOZOT was also found to show cytotoxicity against certain representative human cancer cell types. In order to disclose the range of anti-tumor activity by HOZOT, we screened it by using a panel of twenty human tumor cell lines with different origins. Consequently, HOZOT showed potent cytocidal effects against a wide spectrum of neoplastic cells including carcinomas, sarcomas, mesotheliomas and glioblastomas except for hematopoietic malignancies. Its anti-tumor activity was strong enough with an E:T ratio of 4:1, which is considered to be more effective than that by conventional CTLs. Furthermore, an in vivo representative mouse tumor model by implanting human colon adenocarcinoma cells revealed that adoptive transfer of HOZOT almost completely eradicated disseminated lesions on peritoneum, markedly reduced metastases in lung and liver, and dramatically decreased bloody ascites caused by peritoneal carcinomatosis. Treatment of the tumor model mice by HOZOT with an E:T ratio of 2:1 even indicated the prolongation of their survival, although not reaching obvious statistical significance. In vitro blocking experiments using antibodies and inhibitors suggested that the cytotoxic mechanism of HOZOT against tumors is different from conventional cytotoxic cells such as CTL, NK or NKT cells. Altogether, our studies demonstrated the potent killing activity of HOZOT against a broad range of human malignancies, which indicates that HOZOT is a powerful tool in immunotherapy for advanced stage tumors.

DOI： 10.3892/ijo.2011.962

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記述言語：英語   掲載種別：研究論文（学術雑誌）  

Feather coloration in chickens mainly depends on melanin produced by melanocytes located in the feather follicles. The melanocortin 1 receptor (MC1R) on follicular melanocytes regulates melanin synthesis; however, the source of the melanocortins that interact with the receptors remains unclear. In this study, we examine the potential expression of melanocortins and characterize the mRNAs for the precursor pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC) in chicken feather follicles. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) revealed the expression of mRNAs for POMC, prohormone convertase 1 (PC1) and PC2, and western blotting detected adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH)-related products of POMC processing in feather follicles, suggesting that melanocortins are produced locally in the tissues of chickens. A combination of 5'RACE (rapid amplification of cDNA 5' end), 3'RACE and RT-PCR analyzes identified two classes of POMC mRNA, class a and class b, which encode the same full-length POMC protein but have different non-coding leader exons. Class a mRNAs were expressed specifically in feather follicles, whereas class b mRNAs were expressed in the pituitary, hypothalamus, and various peripheral tissues that we examined. Within the feather follicles, the class a mRNAs were distributed in epidermal layers from middle to distal locations, whereas the class b mRNAs were mainly expressed in pulp at proximal locations. Our findings suggest that feather pigmentation is regulated by locally produced melanocortins, and indicate that the melanocortins encoded by the different classes of POMC mRNAs may play different intra-follicular roles in chickens. This is the first report that demonstrates alternative promoter usage generating different full-length POMC mRNAs in vertebrates.

DOI： 10.1016/j.ygcen.2010.12.018

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記述言語：英語   掲載種別：研究論文（学術雑誌）  

BACKGROUND: Human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) are multipotent stem cells found in the adult bone marrow that have the capacity to differentiate into various mesenchymal cell types. The hMSCs may provide a potential therapy to restore damaged tissues or organs of mesenchymal origin; however, a drawback is their limited life span in vitro. METHODS: We immortalized normal hMSCs with retrovirally transmitted human telomerase reverse transcriptase cDNA. One of the immortalized clones (YKNK-12) was established, and the biological characteristics were investigated in vitro and in vivo. RESULTS: YKNK-12 cells were capable of differentiating adipocytes, osetoblasts, and chondrocytes. Osteogenically differentiated YKNK-12 cells produced significant levels of growth factors BMP4, BMP6, FGF6, FGF7, transforming growth factor-beta1, and transforming growth factor-beta3.. Microcomputer tomography T and soft X-ray assays showed an excellent calvarial bone healing in mice after transplantation of osteogenically differentiated YKNK-12 cells. These cells expressed human-specific osteocalcin and increased the gene expression of runt-related transcription factor 2, alkaline phosphatase, osteocalcin, and osterix in the bone regenerating area. YKNK-12 cell transplant corrected the bone defect without inducing any adverse effects. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that hMSCs immortalized by transduction with human telomerase reverse transcriptase may provide an unlimited source of cells for therapeutic use in bone regeneration.

DOI： 10.1097/TP.0b013e3181ae5ba2

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J-GLOBAL

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危険物取扱主任者免状（乙種4類）

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第二種作業環境測定士

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クレーンの運転の業務に係る特別教育 修了

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玉掛 技能講習 修了

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