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Genomic DNA has been identified as an anti-inflammatory component of Lactobacillus species, the effects of which are mediated through toll-like receptor (TLR) 9. In this study, we identified 14 novel anti-inflammatory oligodeoxynucleotide (ODN) from the genomic DNA of Lactobacillus casei by measuring their effects on the secretion of interleukin (IL)-8 (CXCL8) in the human epithelial colorectal adenocarcinoma cell line Caco-2 cells. The ODN TTTTGCCG strongly decreased IL-8 secretion. In the genomic DNA of Lactobacillus species, the frequency of TTTTGCCG was highest in the genomic DNA of L. casei and similar among strains of L. casei. Decreases in inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 expressions in macrophage-like differentiated THP-1 cells confirmed the anti-inflammatory effect of TTTTGCCG. Furthermore, oral administration of TTTTGCCG ameliorated dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)-induced murine colitis and DSS-induced increased expression of inflammatory factor mRNAs, such as macrophage inflammatory protein (MIP)-2 (CXCL2), iNOS, and COX-2. The anti-inflammatory effect of TTTTGCCG was mainly regulated by an increase in heat shock protein (Hsp) 70 expression in the epithelium. TLR9 and Hsp90 may primarily mediate the anti-inflammatory effect of TTTTGCCG on Hsp70 signaling.

Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) show anti-inflammatory effects, and their genomic DNA was identified as one of the anti-inflammatory components. Despite the differences in anti-inflammatory effects between live LAB dependent not only on genus but also species, this effect has not been compared at the genomic DNA level. We compared the anti-inflammatory effects of the genomic DNA from five Lactobacillus species-Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus casei, Lactobacillus gasseri, Lactobacillus plantarum, and Lactobacillus reuteri-using Caco-2 cells. To evaluate anti-inflammatory effects, decreases in H(2)O(2)-induced IL-8 secretion and inhibition of H(2)O(2)-induced NF-κB/IκB-α system activation were examined. All LAB genomic DNAs dose-dependently decreased H(2)O(2)-induced IL-8 secretion and inhibited H(2)O(2)-induced NF-κB/IκB-α system activation. Comparison of these effects between Lactobacillus species showed that the anti-inflammatory effects of L. acidophilus genomic DNA are lower than those of the other species. Furthermore, suppression of Toll-like receptor 9 (TLR9), a specific receptor of bacterial DNA, expression by RNAi abolished the decrease of H(2)O(2)-induced IL-8 secretion and inhibition of H(2)O(2)-induced NF-κB/IκB-α system activation by LAB genomic DNA. Our results demonstrated that the anti-inflammatory effects of genomic DNA differ between Lactobacillus species and TLR9 is one of the major pathways responsible for the anti-inflammatory effect of LAB genomic DNA.

Infectious diseases, especially, diarrhoea, are responsible for high mortality rates in developing countries. Zinc supplementation shows beneficial effects against such diseases, but the mechanism of action is poorly understood. Here, we examined whether zinc supplementation can improve mucosal innate immunity through induction of antimicrobial peptide secretion from intestinal epithelial cells. Zinc was found to induce secretion of the antimicrobial peptide LL-37 from Caco-2 cell in a dose (0.63 ± 0.09 ng/mL and 0.54 ± 0.06 ng/mL at 20 μM and 50 μM respectively) and time dependent manner. LL-37 secretion increased immediately (1 h) after exposure to 20 μM Zn (0.29 ± 0.04 ng/mL), which continued up to 48 h of exposure (0.58 ± 0.05 ng/mL). Zinc induces the phosphorylation of ERK and p38 MAP kinase and regulates LL-37 secretion through these MAP kinases. Zinc supplementation may have beneficial effects on mucosal innate immunity via secretion of LL-37.

Living organisms require mechanisms regulating reactive oxygen species (ROS) such as hydrogen peroxide and superoxide anion. Catalase is one of the regulatory enzymes and facilitates the degradation of hydrogen peroxide to oxygen and water. Biochemical information on an insect catalase is, however, insufficient. Using mRNA from fat body of the silkworm, Bombyx mori , a cDNA encoding a putative catalase was amplified by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction and sequenced. The deduced amino acid sequence comprised 507 residues with more than seventy residues forming a scaffold for a heme cofactor conserved. The sequence showed 71% and 66% identities to those of the Drosophila melanogaster and Apis mellifera catalases, respectively; the catalase from B. mori was estimated to be phylogenetically close to that from A. mellifera . The transcripts of the gene and the catalase activity were distributed in diverse tissues of B. mori , suggesting its ubiquitous nature. Using the gene, a recombinant catalase (rCAT) was functionally overexpressed in a soluble form using Escherichia coli , purified to homogeneity, and characterized. The pH-optimum of rCAT was broad around pH 8.0. More than 80% of the original rCAT activity was retained after incubation in the following conditions: at pH 8–11 and 4 °C for 24 h; at pH 7 and temperatures below 50 °C for 30 min. The Michaelis constant for hydrogen peroxide was evaluated to be 28 mM at pH 6.5 and 30 °C. rCAT was suggested to be a member of the typical catalase family.

Dihydropyrazine derivatives such as 2,3-dihydro-5,6-dimethylpyrazine (1), 2,3-dihydro-2,5,6-trimethyl-pyrazine (2) and 2,3-dihydro-2,2,5,6-teramethylpyrazine (3) were found to be transformed into (2R∗, 3S∗, 5R∗)-1,2 ethylene-imino-1,7,10-triaza-2,3,6-trimethyl-3-hydroxy-spiro [4,5] decan-6-ene (4), the stereo-isomeric mixtures of 2,4aR∗,7,9aS∗-tetramethylcyclohexano [1,2-e: 4,5-e′]-dipiperazin-6-ene (5) and (4aR∗, 9aS∗)-2,2,4a,7,7,9a-hexamethylcyclohexano [1,2-e: 4,5-e′]-dipiperazin-6-ene (6), respectively. These dimerized compounds (4, 5 and 6), whose structures were determined by X-ray and nmr spectral analyses, showed almost the same DNA strand-breakage activity as their parent dihydropyrazines. The dimerization pathway is discussed on the basis of the PM3 calculation data.

A method for rapid determination of viral RNA sequences (RDV) was applied to homogenates of Aedes aegypti collected in Thailand in an area in which dengue fever (dengue hemorrhagic fever) is endemic, using the mosquito cell line C6/36. Nucleic acid sequences of dengue virus type 4 and cell fusing agent virus were detected. This RDV method has the potential to become a standard method for detection of both known and newly emerging, unknown mosquito-borne viruses.